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DataFrames

If your application needs to present data as a table, it should use a DataFrame. DataFrames provide a simple way to present data in a grid format, require only a couple of lines of code to set up, and provide an interface that users expect from modern data applications.

DataFrames built-in features that users expect, such as headers that can be clicked to change the sort order and resizable columns…

…and with the simple change of a parameter, you can enable features such as the Search field, which lets the user find the data they’re looking for (or filter out unwanted data), and the Download button, which downloads the data currently being displayed as a .csv file:

You can find the full list of DataFrame properties and fields on the DataFrame component page.

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“DataFrame” has multiple meanings

Writer Framework has two objects with the name DataFrame:

  1. UI DataFrame: In Writer Framework’s UI, “DataFrame” refers to a user interface component that displays data in rows and columns in a way similar to a spreadsheet or SQL table.
  2. Code Dataframe: In code that you write for a Writer Framework application, DataFrame refers to a data structure that stores data in rows and columns in a way similar to a spreadsheet or SQL table.

To present a data table in Writer Framework, you create a DataFrame data structure in your code and then bind it to a UI Dataframe.

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Displaying a static DataFrame

A static DataFrame is one whose content does not change. The user can change its sort order, but the data within the DataFrame remains constant.

1

Create a DataFrame data structure

Writer Framework supports both pandas and Polars DataFrame data structures. Create a DataFrame, assign its value to a variable, then assign make that variable a value in the state dictionary:

The call to wf.init_state() adds the DataFrame to the application’s state variable as the value of the mydf key.

2

Add a DataFrame component to the UI and bind it to the DataFrame data structure

Add a DataFrame UI component to the user interface, then set its Data property to @{dataframe_key}, where dataframe_key is the state variable key whose value refers to the DataFrame data structure.

In the case of this example, mydf is the state variable key referring to the DataFrame, so set the Data property to @{mydf}.

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Displaying an editable DataFrame

A editable DataFrame is one whose content can change. Like static DataFrames, editable DataFrames use the DataFrame UI component. Unlike static tables, the DataFrame UI component is bound to an instance of EditableDataFrame, a class provided by the Writer library. Changes to a EditableDataFrame object will be immediately reflected in the DataFrame UI component that it is bound to.

1

Create an EditableDataFrame data structure

An EditableDataFrame object can be instantiated from any of the following:

  1. A pandas DataFrame
  2. A Polars DataFrame
  3. A list of dictionaries

The call to wf.init_state() adds the DataFrame to the application’s state variable as the value of the mydf key.

2

Add a DataFrame component to the UI and bind it to the DataFrame data structure

Add a DataFrame component to the user interface, then set its Data property to @{dataframe_key}, where dataframe_key is the state variable key whose value refers to the DataFrame data structure.

In the case of this example, mydf is the state variable key referring to the DataFrame, so set the Data property to @{mydf}.

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Updating an editable DataFrame

Editable DataFrames are updated by updating the EditableDataFrame object they are bound to, which is done using EditableDataFrame’s methods.

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record_add: Add a new row

record_add() adds a new row to an EditableDataFrame. It takes a dictionary with the following structure…

{"record": new_row}

…where new_row is a dictionary containing the data for the row to be added.

In the code example above, you would add a new row to the DataFrame with the following code:

state["mydf"].record_add({"record": {"rank": 6, "flavor": "Birthday cake", "favorite": 0.01}})

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record: Read the contents of a row

record() returns a row in an EditableDataFrame. It takes an integer specifying the index of the row.

In the code example above, you would retrieve the record at row 1 with the following code:

record = state["mydf"].record(1)

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record_update: Change an existing row

record_update() replaces an existing row in an EditableDataFrame with a new one. It takes a dictionary with the following structure…

{
	"record_index": index,
	"record": row_to_update
}

…where index is an integer specifying which row should be updated and row_to_update is a dictionary containing the updated row data.

In the code example above, you would update the row at index 0 with the following code:

state["mydf"].record_update({
	"record_index": 0,
	"record": {"rank": 6, "flavor": "Bubble gum", "favorite": 0.08}
})

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record_remove: Delete an existing row

record_remove() removes an existing row from an EditableDataFrame. It takes a dictionary with the following structure…

{"record_index": index}

…where index is an integer specifying which row should be deleted.

In the code example above, you would delete the row at index 2 with the following code:

state["mydf"].record_remove({"record_index": 2})

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Enabling additional features

The DataFrame component has these “always-on” features:

  1. Sorting: Clicking a column header sorts the entire DataFrame based on that column’s values. The first click sorts that DataFrame in ascending order, a second click changes it to descending order, and a third click restores the DataFrame to its original sort order.
  2. Column resizing: Click and drag the dividing line on the right edge of a column header to adjust its width.

DataFrames have other features that you need to activate, which are listed below.

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Search field

To enable the Search field, select the DataFrame, open the Component settings panel, and set Enable search to yes.

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Download button

To enable the Download button, select the DataFrame, open the Component settings panel, and set Enable download to yes.

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