{"id":15468,"date":"2017-04-24T08:00:55","date_gmt":"2017-04-24T15:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uxpin.com\/studio\/?p=15468"},"modified":"2024-05-20T19:34:54","modified_gmt":"2024-05-21T02:34:54","slug":"make-sortable-table-rows-uxpin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uxpin.com\/studio\/blog\/make-sortable-table-rows-uxpin\/","title":{"rendered":"Simulating Data-sorting in Prototypes Adds Interaction Where It\u2019s Needed"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many design systems include simulations of their interactive widgets, although they stop short of providing real content. That\u2019s not their job. Their job is to play what-if.<\/p>\n

For example, while many prototyping tools won\u2019t sort data on your behalf, you can<\/em> create a \u201csortable\u201d table, if you don\u2019t mind rearranging a few elements.<\/p>\n

Sortable tables rearrange content when people click on their headings. They\u2019re not impossible to simulate \u2014 far from it. Here are five steps to building sortable tables.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

1. Create random content in rows and columns<\/h2>\n

In a prototyping or design app, make each table column its own text element<\/a>. Although in some cases you\u2019ll need a ton of content, for brevity here we\u2019ll only create six rows with three columns. Give them sensible names like \u201cID\u201d, \u201cname\u201d, and \u201cstatus\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"Where<\/p>\n

2. Make column headings<\/h2>\n

Give each column a title, analogous to a <th><\/code> element in HTML. As before, make each heading its own text element. Adding a dividing rule line is optional \u2014 use your best visual judgement as defined by your design system\u2019s typography guidelines.<\/p>\n

The more specific your design system is, the more specifically you can name the columns. For example, if a system spells out how special components should behave, like lists of users or a category management system, then your system should include those headings. However, if \u201csortable table\u201d could apply to anything, then generic headings are best. Don\u2019t forget to spell out what\u2019s allowed in the component\u2019s notes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

3. Give the element states per column<\/h2>\n

Select all of the table data, and make a multistate element<\/a>. Create one state per column, named to reflect their heading. In this case:<\/p>\n