Multi-Item Columns - Nextedy Documentation

`multiItem` Property

Name	Type	Default	Description
`multiItem`	`boolean`	`false`	Indicates this column displays multiple related items (many-to-many relationship). Enables multi-value display and editing.

When multiItem is set to true, the column cell renders all linked entities for the current row, rather than a single value. Users can add, remove, and browse multiple related items through a dedicated picker interface.

When to Use Multi-Item Columns

Multi-item columns are required in these scenarios:

Scenario	Example Binding Path	Description
Second linked entity on same parent	`systemRequirements.systemRequirement.designRequirements.designRequirement`	When a parent entity links to two different entity types via separate relationships
Verification/validation test cases	`systemRequirements.systemRequirement.verificationTestCases.verificationTestCase`	Test case collections linked to requirements
External references	`designRequirements.designRequirement.externalReferences.externalReference`	External system links attached to design items

When a sheet has two work item types linked to the same parent entity (e.g., design outputs and design verifications both linked to system requirements), the second linked column must be declared with multiItem: true. This is a non-obvious requirement that commonly blocks new users during initial setup.

Column Configuration Properties

The following properties apply when configuring a multi-item column:

Name	Type	Default	Description
`multiItem`	`boolean`	`false`	Enables multi-item display and editing for the column
`title`	`string`	None	Display label for the column header
`width`	`number`	None	Column width in pixels
`header`	`string`	None	YAML anchor reference to reusable header styling configuration
`display`	`string`	`id`	Specifies which property of the referenced entity to display. Options: `title`, `titleOrName`, or a custom property path
`columnGroup`	`string`	None	Assigns the column to a visual column group
`visible`	`boolean`	`true`	Controls whether the column is shown by default
`formatter`	`string`	None	References a formatter name from the formatters section
`isReadOnly`	`boolean`	`false`	Prevents user editing of this column (deprecated in favor of `formatter=readOnly`)

Binding Path Syntax

Multi-item columns use dot-separated binding paths that follow the relationship chain defined in the data model. The path alternates between the collection navigation property and the entity type:

<collection>.<entityType>.<collection>.<entityType>...

For a full reference on binding path construction, see Binding Syntax.

Configuration Example

The following example adds an external references multi-item column to a design requirement:

columns:
  # Parent entity columns
  title:
    title: User Need
    width: 300
    hasFocus: true

  # Multi-item column for external references linked to design requirements
  systemRequirements.systemRequirement.designRequirements.designRequirement.externalReferences.externalReference:
    title: External References
    width: 200
    multiItem: true
    header: *blue
    display: titleOrName

Sources Configuration

Multi-item columns require their expansion paths to be declared in the sources section. The expand array must include the full chain of relationships:

sources:
  - name: requirement
    model: rtm
    query:
      from: UserNeed
      where: "type = 'UserNeed'"
    expand:
      - name: systemRequirements
        expand:
          - name: designRequirements
            expand:
              - name: externalReferences

Match Sources to Columns

Every multi-item column binding path must have a corresponding expansion path in the sources configuration. If the expansion is missing, the column will not load related entities.

For source configuration details, see Sources.

Data Model Requirements

The entity types and relationships referenced by multi-item columns must exist in the data model:

domainModelTypes:
  ExternalReference:
    # entity type configuration

relationships:
  - from: ExternalReference
    to: DesignRequirement
    linkRole: relatesTo

Ensure the Polarion link role is configured to allow links between the relevant work item types. See Link Roles and Relationships.

Export Behavior

When exporting to Excel, multi-item cells render each item on a separate line within the same cell. Comma-separated values in the sheet are converted to newline-separated lists in the exported XLSX file.

Complete YAML Example

header: &blue
  style:
    background: blue
    color: white

columnGroups:
  DesignReq:
    groupName: Design Requirements
    groupStyle: blue
    headerStyle: blueHeader

columns:
  title:
    title: User Need
    width: 300
    hasFocus: true
    sort: asc

  systemRequirements.systemRequirement.title:
    title: System Requirement
    width: 250

  systemRequirements.systemRequirement.designRequirements.designRequirement.title:
    title: Design Requirement
    width: 250
    columnGroup: DesignReq

  systemRequirements.systemRequirement.designRequirements.designRequirement.externalReferences.externalReference:
    title: External References
    width: 200
    multiItem: true
    header: *blue
    display: titleOrName
    columnGroup: DesignReq

  systemRequirements.systemRequirement.verificationTestCases.verificationTestCase:
    title: Verification Tests
    width: 200
    multiItem: true
    header: *blue

sources:
  - name: requirement
    model: rtm
    query:
      from: UserNeed
      where: "type = 'UserNeed'"
    expand:
      - name: systemRequirements
        expand:
          - name: designRequirements
            expand:
              - name: externalReferences
          - name: verificationTestCases

Columns — base column configuration reference
Binding Syntax — dot-separated path construction rules
Sources — data source and expansion path configuration
Relationships — data model relationship definitions
Columns — full list of column-level properties

​multiItem Property

​When to Use Multi-Item Columns

​Column Configuration Properties

​Binding Path Syntax

​Configuration Example

​Sources Configuration

​Data Model Requirements

​Export Behavior

​Complete YAML Example

​Related Pages

`multiItem` Property

When to Use Multi-Item Columns

Column Configuration Properties

Binding Path Syntax

Configuration Example

Sources Configuration

Data Model Requirements

Export Behavior

Complete YAML Example

Related Pages