Blocks are fundamental components when building a Pigment Application - and the Block Explorer is where you have access to all the Blocks in your model. Here you can create, filter, and customize them, as well as organize, move, delete, or duplicate them. This article walks you through the essential steps of working with Pigment Blocks using the Block Explorer. 

Open Block Explorer

1. Open the required Application, and in the sidebar click All Blocks.   
2. Click the tabs to view the 4 different types of Blocks:
   - Transactions. For more information, see Understand Dimension and Transaction Lists. 
   - Dimensions. For more information, see Understand Dimension and Transaction Lists. 
   - Metrics. For more information, see Measure Data with Metrics. 
   - Tables. For more information, see Work with Tables to Summarize Information. 

Create a List or a Metric

In Pigment there are two different ways to create a Dimension List, Transaction List, or Metric. 

Create from the Sidebar

1. Hover over the Blocks section in the Sidebar until a plus sign (+) appears.
2. Click the plus sign (+) to create a new Dimension List, Transaction List, Metric, or Table.

Create from the Block Explorer

1. Open All Blocks from the Sidebar.
2. Click the + New button to create a new Dimension List, Transaction List, Metric, or Table.

Create a Table 

A Table is a group of Metrics that can be analyzed and compared together. You can create a Table like you create a List or Metric. However, when you’re creating a Table using multiple Metrics, using All Blocks gives you a clearer and more organized View.

1. Click All Blocks.

2. Select all the Metrics you want to include in your Table. 

3. Click Create Table.

Delete and Duplicate Blocks 

Delete a Block

1. Click the menu (...) at the end of the row for the Block you want to edit. 
2. Click Delete from the options on the left, then Delete list. 
3. Click Delete to confirm and complete. 

Duplicate a Block 

1. Click the menu (...) at the end of the row for the Block you want to duplicate. 
2. Click Duplicate from the options on the left, then enter a new name for your duplicate Block. 
3. (Optional) In Duplicate options, toggle off any elements you don't want to included in the Block duplication.
   By default, duplicating a Block includes its structure, formulas, data, configurations, and views.

4. Click Duplicate to confirm and complete. 

Organize your Blocks with folders

As your Application gets bigger, you may find yourself with an increasing number of Blocks. To maintain a clean and efficient Workspace, it’s a recommended best practice to organize your Blocks into folders and sub-folders as you’re building your Application.

Some considerations before you start organizing your Blocks: 

• You cannot delete a folder that contains sub-folders. You first need to delete its subfolders, and then the parent folder. 
• A subfolder can have the same name as its parent folder. However, you cannot create two subfolders with identical names within the same parent folder.
• When you view a subfolder, it appears as Parent Folder / Subfolder in the folder menu. For example, a Travel Expenses subfolder nested under the Expenses folder is displayed as Expenses / Travel Expenses.
• Folders cannot be moved from one parent folder to another. However, you can use All Blocks to select multiple Blocks—whether from a specific folder or elsewhere—and bulk move them into a new folder.

Create a new folder 

1. Hover over either the Boards or Blocks section in the Sidebar until a plus sign (+) appears.
2. Click the plus sign (+) and then New folder.
3. Enter a folder name. 
   Give it a clear name that reflects its purpose.
4. Click Create. 

Create a subfolder

1. Hover over either the Boards or Blocks section in the Sidebar until a plus sign (+) appears.
2. Click the plus sign (+) and then New folder.
3. Enter a folder name. 
   Give it a clear name that reflects its purpose.
4. Select the required parent folder from the Parent Folder menu. 
5. Click Create. 
   The subfolder automatically nests under the parent folder.

Rename or delete a folder

1. Hover over the folder you want to rename or delete in the Sidebar until the menu (...) appears.
2. Click the menu (...) and then click either Rename or Delete. 

Move Blocks into a folder

Organizing your Blocks by folder keeps your Workspace neat and ensures you can find and manage Blocks later. You can organize them by going to the sidebar, and to drag and drop Blocks into the appropriate folder. However if you need to move multiple Blocks into a folder, using the Block Explorer gives you a clearer and more organized View.

1. Click All Blocks.

2. Select all the Metrics you want to move. 

3. Click Move to folder.

Search for and filter specific Blocks

1. Open the required Application.
2. In the sidebar, click All Blocks.
3. Click the tabs to view the 4 different types of Blocks:
   - Transactions
   - Dimensions
   - Metrics
   - Tables
4. (Optional) Use the search bar to quickly find any existing Blocks within your Application.
5. (Optional) Click the Filter icon on the right side to activate your filters. 
   - Filter all Block types by Shared Status and Views Library. 
   - Filter Metrics by Data type, Formula status, and Dimensions. 
   - Filter Tables by Metrics within them.