Optimized Presentation Table: Features and Restrictions

The optimized presentation table provides pixel-level column or row resizing, smooth scrolling, and other features.

While the optimized presentation table does have new features, it also has some restrictions. If the restrictions prevent you from getting the information you need, you can switch to the standard table. (To switch to the standard table, open the Builder panel and clear the selection for Optimized Presentation.)

Refer to the following sections for features and restrictions.

Features in the Optimized Presentation table

Feature	Description
Fast-loading in-cell charts	In-cell charts load much more quickly than they do in a standard table.
Pixel-based column / row resizing	When you resize columns or rows in the table, you now see the pixel value; this allows for more precise styling. Also, you can now resize multiple columns or rows at once to a specific size, the same as you would do in Microsoft Excel.
Smooth scrolling View mode scrolling	Scrolling is now pixel-based instead of column or row based, which makes for smoother scrolling. In View mode, you don't need to click inside the table to scroll: just hover the cursor over the table and then scroll.
Consistent row heights	You no longer have to worry about inconsistent row heights when new data is loaded into the table. You can set the row height in the styling panel for the whole table. You can either set a custom height or use the predefined heights (Default, Cozy, Condensed, and so on). The default height will account for the font-size of the text within the cells and adjusts the height to avoid cutting off text.
New responsive logic	Previously, you were required to scroll horizontally even if there should have been enough space for the content. Now when scrolling horizontally, the Adaptive Column Width behavior works better. If there is leftover white space, it is distributed evenly.
Table title visibility and height	The table title is always visible now. It is frozen at the top of the page and no longer scrolls with the table content. In addition, the title height is automatically adjusted when the table is resized.
Removing a linked analysis	To remove a linked analysis, choose one of the following: `CTRL` + `Click` deselects the member. `ESC` clears the whole selection.
Resizing tables automatically	In Canvas pages, you can now resize a table so that its size is no longer fixed and automatically adjusts vertically to display all rows. The table size changes depending on different events, such as data refresh or new filters for instance.
Repeat table title and headers	In paginated stories, the title and headers of a tables are repeated across multiple pages in both fixed and dynamic canvases, and Edit and View modes. The option is enabled by default. Here are the possibilities when working with a fixed-sized table: None Freeze dimension headers Freeze up to row Freeze up to column Here are the possibilities when working with a dynamic-sized table (growing table): None Repeat dimension headers Repeat up to row Freeze up to column If you're working with resizable tables, dimensions headers are frozen by default.

Restrictions in Optimized Presentation Table

While there are useful new features in this table, there are also some restrictions to be aware of. Use the information in the following table to help you decide which table option to use.

Restriction	Description
Performance issues when there are a lot of columns.	Tables that have a lot of columns will not refresh as quickly as tables with fewer columns. Consider limiting the number of columns to improve refresh rates.
The optimized presentation table is not available for all story pages and modes.	Use the standard table if you need to use any of the following options: Data View Explorer Examine Panel Grid page Predictive Forecast preview Input task R widget Data locks
Keeping member name visible (sticky scrolling) for repeating dimension members.	When multiple dimensions are shown for rows and repetitive member names are disabled, the standard table keeps the dimension member names visible when you scroll down the table. This does not work in the optimized presentation table. Workaround: to see dimension member names at all times, from the table select Show/Hide Repetitive Member Names.

Restriction

Description

Performance issues when there are a lot of columns.

Tables that have a lot of columns will not refresh as quickly as tables with fewer columns.

Consider limiting the number of columns to improve refresh rates.

The optimized presentation table is not available for all story pages and modes.

Use the standard table if you need to use any of the following options:

Data View Explorer
Examine Panel
Grid page
Predictive Forecast preview
Input task
R widget
Data locks

Keeping member name visible (sticky scrolling) for repeating dimension members.

When multiple dimensions are shown for rows and repetitive member names are disabled, the standard table keeps the dimension member names visible when you scroll down the table. This does not work in the optimized presentation table.

Workaround: to see dimension member names at all times, from the table select Start of the navigation path Next navigation step Show/Hide Repetitive Member Names End of the navigation path .

Questions about table changes

You may notice that some things don't work the way you expect them to in this table. Here are answers to some of the most common questions that come up.

Question	Reason, recommendation
Why is there no resize indicator after I switch to the new table?	The new table redefines the “responsive” logic. If the Adaptive Column Width checkbox is checked when you use the new table, we no longer allow resizing of columns. A column will get a width that fits the longest text of its cells, and all the leftover white space will be distributed evenly to all columns. If you want to resize a column, you have to clear the Adaptive Column Width checkbox. This will stop columns from adjusting to the widget size, and you can then define your own column widths.
Why do I always see a scroll bar now?	When the content of the table exceeds the widget height or width, a scroll bar is automatically added. This scroll bar is not shown when all the content fits inside the widget; however, space is reserved at the side for the vertical scroll bar so that the scroll bar doesn't overlap content. In addition, in view mode, you can now scroll without having to select the table first.
What are the colored boxes that I see when I have the Styling panel open and want to select cells inside the table?	The colored boxes (default color: orange) are shown when you hover the cursor over certain areas of the table. This indicates which cells will be selected with the next click. The table has multiple areas (regions) that can be styled separately. These areas are: Data region: the cells containing numbers or charts. Dimension: all cells that contain a dimension member of the specific dimension. For example, “Location” is the dimension, and “New York” and “Los Angeles” are dimension members. Header region: the area that contains the dimensions. Single cell: individual cells can also be selected.
Why do I have to click multiple times to select an individual cell when the Styling panel is open?	The table is using region selection to make it easier for you to style a collection of cells at once. For example, if you want all data cells (the numbers) to be red, you don't have to select all the cells manually, but can use the “Data region” selection.
What happens when the checkbox Adaptive Column Width is selected?	To make the table contents responsive to outside changes (such as resizing the widget), the table can automatically adjust the column widths. The changes respect the following guidelines: Manual resizing of columns is not allowed anymore; instead, the width of the columns change if the width of the widget changes. The text is not cut off horizontally. For each column, the longest text is used as a base width: If the sum of the base widths of all columns is smaller than the widget width, then this “empty space” is distributed evenly to the columns. If the sum of the base widths of all columns is larger than the widget width, then the columns keep this base width. Restriction When a cell in a column has Wrap styling applied, that column will be exempt from the white space distribution. A set width is applied to the column and it won't change when extra white space is distributed to the columns, even if the wrapped text content is narrower than the applied width. If you want to use the Wrap style, it is recommended that the Adaptive Column Width option is turned off. This gives you more control to manually resize the column to the desired width for displaying the wrapped text.
How can I set a fixed height for all of the rows in my table?	The Styling panel has a section Table Properties that lets you either select a predefined height or choose to set a custom height. The predefined height options are Default, Cozy, and Condensed: Default: sets the row height according to the content in the row by calculating the needed height with respect to the font size as well as icons and padding. Cozy: results in more padding above and below the text within the cell. Condensed: results in less padding above and below the text within the cell.
I have a cell selected, but cannot change the height of the cell when selecting the line at the top of the cell.	Resizing is done using the bottom or right side of the cell. Resizing always affects all cells in the same column or row. To increase or reduce the height of a row, use the line at the bottom of a cell. To increase or reduce the width of a column, use the line on the right side of a cell.
Why do different colors show up when I switch the color palette for in-cell charts?	The colors in the dropdown for the in-cell charts are only a preview of the palette. When switching the order of the colors you might see completely different colors from the same palette. The additional colors were the ones that were not shown in the preview.