This article is part of our complete guide to Views in Dynamics 365 and Power Apps.
👉 Read the full guide here.
Choosing the right columns is only part of the story. Just as important is how those columns are arranged and how much space they take up on the screen.
Dynamics 365 and Power Apps give you several easy ways to reorder and resize columns, allowing you to design views that are faster to scan and easier to work with.
Why Column Layout Matters
A well-arranged view:
- Groups related information together
- Reduces eye movement when scanning data
- Feels more natural and intuitive
For example, placing a Weighted Amount column next to Amount makes it easier to compare values without jumping across the screen.
Rearranging Columns Using Edit Columns
The traditional way to change column order is through Edit columns.
From there, you can:
- Drag columns up or down to control their order
- Apply the changes to update the view
This method works in both personal and global views (depending on permissions) and gives you full control over the column sequence.
Moving Columns Left and Right
In addition to drag-and-drop within Edit Columns, Dynamics 365 also provides:
- Dropdown options to move columns left or right in the list
While this works, most users find direct drag-and-drop faster and more intuitive.
Dragging Columns Directly in the View
One of the easiest — and least known — features is that you can rearrange columns directly from the view itself.
To do this:
- Click and hold a column header
- Drag it left or right to the desired position
- Release to apply the change
This method feels very similar to working in Excel and is often the quickest way to fine-tune a view.
Adjusting Column Widths
Column width plays a big role in readability.
Traditionally, column width is adjusted through the column menu, where you can increase or decrease the size using arrow controls.
However, there’s an even easier way.
Just like in Excel, you can:
- Hover over the right edge of a column header
- Click and drag to resize the column visually
This makes it easy to give more space to longer fields while keeping others compact.
Saving Your Changes
As with other view customizations, changes to column order and width are temporary until saved.
If you see an asterisk next to the view name, it means:
- The view has been modified
- The changes haven’t been saved yet
Be sure to save your view if you want to reuse the layout in the future.
Final Thoughts
Small layout changes can make a big difference.
By rearranging and resizing columns, you can turn a cluttered view into a clean, efficient workspace that supports how you actually use the data.
Once you start adjusting column layout directly in the view, it’s hard to go back.
For more tips on getting the most out of Dynamics 365 and Power Apps, subscribe to the P2 Automation YouTube channel and explore more practical how-to guides.
