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Posted on Dec 18

Table Visualization in Dashboards: Key Features & Use Cases

#tablevisualization #tablewidgets #gridwidgets #pivottable

Introduction

Tables, also known as grid or pivot grid visualizations, are one of the most effective ways to present structured data in dashboards. Charts often provide a high-level overview of data, but they can make it difficult to extract specific values or compare detailed records. Tables address this by offering a clear, organized format that supports sorting, filtering, and precise comparisons. Whether you're analyzing budgets, tracking employee leave, or monitoring academic performance, tables help organize complex datasets into a readable format. This blog explores what a table is, when and when not to use one, real-time use cases across industries, and key benefits.

Understanding table visualization

Table visualization, also known as grid visualization, refers to the presentation of data in a tabular format—rows and columns—that allows users to view detailed information quickly. In Bold BI, this is typically implemented through the Grid or Pivot Grid widgets, which support sorting, filtering, and even inline editing. These features make tables not just static visuals, but interactive for exploring live data.

Now let’s focus on how tables are helpful in visualizing data.

Benefits of using table visualization in dashboards

By using a table in your dashboard, you can benefit from:

Efficient comparisons: Tables allow users to quickly compare large volumes of data side by side.
Real-time updates: Tables can refresh instantly as new data comes in, keeping insights current.
Easy filtering and sorting: Users can sort or filter table data to find specific information quickly.
Supports multiple data types: Tables can display text, numbers, dates, and more in a unified format.

When to use tables in dashboards

Tables are especially effective in the following scenarios:

Capturing or entering structured data efficiently.
Displaying survey results, research outcomes, or statistical comparisons clearly.
Quickly referencing or looking up specific information.

Despite their strengths, tables may not be ideal in certain situations.

When not to use tables in dashboards

When data is abstract or aggregated, tables may not effectively convey relationships or distributions.
When you need to show trends or patterns, charts are better for visualizing changes over time.
When quick insights are needed, tables require more effort to interpret compared to visual summaries.

Next, let’s dive into real-world use cases that show how table visualization brings clarity and structure to dashboard data across industries.

Use cases of table visualization in dashboards

Tables in dashboards present detailed data in a structured format. Let’s explore how different industries use them to drive clarity and foster informed decisions.

Finance

The following tables in the Bold BI Budget vs. Actual Dashboard sample are used to display planned budgets, actual expenditures, and variances across departments. Progress bars and conditional formatting highlight budget performance instantly. This help finance teams monitor spending efficiency and quickly identify areas that need adjustment, ensuring better financial control.

Human resources

The following employee leave summary table showcases employee details such as department, leave type, approval status, and remaining leave balance. Additional status indicators make it easy to scan for pending or approved requests. HR managers benefit from this table visualization by gaining a clear overview of workforce availability and policy adherence, with links to deeper leave records for follow-up.

Education

A table in a student enrollment summary dashboard can be used to present key metrics like enrollment numbers, attendance rates, and performance scores, organized by term and department. This layout helps administrators track student engagement and academic progress.

Agriculture

In an agricultural resource monitoring dashboard, the following table visualizes usage data for water, fertilizer, and energy across farms and seasons. Conditional formatting flags inefficiencies, allowing teams to respond quickly. This supports sustainable farming by helping users monitor consumption patterns and optimize resource allocation.

Healthcare

In a COVID-19 summary dashboard, a table can be used to display country-level data on confirmed cases, recoveries, and fatalities. Interactive filters and color-coded indicators make it easy to identify high-risk regions. Healthcare professionals and policymakers use this to track global trends and allocate resources effectively, with links to expanded health metrics.

With those use cases in mind, let’s see how to create a table in Bold BI step by step.

How to configure a table in Bold BI

1. Add the Grid or Pivot Grid widget

Navigate to the dashboard page in the Bold BI® designer. From the widget panel, drag and drop the Grid widget onto the canvas. Alternatively, you can choose the Pivot Grid.

2. Connect to a data source

Next, click on the Grid widget and then click Assign Data. Select your preferred data source and map the required fields to the table columns.

3. Configure data fields

Map the relevant fields from your dataset to the Grid widget. Next, customize the order of columns and their display properties as needed.

4. Enable filtering

Allow filtering in the Grid widget by selecting the Allow Filter option in the widget settings.

Selecting this option provides a filter box for each column in the grid, as shown in the following figure:

5. Enable sorting

The Grid widget allows sorting on individual columns by default. You can toggle interactive column sorting in the Grid widget by selecting the Allow Sorting option in the widget settings.

6. Enable exporting

You can also toggle the ability to export data in different formats (CSV, image, PDF, Excel) by selecting the various export options for the Grid widget in the Export Settings.

To learn more about this process, read our documentation or check out our Creating a Table/Grid-Based Dashboard in Bold BI like Bold Reports KB article.

Key features of table visualization in Bold BI

Filtering allows users to quickly narrow down displayed data based on specific criteria. This streamlines the search process, improves efficiency, and provides a focused view of relevant information.
Column alignment improves the visual structure of data, making the data easier to read, interpret, and compare. It contributes to a polished, professional interface and enhances user interaction.
Linking allows users to navigate directly to related webpages or resources. This feature provides seamless access to external content and helps connect data across platforms for better context and usability.
Pagination divides large datasets into multiple pages, reducing load times and preventing information overload. It ensures smoother navigation and a more manageable user experience.
Key performance indicators (KPI) display specific metrics in a clear, organized format. They support quick analysis and customization, helping users monitor performance effectively.
Background and foreground settings let users set background and foreground colors, enhancing visual appeal and improving content readability within the grid.
Conditional formatting applies styles based on data values or rules, making trends and exceptions more visible and aiding quick interpretation.
Value formatting customizes how data is displayed, improving clarity and helping users better understand the presented information.
Bar formatting adds visual indicators within cells, allowing users to compare values at a glance and grasp data distribution more intuitively.
Advanced formatting offers gradient or rule-based styling options, enabling deeper customization and enhancing data presentation for complex analysis.
Alternative rows apply alternating colors to rows, improving readability and helping users distinguish between entries, especially in large datasets.
Summary rows provide aggregated data such as totals or averages, offering quick insights and supporting efficient data analysis.

To learn more about the key features of table visuals in Bold BI®, refer to our 7 Unique Features of Pivot Table blog and our documentation.

While tables are widely used, not every business intelligence tool makes them interactive, customizable, and scalable. That’s where Bold BI stands out. It supports all the features listed above, empowering users to build rich, insightful dashboards that are both functional and visually compelling.

Explore our Data Filtering Options for a Seamless User Experience, How to Create Custom Sort Order in Bold BI, and How to Perform URL Linking Between Bold BI Dashboards resources to learn how to apply filtering, sorting, and linking in dashboard widgets.

Say goodbye to scattered dashboards. Leverage Bold BI capabilities to: