# Using the Expression Editor

Inaport has an expression builder which assists you in building an expression.

To start the expression builder:

- click in any column that can use an expression
- then double click on the box with "..." at the right hand end of the column.

The expression editor starts with a copy of the expression that was in the column clicked (if any).

To add expression elements:

1. select the insertion point in the expression by clicking the edit box
2. select the function, operator, field id or other element from the various grids available and double click.

When you select a function, the parameters required for the function are shown in the parameter grid, below the function grid.

To the left of the function grid is a data grid. This displays the fields from the first record in the Preview grid from the main Profile Editor screen. Double clicking on a field in this grid will add the correct field name to the expression.

The 'Regular Expressions', 'Number Formats' and 'Date Formats' tabs provide:

- summary information
- some examples of common uses. Double clicking on any of the examples will insert it into the expression at the selected point. please note that these are just examples; you can modify them or write your own.