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Introduction to tables

Organize and take action with your data.

Tables are one of the most flexible ways to bring data into your Superhuman Doc and structure it in a way that works for you, your team, and the information itself. A table can be as simple as a list or as powerful as a database. They are easy to create, easy to customize, and useful for a wide range of workflows. You can add a blank table by typing /table or by using the insert panel in the top-right corner of your doc. You can also bring existing data into your doc through Packs or CSV uploads. Before you get started, here are a few important things to know.

tables
What you’ll learn:
  • Tables, not spreadsheets
  • Column types
  • Views
  • Table options
buttons
What you’ll need:
  • Tables
  • Columns
  • Views
  • Table options

1. Tables, not spreadsheets

 Tables may look a little like spreadsheets, but they work more like databases. In a spreadsheet, the smallest unit is a cell. In a table, the smallest unit is a row. Each column stores a different type of information about that row. A helpful way to think about it: rows are the nouns in your data, and columns hold the details that describe them.
For example, if you are building a task tracker, each row would represent one task. The columns might include the owner, due date, status, and notes.

2. Column types

 Another key difference between tables and spreadsheets is how you can store information. Superhuman Docs supports different column types, so you are not limited to plain text or numbers. You can choose the type that best fits the data you are working with. In a task tracker, for example, you might use:
  • A date column for due dates
  • A people column for owners
  • A select-list column for status
Column types also come with options that let you customize how they work. You can edit these by right-clicking the column and selecting Edit column. For example, you might want your owner column to allow multiple people, or you might want to add a new status option like Postponed to your select list.

3. Table views

 With table views, you can create multiple perspectives of a table, each with its own formatting. Think of views like looking at the same table through different windows. The data stays the same, but each view can be customized for a different purpose. The powerful part about views is that the windows don’t have to look the same. Maybe one window shows everything, while another has a filter that shows only some information, and still another is sorted, displaying the information in a specific order. Because all connected views use the same underlying information, any changes you make to the data in one view will appear in every other view. For a deeper dive into views, visit this guide.

4. Table options

 Tables also come with options that let you customize how they behave and appear. If you open Options in the upper-right corner of a table, you will find settings for things like formatting, grouping, and more.
To learn more about specific table options, check out our comprehensive library.

Now what?

 Tables are the foundation of almost everything you'll build in Superhuman Docs. Here are a few good next steps:

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