Table and Pivot Table Views

Two common views for analyzing and displaying data are the table and pivot table.

These views share the same type of editor and much of the same functionality such as dragging and dropping, sorting, drilling, and conditional formatting. The following list provides some differences between the two types:

  • Default View — When you create an analysis and display the results, the default view depends on the data in the analysis:
    • Table — If the analysis contains only attribute columns, only measure columns, or a combination of both, then a table is the default view.

    • Pivot Table — If the analysis contains at least one hierarchical column, then a pivot table is the default view.

  • Drop Targets — Drop targets, which you use to modify column layout, differ slightly between the two views. Both views have the <view-type> Prompts, Sections, and Excluded drop targets. When multiple columns are placed in the <view-type> Prompts target, or page edge, each column displays its values in an individual drop-down list.
    • Table — Tables have columns and measures in the same drop target, and they do not have rows.

    • Pivot Table — Pivot tables can have rows, columns, and measures as separate drop targets.

  • Drag and Drop Measure Columns — Measure columns behave slightly differently when you drag and drop them on tables and pivot tables.
    • Table — In tables, you can drag and drop measure columns in the middle of the table and they act as columns.

    • Pivot Table — In pivot tables, you can drag and drop measure columns in the middle and their labels can be in many locations.

  • Column Names and Headings — You can turn off the display of the column headings in both tables and pivot tables. For column names, however, the following differences apply:
    • Table — In tables, you always see the names of columns.

    • Pivot Table — In pivot tables, you can turn off the display of the column names.

  • Properties — The properties of the two views differ slightly, in areas such as paging controls and green bar formatting.

You can use the editors for the table and pivot table to customize the look and functionality of the view. The editors share much of the same functionality.