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User guide > Data Browser > Data selection and display > How to customise the data selection

This selection panel can used for the purposes of customising the layout of your data display in table, line, bar, or map view. 

Understand dimensions in the display layout

You will usually see multiple smaller selection boxes with headings such as 'Row', 'Column', 'Dimensions', 'Series', depending on if you choose the table, line, bar, or map view. Each box represents an available dimension of the dataset and has a title, such as 'Geopolitical entity', 'Time', or 'Unit of measure'. 

Dimensions visible in the layout

Those titles in the selection boxes that have a blue background are currently set as display layout dimensions in the row and column (for table view), X axis and series (for line and bar view), and geographical area and series (for map). The below screenshots shows an example of the selection panel when displaying the table view:

Screenshot of the selection panel set to table view
 

For each of the dimensions, you can select 1 or more positions which are visible in the data display (table, line, bar, or map view) below the selection panel. In the example above, the following visible dimensions are used:

  • 46 out of 46 available positions (values) for the geopolitical entity (country) have been selected and are displayed in the row (table view)
  • 10 out of 49 available positions (values) for the time have been selected and are displayed in the column (table view)

Additional dimensions

Under the heading 'Dimensions', additional titles in selection boxes with a dark grey background are displayed. The position that is visible in this box - is currently visible in the data display. In the above screenshot it is 'Current prices, million euro'. For each dimension with a grey heading, it is possible to only show 1 position in the data display at a time. 

Please note, there might be 1 or multiple such additional dimension boxes, depending on the dataset. 

There are also dimensions that do not have multiple positions or for which only a single position is selected by default. These are displayed in a box with a simple outline drawn around. In the above screenshot, this is the dimension called 'National accounts indicator (ESA2010)'. 

Determine the layout

You can change the layout of the dimensions by either:

  • changing the position of the visible dimensions, for example swapping the row and column: 
  • move an additional dimension to become a visible dimension
  • move a visible dimension to become an additional dimension

Using drag and drop

To move a dimension, you can use the drag and drop functionality, which is indicated by this icon Screenshot of drag and drop icon in front of the title of each selection box. Perform a drag and drop of this dimension to its destination field called 'Drag and drop here for breakdown':

Screenshot of the column showing an empty field with a label ' Drag and drop here for breakdown'
 

Using 'display layout options'

You can also use the 'Display layout options' button, which is located at the bottom right-hand side in each selection box. This will display a drop-down with multiple options. Depending on the data display chosen (table, line, bar, map), this view will differ from the example screenshot below. 

Screenshot of dimension selection box with the 'Display layout options" button highlighted and the possible options how to change the layout displayed
 

Invalid layouts 

There are some situations or combinations of dimensions which will not result in any data display in table, line, bar, or map view. This is caused when you create a so-called invalid layout.

For example, when you display the data in table view and choose to not display any dimension in the column, you will receive an error message asking you to select at least 1 dimension for the column. This must be rectified by adapting the table layout and moving 1 dimension to the column in order to display the data.  

Screenshot of error message saying 'Invalid layout. Please select at least one dimension of column.'

Create multi-dimensional layouts

When you select to display data in the table view, it is possible to add up to 2 dimensions in both column and row. Thus, you will be able to display 3-dimensional or 4-dimensional tables. This could then look like in this screenshot:

Screenshot of the data selection panel with 2 dimensions displayed in both, the row and column
 

Remember if you are lost in layout, you can always reset the dataset to its default view.
 Read how to reset to default view

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