We've made some essential improvements to ensure you can build requests with line items as quickly and efficiently as possible – find out more below.
🗑️ Remove default fields NEW!
💰 Total cost flexibility NEW!
🔢 Custom formula fields NEW!
We've got more features coming soon to help make line items more flexible and a better fit for your use cases, particularly for complex requests.
If there's anything in particular you're hoping to see, start a chat to let us know.
🗑️ Remove default fields
You can now remove default fields like "Unit", "Quantity", "Price per unit" and "Total cost" if they're not a good fit for your use case.
Although you can't remove the "Description" field, you can now rename it to better match your needs.
To remove default fields
Click the dropdown icon ("⌄") at the right of the header cell of a field you wish to remove.
Click the "Remove field" option.
Click the "Remove field" button in the confirmation popup.
Points to note when removing default fields:
Some fields can have dependencies on others. For example, the "Total cost" field formula can refer to other field values, like "Price per unit". Where you remove dependent fields, you'll be prompted to fix any errors.
The value of the "Total cost" field contributes to a supplier's "Bid total", which you use to compare pricing. This field should only be removed where there's no need the section to contribute to the bid total.
To add default fields
Default fields will only be available to add if you've previously removed them, and since they are predefined you can only one of each default field per section.
Click the "Add field" button in either the section sub-header or at the top-right of the grid itself.
From the dropdown, click the default field required from the top of the "Predefined" section.
The field will be added to the section for you to configure.
To rename the "Description" field
Click the dropdown icon ("⌄") in the header cell of the "Description" field.
Click the "Edit field" option.
In the popup, enter a new description in the "Field name" field.
Click the "Submit" button.
Keep in mind that the default name of "Description" will be translated automatically when the platform is used in languages other than English, whereas custom field names are not translated.
💰 Total cost flexibility
Although the "Total cost" formula field comes with a default value, there's now no requirement to include a "Price per unit" as part of the formula.
This gives full flexibility to define the "Total cost" however you wish - using a formula which can reference any "Price" or "Number" type field you've added to the section.
To edit the "Total cost" formula
Before editing the formula, ensure you've added and configured all the fields you want to reference within it.
Click the dropdown icon ("⌄") in the header cell of the "Total cost" field.
Click the "Edit field" option.
In the popup, adjust the value in the "Formula" field as needed.
When finished, click the "Update field" button.
🔢 Custom formula fields
There's a new custom "Formula" field type and no restriction on the number of formula fields you can add to a section.
You can now better model your spreadsheet scenarios in DeepStream directly, using multiple formulas to calculate costs and value.
Consider elements like discounts and quantity options, and related lifecycle costs like delivery, commissioning, maintenance, recycling, etc.
To add a custom formula field
Before add a new custom formula, ensure you've added and configured all the fields you want to reference within it.
Click the "Add field" button in either the section sub-header or at the top-right of the grid itself.
From the dropdown, click the "Formula" option from the "Custom" section at the very bottom of the list.
In the popup, set and configure the values as required:
"Field name" – Choose a descriptive name for what the value of your formula will represent.
"Formula" – Enter a formula to calculate your value. You can refer to any other "Price" or "Number" type fields within the section, or even other formula fields. You can also use simple mathematical operators like "+ - * / ( ) ".
"Format" - Choose "Price" or "Number" depending on the value you want this field to output.
When finished configuring, click the "Add field" button.
✂️ Cut, copy and paste
You can now use your usual keyboard shortcuts to cut, copy and paste content in the line items grid, just like you would in a spreadsheet!
You can use this to quickly and easily build out your requirements, and to move data to and from other apps like Excel and Google sheets.
If you paste a lot of data and there aren't enough rows, then DeepStream will even offer to add more rows for you automatically.
To cut or copy
Select 1 or more cells in the grid.
Use your usual keyboard shortcut to Cut or Copy.
Windows – "Ctrl + X" to Cut; "Ctrl + C" to Copy
Mac – "⌘ + X" to Cut; "⌘ + C" to Copy.
If prompted by your browser, you'll need to give DeepStream read access to your clipboard for this feature to work.
You'll see a success message at top-right.
To paste
Select a target 1 or more target cells to paste into.
Use your usual keyboard shortcut to Paste.
On Windows this is "Ctrl + V" and on Mac it's "⌘ + V".
If prompted by your browser, you'll need to give DeepStream read access to your clipboard.
If more rows are needed to ensure all your data is added to the grid, you'll see a popup to give you the option to add more rows automatically.
You'll see success or error messages at top-right.
If you see errors when pasting, this generally means that a value is invalid for the field you're pasting into - for instance you cannot paste text into a number field. Where this happens, the affected values will be ignored.
👀 Expanded view
You can expand the grid view to fill the full height and width of the screen when you're editing. Useful for when you're dealing with a lot of line items and fields and can benefit from the extra space.
To use expanded view
Click the Expand view button just above the grid – the view will fill all the available width and height of the window.
Make the window larger to add more space as needed.
You'll leave expanded view when you Save or Cancel the section, or click the Shrink view button at the top.
⬇️ Full CSV download
You can now generate and download a CSV containing all of the fields and content within your draft line items section.
You can use this to import data into other apps and systems, or edit the CSV separately and then import it back into DeepStream if desired.
To download a CSV
Click More actions and choose Download CSV.
The CSV will be generated and downloaded automatically.
Cells which are disabled in the grid will be included in the export with only their placeholder values, like "Supplier to provide" and "Formula result".
⬆️ CSV import for all fields
DeepStream now supports importing to all fields you've added to your line items section, including custom fields.
The CSV import flow also features an improved preview of the values you are importing with an expansive grid view, more configuration and clearly highlighted errors.
To import from CSV
Ensure you've added and configured all DeepStream fields to your line items section before you start your import, as you can't do this during an import yet.
Click More actions and choose Import from CSV.
Select a CSV file and choose Upload.
Use the Preview to review and adjust your import.
Errors – Affected cells, rows, and columns will show a warning icon and be highlighted in orange. Values with errors will not be imported.
Map fields – Use this menu to adjust how CSV fields are mapped to fields in DeepStream. Ensure that the correct fields are mapped to avoid errors.
Date format – Use this option if you see many errors with date values. Adjust the CSV format to suit your file and values will be converted as necessary.
Exclude first row – Enable this if your CSV data has a header row
Click Import to add your new line items.
They will be added to the bottom of any line items you've already added to the section.
Fields which are disabled in the grid will still appear in the preview, but you cannot import values to these fields.
Product & Service tags
Product & Service tags conform to the UNSPSC standard and have a special format in the grid to ensure they can be imported (or copied and pasted) correctly.
A value for a product and service tag consists of the tag number in square brackets, followed by the tag name. For example: [32111508] Solar diodes
Any value you import or paste into this field must include at least the tag ID within square brackets (for example [32111508]) or it will be ignored.