Working with Table

Tables are a foundational element in data management and analytics, and Tabula offers a versatile table interface that allows for multiple functionalities, making your data handling smoother and more efficient. This article will discuss the key features of tables in Tabula, including their Preview and Simple modes, how to interact with them, and much more.

Table Modes

Preview Mode

When you are editing the node, the table is in Preview Mode. This mode is designed to review data and assess how your changes affect the dataset. Any changes you make to the data will be highlighted, providing immediate visual feedback.

There are different types of highlighting:

• new column(s) is added - green background

• the existing column will be removed - red background

• the existing column will be replaced with a new one - you will see both the old (grey background and red icon in the header) and new column (green background) alongside

• the existing row will be removed - red background

• the existing column will not change but is involved in the current transform settings - grey background

Use the toggle "Show only the affected columns" in the footer to hide all columns not involved in the current transformation.

Default Mode

After clicking "Apply" on your transformation, the table will shift to Default Mode. This mode allows more direct interaction with your table data.

Edit in Place

This feature streamlines the data modification process by allowing you to perform several tasks directly on the table.

• Rename columns. To rename a column, all you have to do is double-click on the column header. This action will transform the header into an editable text field.

• Move columns. You can change the columns' order by dragging the column header and dropping it at the desired location.

• Change column type. You can also modify the data type of a column directly from the table view. Click on the data type icon next to the column name to change and select a new type from the menu.

Context Menu

The context menu offers a list of options to manipulate columns. This menu is accessible by clicking the icon with three dots next to the column name when the table is in Simple Mode.

• Rename. Selecting "Rename" opens up an editable text field for the column name.

• Insert Left and Insert Right. These options allow you to insert a new column to the selected column's left or right.

• Sort A-Z and Sort Z_A. Options to sort the column data in ascending or descending order.

• Move to Beginning, Move to End. Options to move the selected column to either the table's beginning or end, respectively.

• Hide and Delete. The "Hide" option will make the column invisible but won't remove it from the table, while "Delete" will remove the column.

You can download the table as a CSV file or copy its contents from the menu in the footer. Only sample data used in Flow Designer will be downloaded.

General Features

Columns Search Panel

This panel appears on the left side of the table view, allowing you to search for columns and quickly navigate to them.

Full-Screen View

You can open the table in a full-screen view for a more immersive data exploration experience. Drag and drop the upper border of the table header till the table sticks to the toolbar.

Long Text Cells

Cells containing long text can be expanded in a popup window where you can have a clear view of your data and navigate between rows.

Convert the row to the header.

Select a row by clicking on it's number. You can convert the selected row into a header row.

Filter Bar

This bar contains options like filter, group by, sort, and bars. It's intended for quick data exploration and doesn't create new transformations in the flow.

• Filter. This option lets you narrow down the data in your table based on specific conditions. You can select a column and specify the criteria for the data you want to view.

• Group by. This function aggregates your data based on one or more columns. It essentially combines rows that have the same values in the specified columns.

• Sort. Sorting allows you to arrange the rows in your table based on the values in one or more columns. You can sort data in ascending or descending order.

• Data Bars. The "Bars" feature visually represents the values in a column with horizontal bars, similar to a mini bar chart within each cell.

• Show formatting marks. It reveals hidden characters like spaces, tabs, and line breaks within the table's cells when activated.

• Hide columns. The "Hide Columns" option makes specific columns invisible in the table view. This is different from deleting a column; hidden columns can be easily brought back into view.

Column Header Statistics

You can find quick column statistics right in the column header. The range of values is displayed for numerical columns, whereas the number of unique entries is shown for categorical columns. A colored line beneath this statistical information visually indicates the column's ratio of valid to missing data. Hovering over this line will reveal the numerical details of this ratio.

Clicking on statistics information will expand it to show additional statistics like data distribution or the top unique values in that column.