---
title: "Using Tables"
description: "Tables can be used to visualize your data, either within the Spreadsheet workspace or the Dashboard workspace."
source_url: https://support.lucanet.cloud/en/documentation/xp-a---extended-planning-and-analysis/viewing-and-visualizing-data/using-tables
language: en
last_updated: 2023-08-16
---
# Using Tables

## Overview

**Tables** can be used in xP&A to visualize your data in a pivot table, either within the **Spreadsheet** workspace or the **Dashboard** workspace.

Tables are helpful if, for example, you want to drill down and see the details on one variable.

## Creating a Table

To create a **table**, choose one of the following options:

- In the **spreadsheet** workspace, right-click a variable and choose **Create chart | Table:\
\
**
**** Creating a table from a variable
- In the **spreadsheet** workspace, click the **Charts** icon in the top-right corner to open the **Charts** side panel and choose **New chart | Table.**
- In the **Dashboard** workspace, click the **+** icon at the bottom left and select **Table** from the displayed list:
Creating a table from the side panel or using the + icon

{% info-box %}
- To add the variables you want to visualize, drag & drop them onto an existing table from the spreadsheet workspace (when you have the charts side panel open).
- By right-clicking on a table, you can duplicate it (or delete it).
{% /info-box %}

## Editing a Table

You can edit a table

- In the toolbar of the **Spreadsheet** workspace, by clicking the **Charts** icon 
- In the **Dashboard** workspace

The options to edit a table can be found in the toolbar on the top right of the table visual:

Table settings toolbar

## Options for Tables

The following options are available for a table:

### General Options

The following general options are available for tables in xP&A:

#### Commenting a cell

You can add a comment to each cell of a table. Simply hover over the cell you want to comment on an click the yellow comment icon that appears:

Icon to enter a comment

You can enter your comment in the comment field and save it using **Enter** the purple arrow icon.

Comments on a cell are highlighted with a yellow triangle at the top left of the cell. Hover over the yellow triangle to show the comment, all the replies and their authors.

Comment field

#### Three-dot menu

You can use the three-dot menu to:

- **Copy** the table as an image
- **Download** the table as an image
- **Clear annotations and highlights** from the table
- Add a **description**
- **Delete** the table

Three-dot menu

#### Time aggregation

You can use the roll-up/drill-down column drop-down to determine how variables are displayed and summed across time (e.g. quarterly, yearly), and toggle between them easily.

Rolling-up or drilling-down

{% idea-box %}
See section _Time Aggregation_ in [Aggregation Functions](https://support.lucanet.cloud/en/documentation/xp-a---extended-planning-and-analysis/modeling-your-data/create-edit-variables/aggregation-functions.md) if you want to change how a variable aggregates into quarters or years (the default setting is **sum**).
{% /idea-box %}

#### Year-to-date roll-up

The **Year-to-date** roll-up option allows you to see how you are tracking in the year to date.

- The **Year** can either track the calendar year (i.e. starting in January), or the fiscal year (starting with your [fiscal start month](https://support.lucanet.cloud/en/documentation/xp-a---extended-planning-and-analysis/modeling-your-data/working-with-time.md), if set).
- The **to Date** can either be to your [Last Actual Date](https://support.lucanet.cloud/en/documentation/xp-a---extended-planning-and-analysis/modeling-your-data/working-with-time/last-actual-date.md), or to **today**'s date. If you use **Last actual date**, this means that your table will auto-update when you update your **Last actual date** after a [data refresh](https://support.lucanet.cloud/en/documentation/xp-a---extended-planning-and-analysis/integrating-data/working-with-integrated-data/refreshing-a-data-source.md).

YTD roll-up

{% info-box %}
**Year-to-date** also works across versions and scenarios, for example, you can compare your actual YTD performance with how you thought you would be doing so far from your Budget version.
{% /info-box %}

#### Relative comparison

You can use this option to compare the value of a variable across relative time periods (e.g. the prior month, the prior year).

