---
title: "Row Grouping - Custom Group Columns"
enterprise: true
framework: angular
version: "36.1.0"
---

# Row Grouping - Custom Group Columns

Custom Group Columns can be provided to gain additional control over the group columns.

> **Warning**
>
> We advise against using your own group columns. Only do this if you require:
>
> - The ability to position a column left of the group column, and `colDef.lockPosition` or `colDef.pinned` are insufficient.
> - Fine grain control of [Multiple Group Columns](https://www.ag-grid.com/angular-data-grid/grouping-multiple-group-columns/) configuration per column, where callbacks are unsupported.

## Enabling a Single Custom Group Column

A [Single Group Column](https://www.ag-grid.com/angular-data-grid/grouping-single-group-column/) can be configured by setting the `groupDisplayType` grid option to `"custom"`. The column displaying groups then needs to also be included in the `columnDefs` with `colDef.showRowGroup` set to `true`, and the `cellRenderer` set to `'agGroupCellRenderer'`.

#### Custom Grouping Single Group Column

```ts
import { Component } from "@angular/core";
import { HttpClient } from "@angular/common/http";
import { AgGridAngular } from "ag-grid-angular";
import {
  ClientSideRowModelModule,
  ColDef,
  ColGroupDef,
  GridApi,
  GridOptions,
  GridReadyEvent,
  ModuleRegistry,
  RowGroupingDisplayType,
  enableDevValidations,
} from "ag-grid-community";
import { RowGroupingModule } from "ag-grid-enterprise";
if (process.env.NODE_ENV !== "production") {
  enableDevValidations();
}

ModuleRegistry.registerModules([ClientSideRowModelModule, RowGroupingModule]);
import { IOlympicData } from "./interfaces";

@Component({
  selector: "my-app",
  standalone: true,
  imports: [AgGridAngular],
  template: `<ag-grid-angular
    style="width: 100%; height: 100%;"
    [columnDefs]="columnDefs"
    [defaultColDef]="defaultColDef"
    [groupDisplayType]="groupDisplayType"
    [rowData]="rowData"
    (gridReady)="onGridReady($event)"
  /> `,
})
export class AppComponent {
  columnDefs: ColDef[] = [
    // one column for showing the groups
    {
      headerName: "Group",
      cellRenderer: "agGroupCellRenderer",
      showRowGroup: true,
      minWidth: 210,
    },
    // the first group column
    { field: "country", rowGroup: true, hide: true },
    { field: "year", rowGroup: true, hide: true },
    { field: "athlete" },
    { field: "total" },
  ];
  defaultColDef: ColDef = {
    flex: 1,
    minWidth: 200,
  };
  groupDisplayType: RowGroupingDisplayType = "custom";
  rowData!: IOlympicData[];

  constructor(private http: HttpClient) {}

  onGridReady(params: GridReadyEvent<IOlympicData>) {
    this.http
      .get<
        IOlympicData[]
      >("https://www.ag-grid.com/example-assets/olympic-winners.json")
      .subscribe((data) => (this.rowData = data));
  }
}
```

[Live example: Custom Grouping Single Group Column](https://www.ag-grid.com/examples/grouping-custom-group-columns/custom-grouping-single-group-column/angular)

The example above demonstrates the following configuration:

```ts
<ag-grid-angular
    [columnDefs]="columnDefs"
    [groupDisplayType]="groupDisplayType"
    /* other grid options ... */ />

this.columnDefs = [
    { field: 'country', rowGroup: true, hide: true },
    { field: 'year', rowGroup: true, hide: true },
    { headerName: 'Groups', showRowGroup: true, cellRenderer: 'agGroupCellRenderer' },
    // ...other column definitions
];
this.groupDisplayType = 'custom';
```

## Enabling Multiple Custom Group Columns

[Multiple Group Columns](https://www.ag-grid.com/angular-data-grid/grouping-multiple-group-columns/) can be configured by setting the `groupDisplayType` grid option to `"custom"`.

Each column displaying groups needs to be included in the `columnDefs` with `colDef.showRowGroup` set to the `colId` of the grouped column they are displaying. The `colDef` also requires `cellRenderer` to be set to `'agGroupCellRenderer'`.

#### Custom Grouping Multiple Group Columns

```ts
import { Component } from "@angular/core";
import { HttpClient } from "@angular/common/http";
import { AgGridAngular } from "ag-grid-angular";
import {
  ClientSideRowModelModule,
  ColDef,
  ColGroupDef,
  GridApi,
  GridOptions,
  GridReadyEvent,
  ModuleRegistry,
  RowGroupingDisplayType,
  enableDevValidations,
} from "ag-grid-community";
import { RowGroupingModule } from "ag-grid-enterprise";
if (process.env.NODE_ENV !== "production") {
  enableDevValidations();
}

ModuleRegistry.registerModules([ClientSideRowModelModule, RowGroupingModule]);
import { IOlympicData } from "./interfaces";

@Component({
  selector: "my-app",
  standalone: true,
  imports: [AgGridAngular],
  template: `<ag-grid-angular
    style="width: 100%; height: 100%;"
    [columnDefs]="columnDefs"
    [defaultColDef]="defaultColDef"
    [groupDisplayType]="groupDisplayType"
    [rowData]="rowData"
    (gridReady)="onGridReady($event)"
  /> `,
})
export class AppComponent {
  columnDefs: ColDef[] = [
    {
      headerName: "Country Groups",
      minWidth: 200,
      showRowGroup: "country",
      cellRenderer: "agGroupCellRenderer",
    },
    {
      headerName: "Year Groups",
      minWidth: 200,
      showRowGroup: "year",
      cellRenderer: "agGroupCellRenderer",
    },
    { field: "country", rowGroup: true, hide: true },
    { field: "year", rowGroup: true, hide: true },
    { field: "athlete", minWidth: 220 },
    { field: "total" },
  ];
  defaultColDef: ColDef = {
    flex: 1,
    minWidth: 150,
  };
  groupDisplayType: RowGroupingDisplayType = "custom";
  rowData!: IOlympicData[];

  constructor(private http: HttpClient) {}

  onGridReady(params: GridReadyEvent<IOlympicData>) {
    this.http
      .get<
        IOlympicData[]
      >("https://www.ag-grid.com/example-assets/olympic-winners.json")
      .subscribe((data) => (this.rowData = data));
  }
}
```

[Live example: Custom Grouping Multiple Group Columns](https://www.ag-grid.com/examples/grouping-custom-group-columns/custom-grouping-many-group-columns/angular)

The example above demonstrates the following configuration for configuring multiple groups columns:

```ts
<ag-grid-angular
    [columnDefs]="columnDefs"
    [groupDisplayType]="groupDisplayType"
    /* other grid options ... */ />

this.columnDefs = [
    { colId: 'country', field: 'country', rowGroup: true, hide: true },
    { colId: 'year',  field: 'year', rowGroup: true, hide: true },
    { headerName: 'Country Groups', showRowGroup: 'country', cellRenderer: 'agGroupCellRenderer', },
    { headerName: 'Year Groups', showRowGroup: 'year', cellRenderer: 'agGroupCellRenderer', },
    // ...other column definitions
];
this.groupDisplayType = 'custom';
```