---
title: "Create a Flex Grid Object"
slug: "create-a-flex-grid-object"
description: "Learn how to insert a Flex Grid object: choose a Data Model, set the initial Layout, establish Blocks, define row/column axes and default visual settings and drilldowns."
tags: ["Objects", "Developer", "Flex Grid", "Design Mode", "Pivot Mode", "Unbalanced entity", "Layout", "By Row", "Object toolbar"]
updated: 2025-11-06T13:01:36Z
published: 2025-11-05T08:07:55Z
canonical: "help.board.com/create-a-flex-grid-object"
stale: true
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.board.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create a Flex Grid Object

Creating a Flex Grid has some similarities to a Data View, however, there are some major differences, for example, grouping values by row is done directly in the Flex Grid instead of in the Layout. To create a new Flex Grid Object, you need to access a Screen in Design Mode.

The topics covered on creating a Flex Grid are divided into 3 areas and are as follows:

- [**How to create a Flex Grid**](/v1/docs/creating-a-flex-grid-object-1#create-a-flex-grid)
- [**Configure a Flex Grid Layout**](/v14/docs/the-flex-grid-layout)
- **Interacting with a Flex Grid in Design Mode**
  - [**Configuring the Fields panel & Pivot Mode**](/v14/docs/design-mode-interaction-with-flex-grid#the-fields-panel-pivot-mode-in-design-mode)
  - [**Grouping**](/v14/docs/design-mode-interaction-with-flex-grid#grouping-in-design-mode)
  - [**Sorting & Filtering**](/v14/docs/design-mode-interaction-with-flex-grid#sorting-and-filtering-in-design-mode)
  - [**Tree view for unbalanced Entities**](/v14/docs/design-mode-interaction-with-flex-grid#tree-view-for-unbalanced-entities)
  - [**Object toolbar**](/v14/docs/design-mode-interaction-with-flex-grid#the-object-toolbar)
  - [**Column menu**](/v14/docs/design-mode-interaction-with-flex-grid#flex-grid-column-menu)

## Create a Flex Grid

To **create a Flex Grid Object**:

1. **Drag and drop the Flex Grid** Screen Object into the Screen area.
2. **Configure the** [**Layout**](/v1/docs/the-flex-grid-layout) by clicking in the center of the empty Object or the Layout icon when selected:
  1. Add Blocks to the Layout and configure their settings, like Color alerts, Functions, Refer to, Total by, Rules, and Nexel, similar to a Data View.
  2. Add Entities to the "By Row" area in the [Axes](/v1/docs/the-flex-grid-layout#axes) tab. Choose the member display mode and whether each Entity should display only members with values or also zeroes.
  3. Add a [Layout Select](/v1/docs/the-flex-grid-layout#select-area) (optional).
3. **Configure the Flex Grid** from the Object itself in the Screen:
  1. [Group](/v1/docs/design-mode-interaction-with-flex-grid#grouping-in-design-mode) fields by row, add any [sorts and/or filters](/v1/docs/the-flex-grid-layout#sorting-and-filtering-in-design-mode), and save a default flat view configuration.
  2. Access the Fields panel and enable Pivot Mode to [group](/v1/docs/the-flex-grid-layout#grouping-in-pivot-mode) fields by row and column, then add any [sorts and/or filters](/v1/docs/the-flex-grid-layout#sorting-and-filtering-in-design-mode), and save a default Pivot Mode configuration.
4. **Format the Flex Grid**:

## 

##
  1. Configure the capabilities of the Object for an end user in Play mode with the [Flex Grid Object properties](/v1/docs/formatting-a-flex-grid-1#object-data-properties-display-options-for-pivot-capabilities).
  2. Customize the [color formatting](/v1/docs/formatting-a-flex-grid-1#customize-color-formatting), like the colors, templates, Object toolbar settings, and Block format.