Sisense is a powerful business intelligence platform that allows users to create and share interactive dashboards and reports. One of the features of Sisense is its ability to automatically resize columns to fit the data. While this can be convenient in some cases, it can also be frustrating if you prefer to have columns of a specific width. In this article, we'll discuss how to prevent Sisense from auto-resizing columns.
Understanding the Auto-Resizing Behavior
Sisense's auto-resizing feature is designed to optimize the display of data on your dashboards. It automatically adjusts column widths to accommodate the longest values in each column. This ensures that all data is visible without scrolling horizontally. However, this automatic resizing can sometimes lead to undesirable results:
- Unbalanced Layout: Auto-resizing can create an uneven layout with columns of varying widths, which can affect the visual appeal of your dashboard.
- Truncated Text: If a column contains very long values, auto-resizing can truncate the text to fit within the column width, making it difficult to read.
- Limited Control: Auto-resizing takes away your control over the column widths, making it difficult to achieve a specific layout or design.
Preventing Auto-Resizing in Sisense
There are several ways to prevent Sisense from auto-resizing columns:
1. Using the Column Width Setting
The most straightforward way to prevent auto-resizing is to manually set the column width in the dashboard editor. Here's how:
- Open the Dashboard Editor: Navigate to the dashboard you want to edit and click the "Edit" button.
- Select the Widget: Click on the widget that contains the columns you want to adjust.
- Go to Column Settings: Click the "Column" tab in the widget's settings pane.
- Set the Column Width: Find the "Width" option and enter the desired width for the column. You can specify the width in pixels or as a percentage of the widget's width.
- Apply Changes: Save the changes to your dashboard.
2. Disabling Auto-Resize in the Dashboard Editor
You can disable auto-resizing for an entire dashboard by following these steps:
- Open the Dashboard Editor: Navigate to the dashboard you want to edit and click the "Edit" button.
- Go to Dashboard Settings: Click the "Dashboard" tab in the settings pane.
- Find the "Auto-Resize Columns" Option: Locate the "Auto-Resize Columns" checkbox and uncheck it.
- Apply Changes: Save the changes to your dashboard.
3. Utilizing the "Fixed Width" Property in Grids
When working with grids, you can use the "Fixed Width" property to prevent auto-resizing of columns. This property allows you to set a fixed width for individual columns within the grid. Here's how to use it:
- Open the Grid Editor: Navigate to the grid in your dashboard and click the "Edit" button.
- Select a Column: Click on the column you want to fix the width of.
- Set the "Fixed Width" Property: In the column settings, find the "Fixed Width" property and set it to "True."
- Enter the Desired Width: Enter the desired width for the column in pixels.
- Apply Changes: Save the changes to your grid.
Tips for Managing Column Widths
Here are some tips to help you manage column widths more effectively:
- Plan Your Layout: Before creating your dashboard, plan the layout and consider the width of each column. Determine if you need fixed width columns or if auto-resizing is acceptable.
- Consider Data Types: Columns with long text values may benefit from fixed width settings to prevent text truncation.
- Use a Consistent Style: Maintain a consistent style for column widths throughout your dashboard for a cohesive visual appearance.
- Experiment with Different Options: Try using different column width settings and auto-resizing options to see which best suits your needs.
Conclusion
Preventing Sisense from auto-resizing columns can enhance the layout, readability, and control over your dashboards. By using the settings described above, you can achieve the desired column widths and create more aesthetically pleasing and functional reports.
