SIGIA-L Mail Archives: Re: [Sigia-l] Displaying tablular data o
Re: [Sigia-l] Displaying tablular data on websites
From: Listera (listera_at_rcn.com)
Date: Fri Oct 10 2003 - 18:22:44 EDT
"BINHACK_ANNE_at_bentley.edu" wrote:
> I'm looking for some ideas about how to display tabular data when there is
> limited horizontal screen space on a web application. I have run across
> this problem on a few projects, but have not seen a solution that satisfies
> me.
Solution #1: Use Flash or DHTML and pan the table area with something like
two right/left directional arrows, no need for a horizontal scrollbar.
Example, iTunes Music Store album highlights.
Solution #2: Use an iconic button to spawn a new page to display the table,
thereby giving the user all the flexibility needed. JavaScript coordinates
the data/variable exchange between the two pages, in needed.
Solution #3: Limit the number of columns that the user can display at one
time via checkboxes.
Solution #4: Ask yourself if you really need so many columns and/or if some
of them can be consolidated, charted, summarized, etc.
Anecdote: I once threatened to fire a client because a few accountant-types
insisted that a table with up to 100+ rows and 23 columns be displayed in an
HTML page. They wouldn't listen to rational arguments about peoples' ability
to view/absorb such amount of data. After I made them sit down and actually
show me why they think they need it, I realize that they really wanted to
copy all that data into Excel and manipulate it there in various ways. I
skipped the display stage altogether and a "Download .xls file" button took
care of the problem.
> However, this seems to me an inelegant solution, both developmentally, and
> design-wise.
Hey, if it's "not for public consumption" who needs elegance! :-)
Ziya
Nullius in Verba
------------
When replying, please *trim your post* as much as possible.
*Plain text, please; NO Attachments
Searchable list archive: http://www.info-arch.org/lists/sigia-l/
________________________________________
Sigia-l mailing list -- post to: Sigia-l_at_asis.org
Changes to subscription: http://mail.asis.org/mailman/listinfo/sigia-l
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.2
: Sun Nov 23 2003 - 22:55:57 EST
|
