SpreadSheet vs DataGrid Widget

Webix SpreadSheet and DataGrid widgets are compelling examples of JavaScript UI components that make work with big data easy and efficient. Both widgets have their own peculiar features and solve different kinds of tasks. The visual performance of SpreadSheet and DataGrid totally corresponds to their aims and objectives. Let’s compare both widgets in terms of their functionality and spheres of application.

Webix SpreadSheet is a complex widget that allows performing different operations with data items. It’s a perfect tool for creating tables and editable spreadsheets online, keeping and managing large bulks of data. With this component, you can safely keep all the data within easy reach. The widget is renowned for the Excel magic which includes the ability to copy to/from Excel, use mathematical functions and formulas, perform autocompletion and other important functions for convenient work with tabular data. You can resize cells, edit and format the content of cells, use various styles, fonts, and types of borders, merge cells in columns and rows. Moreover, SpreadSheet allows adjusting dates, numbers, currency units, and text labels to comply with the rules of different countries.

Thanks to the extended Excel-like functionality, Webix SpreadSheet widget can be implemented into the web apps aimed at performing complex operations with large amounts of data. Here are several examples of such software solutions:

1. Finance apps for data analysis and forecasting

Such apps not only display big data but also allow working with them, creating new data items and scenarios. With SpreadSheet UI widget you can easily analyze all sorts of financial data within an application.

2. ERP systems and similar solutions

Such systems usually represent business process management software that allows an organization to manage work processes and automate a number of back office procedures. They also include electronic time and attendance system.

ERP software solutions usually combine the processes of planning, development, production, marketing, and sales in one user interface and database. The apps for such kind of tasks usually require the functions of quick data editing at the data level without the need to resort to databases.

Although, SpreadSheet is a powerful component for data editing and analysis, there are some cases when it’s better not to use it and is preferable to implement Webix DataGrid widget instead.

DataGrid serves for displaying data in tables. It supports different data sources such as JSON, XML, CSV, HTML, JsArray tables. It also has a number of useful features that include sorting, filtering, paging, resizing, area selection, styling, grid grouping, copying, and many others.

DataTable is a good choice if you wish to create a read-only or view-only system with no possibility for users to edit data. SpreadSheet is undesirable in this case since the interface similar to that of Excel is very much likely to confuse and disorient users.

Conclusion

Webix UI library contains efficient widgets that significantly facilitate work with big data. The most popular of them are SpreadSheet and DataGrid components. Despite some obvious similarities, they have a different set of features and functions. You can easily implement these widgets into your business solutions proceeding from your objectives and the sort of tasks you want your web apps to perform.