Prompted by the upcoming improvements in grid display options, I thought this might be a good time to add some suggestions for future features.

 

To my mind, the grid is the most effective way to display information.  This display can be enhanced formatting.  To some extent, this is to just make the display more aesthetically pleasing and easier to read.  But beyond that, it provides another level of power for organizing information.

 

Short version of suggestions: provide more of the formatting options that Excel provides for grids.

 

 

a) good: provide alignment options for column headers.  Right now, the headers are always left-aligned.  This looks bad when column text is centered.

b) better: allow individual cells and headers to be aligned independently

 

 

a) good: allow grid lines to be formatted for thickness.  Existing grid lines nearly disappear when cell background colors are used.

b) better: allow individual columns, rows, and cell borders to be formatted (color, thickness, and linetype, as in Excel)

 

 

Allow background colors to be set by columns, rows, and individual cells.  Right now you have to specify which fields get background colors, which reduces flexibility.  You do have complete freedom in setting text background color but this isn't as effective as highlighting the whole cell.

 

Here's an example of some of these formatting options in an Excel grid, showing what I'd like to be able to do in InfoQube.  Note how varying column linetypes provides another means to group info.

 

 

Wayne

9.102