Best Practice for Table Reports
Table reports in Softools are a great way to neatly organize your data. In this post, we'll walk you through the best practices for Table Reports, ensuring you maximize their potential!
Fields to use
Action Button (Open record/go to child/go to parent)
Action fields in the Table Report are interactive buttons that trigger specific actions when clicked. Think of them as shortcuts that streamline tasks within the report.
For instance, imagine you're viewing a parent record and want to see its linked child records. With action fields, a single click can instantly display these child records right within the parent's report. And the reverse is true too. When viewing a child record, you can quickly access its linked parent records using the same method.
For more information on linking apps, click here.
Moreover, action fields aren't just limited to viewing linked records. They can also be configured to open a full record, offering users a seamless and intuitive navigation experience.
For more information on action fields, click here.
In-App chart
In-App charts provide a visually appealing method to showcase record-level data. Imagine them as interactive graphics embedded within a table report. When you click on these charts, they display detailed information right at the report level, making data presentation both engaging and straightforward.
For more information on In-App Charts, click here.
Report Fields
Sticky column
When you're dealing with a Table Report packed with numerous columns, it's not always possible to view them all at once – scrolling becomes necessary.
But, if there's a particularly important column – say a title or reference field – that you want visible throughout your navigation, you can set it as "sticky." By doing so, even as you scroll horizontally through the report, this column will stay in place, constantly in view, ensuring you never lose sight of key information.
For more information on this feature, click here.
Make sure the columns are sortable
To enable column heading sorting, simply add each field from the report columns to the "Sorting and Grouping" section within the filters. This allows users to effortlessly arrange the records in either ascending or descending order directly from the report.
For more information on grouping and sorting, click here.
Column Configuration - Min and Max sizes
When setting up the Table Report, you'll find options to either fix the column width or set a minimum and maximum width. By choosing the latter, columns will adapt to the screen size, expanding on larger screens and contracting on smaller ones.
Here's a quick guide to help you choose the right width based on content:
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Status/Image List Buttons: Depending on the column label's length, opt for a range of 60-100 pixels.
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Date Fields: These are fairly consistent in length and so we could say about 100-120 pixels, works best.
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Title Fields: Generally longer than dates but not excessively wide. A 'medium' width, roughly 200-300 pixels, is ideal.
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Descriptions/Notes: These fields can contain lengthy texts. A 'wide' column, between 400-600 pixels, is advisable.
For your convenience, here's a breakdown of pixel lengths for fixed column widths:
- Tiny: 60 pixels
- Small: 100 pixels
- Medium: 200 pixels
- Wide: 400 pixels
Adjust as needed to make your report visually appealing and user-friendly!
For more information on column widths in table reports, click here.
Elasticity
This feature works in tandem with the maximum value. If there's extra space left at the end of your Table Report, the elasticity determines which column stretches to fill that gap. Essentially, this ensures that your Table Report always fits the full width of any screen size, optimizing display and ensuring there are no awkward empty spaces.
For more information on this, click here.
Report Configuration
Styles - status bar
You can enhance the look and user experience of reports and records by adding styling. For instance, incorporating status colours into the Table Report can be very effective. This results in a colour indicator on the left-hand side of each record, clearly displaying its status at a glance. This not only enhances the report but also makes data interpretation faster and more intuitive.
For more information on this, click here.
Good Sub Title
When creating a Table report, it's highly recommended to include a Sub Title to clarify the report's content.
Especially when applying a base filter to display specific record values, a Sub Title provides valuable context. For instance, if the report only shows records with a red status for risks, the Sub Title can succinctly state: "Risks with Red Status." This way, users instantly grasp the focus of the report without diving deep into the data.
For more information on this, click here.
Base Filter, Grouping and Sorting
Base filter
Base filters enable you to generate reports that display only records with specific values. In other words, they ensure your report is tailored to show only desired entries.
This method is ideal for creating various reports that each focus on distinct records. Another approach to achieve this is by using Lenses, a topic further discussed in the section below.
For more information on base filters, click here.
Group by
This feature organizes records into distinct groups within a report, streamlining user navigation. For instance, if you group by status colour, all the green status records will be clustered together, making it easier to locate and review similar entries at once.
For more information on this, click here.
Sort by
Sorting lets you arrange records in a report based on a particular value. For instance, by sorting by the 'date created', you can display the newest records at the top and the oldest ones at the bottom, making it simpler for users to spot the most recent entries.
For more information on this, click here.
Lenses
Lenses let you save specific filters within a report, essentially creating smaller, more focused versions of that main report. Imagine having a comprehensive report, and then beneath it, you have tailored sub-reports, each highlighting data based on specific filters.
For more information, click here.
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