A table is a basic unit for data storage. Data in the table is stored in a cell that is an intersection of a vertical column and horizontal row. The table has a specified number of columns, but can have any number of rows. With DataGrip, you can perform data manipulation and data definition operations with tables.
Tables are more appropriate when:
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The user needs to reference specific numerical values.
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The user wants to compare numerical values and not vague similarities.
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The values being displayed are unable to be compared using charts.
Here are two examples of tables:
First Name |
Last Name |
Sex |
Spending |
Phone Number |
John |
Smith |
Male |
$ 115.89 |
(401) 865-6141 |
Jack |
Richardson |
Male |
$ 56.24 |
(401) 865-6142 |
Mary |
Williams |
Female |
$ 84.33 |
(401) 865-6143 |
Donald |
Tramp |
Male |
$ 321.58 |
(401) 865-6144 |
Nancy |
Pelosi |
Female |
$ 212.37 |
(401) 865-6145 |
Kevin |
McCarthy |
Male |
$ 247.96 |
(401) 865-6146 |
Liz |
Cheney |
Female |
$ 89.51 |
(401) 865-6147 |
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Unit sales of the Apple iPhone Worldwide from 2007 to 2018 (in millions)
Year |
Sales |
Year |
Sales |
2007 |
1.39 |
2013 |
150.26 |
2008 |
11.63 |
2014 |
169.22 |
2009 |
20.73 |
2015 |
231.22 |
2010 |
39.99 |
2016 |
211.88 |
2011 |
72.29 |
2017 |
216.76 |
2012 |
125.05 |
2018 |
217.72 |
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In designing an effective table, keep in mind the data-ink ratio and avoid the
use of unnecessary ink tables:
-
Avoid using vertical lines because they make tables look cluttered and therefore unreadable.
-
Horizontal lines are generally used to separate the titles of columns.
-
In large tables, vertical lines or light shading can be usedful to help the
reader distinguish the columns and rows.
-
Horizontal lines are used for separating column titles from data values or
when indicating that a calculation has taken place.
-
Columns of numerical values in a table should be right-aligned.
-
All values should include the same number of digits to the right of the d
ecimal.
-
Left-align text values within a column in a table.
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Column headings should either match the alignment of data in teh columns or be centered over the values.
Crosstabulation
A useful type of table for describing data of two variables is a crosstabulation, which provides a tabular summary of data for two variables.
Consider the following example that
shows a survey of what electronic gadget a group of people were likely to buy in the next 6 months dependent on their age.
Crosstabulation of Age and Purchase of Electronic Gadget (2017)
Age |
Laptop |
Phone |
Tablet |
Digital Camera |
20--24 |
38% |
29% |
31% |
12% |
25--29 |
19% |
15% |
24% |
17% |
30--34 |
23% |
19% |
11% |
27% |
35--39 |
19% |
12% |
9% |
30% |
above 40 |
12% |
17% |
5% |
31% |
You can see the distinctive connection between the age and the purchase of the electronic gadget.
PivotTables in Excel
A crosstabulation in Microsoft Excel in known as PivotTable.
PivotTables in Excel are interactive and they may be used to display statistics or a simple count of numbers. So follow the following steps.
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Click Insert, click PivotTable in the Tables group
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When the Create PivotTable appears: choose Select a Table or Range, select New Worksheet, click OK
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In the PivotTable Fields task pane, go to Drag fields between areas below
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Select Value Field Settings from the list of options
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When the Value Field Settings dialog box appears: Under Summarize value
field by, select Count, Click OK.
Example: Consider the data that comes from reviews of 25 Ice Cream
Shops in New York.
Quality Rating for Ice Cream
Shops in New York
Ice Cream |
Quality Rating |
Price ($) |
Wait Time (min) |
1 |
Average |
5 |
10 |
2 |
Good |
7 |
6 |
3 |
Bad |
4 |
3 |
4 |
Average |
6 |
5 |
5 |
Average |
5 |
15 |
6 |
Excellent |
8 |
8 |
7 |
Good |
5 |
0 |
8 |
Excellent |
6 |
13 |
9 |
Good |
6 |
20 |
10 |
Average |
6 |
12 |
11 |
Excellent |
7 |
5 |
12 |
Good |
7 |
16 |
13 |
Bad |
5 |
21 |
14 |
Average |
6 |
5 |
15 |
Average |
5 |
2 |
16 |
Good |
3 |
10 |
17 |
Good |
5 |
11 |
18 |
Excellent |
3 |
3 |
19 |
Good |
7 |
0 |
20 |
Average |
9 |
13 |
21 |
Bad |
4 |
15 |
22 |
Average |
5 |
11 |
23 |
Excellent |
10 |
6 |
24 |
Good |
8 |
3 |
25 |
Bad |
6 |
2 |
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