In addition, you can choose if you want to show the **variance** as **percentage**, **value**, or **both**.

Comparing values

#### Adjust column widths

xP&A has a default column width, but if you have a longer column name (and don't want to hover to see it), you can adjust column widths by dragging the header. Useful shortcuts:

- **Hold Shift** to adjust multiple similar columns at once
- **Double-click** to reset to default width
- **Hold shift while double-clicking** to reset multiple similar columns at once

### Setup Options

To open the setup options, click the edit icon in the top-right corner of a table visual and go to the **Setup** tab:

Table setup options

The following setup options are available:

#### Series

You can easily add, rename, reorder (by drag&drop), and delete variables in the **Series** section.

You can also choose, instead of adding variables one-by-one to a table, to add the entire **group** or **section** to the table. The table always stays in sync with the spreadsheet when variables get added or removed from a group or section.

By clicking on a variable in this section, you can:

- Change the **font style**
- Define if the **values** of this variable are **editable**
- Open the **advanced** setting options

#### Series axis

Use this section to set whether your variables are displayed as **rows** or as **columns**.

#### Date range

By default, the table will display the entire model date range. If you would like to shorten the date range, you can select a custom start and/or end date for the table here.

#### Columns /Rows

In this section, you can define which dimensions (e.g. dimensions, scenarios, versions) to include as the rows and columns of the table.

By default, **Time** is included as a column dimension.

If your model has its own **custom dimensions**, you can choose to include those. When including a custom dimension, you can automatically include **dimension totals** by hovering over the dimension and clicking the **Total** button:

'Total' button for a dimension

#### Notes column

If you click on the **+** button in the **Columns** section, you can add a **Notes** column to your table.

The **Notes** column can be used to add in-line context to your tables, e.g. providing variance analysis for Budget vs. Actuals, or explaining key differences between scenarios.

#### Filters and controls

In this section you can add filters to the table, e.g. a **time** filter or a filter to arrange different versions and/or scenarios next to each other.

### Display Options

To open the display options, click the edit icon in the top-right corner of a table visual and go to the **Display** tab:

Table display options

The following display options are available:

#### Enable drill-down

You can use this option to enable a [drill down on underlying integrated data](https://support.lucanet.cloud/en/documentation/xp-a---extended-planning-and-analysis/integrating-data/working-with-integrated-data/drill-down-on-integrated-data.md) (transactions).

Anyone viewing the dashboard will be able to view these underlying details. Note that this information may be sensitive.

#### Show group headers

If [variables are grouped](https://support.lucanet.cloud/en/documentation/xp-a---extended-planning-and-analysis/modeling-your-data/create-edit-variables/using-groups.md) in the **Spreadsheet** workspace, then the table will automatically display these variables under a group heading.

You can use this option to toggle the group headers on or off.

#### Show section headers

You can also show [sections](https://support.lucanet.cloud/en/documentation/xp-a---extended-planning-and-analysis/modeling-your-data/create-edit-variables/using-sections.md) as table headers. This is useful if you have a structured table you need to organize.

#### Hide empty rows

You can use this option to hide rows where the value is 0 or empty.

### Advanced Options

To open the advanced setting options, click the edit icon in the top-right corner of a table visual and go to the **Advanced** tab. The following advanced options are available:

Advanced table options

For a detailed description of the advanced option **Editable values** see the following chapter _Editable Tables_.

## Editable Tables

**Editable tables** are a special type of table that users can add to their dashboards to:

- Make edits without the need of editing info in a spreadsheet.
- Allow other users to make edits to dimension items and their [associated links and variables](https://support.lucanet.cloud/en/documentation/xp-a---extended-planning-and-analysis/modeling-your-data/using-dimensions/dimensions-variables-and-formulas.md).

They are especially useful when you need end-users, often unfamiliar with spreadsheets, to easily provide their inputs towards a budget (e.g. a department head adding their projected new hires for the upcoming year).

To create an editable table, click the edit icon in the top-right corner of a table visual, go to the **Advanced** tab and activate the option **Editable values**.