Displaying tables

Andrew Irwin, a.irwin@dal.ca

2024-02-08

Displaying tables

After we collect, reshape, and summarize data, we want to display it!

  • Rename and align columns

  • Format (bold, italic, colour)

  • Add column headings

  • Group rows

  • Add captions

  • Consistent goal: make the table easy to interpret

Raw data

                     mpg cyl  disp  hp drat    wt  qsec vs am gear carb
Mazda RX4           21.0   6 160.0 110 3.90 2.620 16.46  0  1    4    4
Mazda RX4 Wag       21.0   6 160.0 110 3.90 2.875 17.02  0  1    4    4
Datsun 710          22.8   4 108.0  93 3.85 2.320 18.61  1  1    4    1
Hornet 4 Drive      21.4   6 258.0 110 3.08 3.215 19.44  1  0    3    1
Hornet Sportabout   18.7   8 360.0 175 3.15 3.440 17.02  0  0    3    2
Valiant             18.1   6 225.0 105 2.76 3.460 20.22  1  0    3    1
Duster 360          14.3   8 360.0 245 3.21 3.570 15.84  0  0    3    4
Merc 240D           24.4   4 146.7  62 3.69 3.190 20.00  1  0    4    2
Merc 230            22.8   4 140.8  95 3.92 3.150 22.90  1  0    4    2
Merc 280            19.2   6 167.6 123 3.92 3.440 18.30  1  0    4    4
Merc 280C           17.8   6 167.6 123 3.92 3.440 18.90  1  0    4    4
Merc 450SE          16.4   8 275.8 180 3.07 4.070 17.40  0  0    3    3
Merc 450SL          17.3   8 275.8 180 3.07 3.730 17.60  0  0    3    3
Merc 450SLC         15.2   8 275.8 180 3.07 3.780 18.00  0  0    3    3
Cadillac Fleetwood  10.4   8 472.0 205 2.93 5.250 17.98  0  0    3    4
Lincoln Continental 10.4   8 460.0 215 3.00 5.424 17.82  0  0    3    4
Chrysler Imperial   14.7   8 440.0 230 3.23 5.345 17.42  0  0    3    4
Fiat 128            32.4   4  78.7  66 4.08 2.200 19.47  1  1    4    1
Honda Civic         30.4   4  75.7  52 4.93 1.615 18.52  1  1    4    2
Toyota Corolla      33.9   4  71.1  65 4.22 1.835 19.90  1  1    4    1
Toyota Corona       21.5   4 120.1  97 3.70 2.465 20.01  1  0    3    1
Dodge Challenger    15.5   8 318.0 150 2.76 3.520 16.87  0  0    3    2
AMC Javelin         15.2   8 304.0 150 3.15 3.435 17.30  0  0    3    2
Camaro Z28          13.3   8 350.0 245 3.73 3.840 15.41  0  0    3    4
Pontiac Firebird    19.2   8 400.0 175 3.08 3.845 17.05  0  0    3    2
Fiat X1-9           27.3   4  79.0  66 4.08 1.935 18.90  1  1    4    1
Porsche 914-2       26.0   4 120.3  91 4.43 2.140 16.70  0  1    5    2
Lotus Europa        30.4   4  95.1 113 3.77 1.513 16.90  1  1    5    2
Ford Pantera L      15.8   8 351.0 264 4.22 3.170 14.50  0  1    5    4
Ferrari Dino        19.7   6 145.0 175 3.62 2.770 15.50  0  1    5    6
Maserati Bora       15.0   8 301.0 335 3.54 3.570 14.60  0  1    5    8
Volvo 142E          21.4   4 121.0 109 4.11 2.780 18.60  1  1    4    2

kable formatting

mtcars |> kable() |>
  kable_styling(full_width = FALSE)
mpg cyl disp hp drat wt qsec vs am gear carb
Mazda RX4 21.0 6 160.0 110 3.90 2.620 16.46 0 1 4 4
Mazda RX4 Wag 21.0 6 160.0 110 3.90 2.875 17.02 0 1 4 4
Datsun 710 22.8 4 108.0 93 3.85 2.320 18.61 1 1 4 1
Hornet 4 Drive 21.4 6 258.0 110 3.08 3.215 19.44 1 0 3 1
Hornet Sportabout 18.7 8 360.0 175 3.15 3.440 17.02 0 0 3 2
Valiant 18.1 6 225.0 105 2.76 3.460 20.22 1 0 3 1
Duster 360 14.3 8 360.0 245 3.21 3.570 15.84 0 0 3 4
Merc 240D 24.4 4 146.7 62 3.69 3.190 20.00 1 0 4 2
Merc 230 22.8 4 140.8 95 3.92 3.150 22.90 1 0 4 2
Merc 280 19.2 6 167.6 123 3.92 3.440 18.30 1 0 4 4
Merc 280C 17.8 6 167.6 123 3.92 3.440 18.90 1 0 4 4
Merc 450SE 16.4 8 275.8 180 3.07 4.070 17.40 0 0 3 3
Merc 450SL 17.3 8 275.8 180 3.07 3.730 17.60 0 0 3 3
Merc 450SLC 15.2 8 275.8 180 3.07 3.780 18.00 0 0 3 3
Cadillac Fleetwood 10.4 8 472.0 205 2.93 5.250 17.98 0 0 3 4
Lincoln Continental 10.4 8 460.0 215 3.00 5.424 17.82 0 0 3 4
Chrysler Imperial 14.7 8 440.0 230 3.23 5.345 17.42 0 0 3 4
Fiat 128 32.4 4 78.7 66 4.08 2.200 19.47 1 1 4 1
Honda Civic 30.4 4 75.7 52 4.93 1.615 18.52 1 1 4 2
Toyota Corolla 33.9 4 71.1 65 4.22 1.835 19.90 1 1 4 1
Toyota Corona 21.5 4 120.1 97 3.70 2.465 20.01 1 0 3 1
Dodge Challenger 15.5 8 318.0 150 2.76 3.520 16.87 0 0 3 2
AMC Javelin 15.2 8 304.0 150 3.15 3.435 17.30 0 0 3 2
Camaro Z28 13.3 8 350.0 245 3.73 3.840 15.41 0 0 3 4
Pontiac Firebird 19.2 8 400.0 175 3.08 3.845 17.05 0 0 3 2
Fiat X1-9 27.3 4 79.0 66 4.08 1.935 18.90 1 1 4 1
Porsche 914-2 26.0 4 120.3 91 4.43 2.140 16.70 0 1 5 2
Lotus Europa 30.4 4 95.1 113 3.77 1.513 16.90 1 1 5 2
Ford Pantera L 15.8 8 351.0 264 4.22 3.170 14.50 0 1 5 4
Ferrari Dino 19.7 6 145.0 175 3.62 2.770 15.50 0 1 5 6
Maserati Bora 15.0 8 301.0 335 3.54 3.570 14.60 0 1 5 8
Volvo 142E 21.4 4 121.0 109 4.11 2.780 18.60 1 1 4 2

Scrolling to show big tables

mtcars |> kable() |> 
  kable_styling() |> scroll_box()
mpg cyl disp hp drat wt qsec vs am gear carb
Mazda RX4 21.0 6 160.0 110 3.90 2.620 16.46 0 1 4 4
Mazda RX4 Wag 21.0 6 160.0 110 3.90 2.875 17.02 0 1 4 4
Datsun 710 22.8 4 108.0 93 3.85 2.320 18.61 1 1 4 1
Hornet 4 Drive 21.4 6 258.0 110 3.08 3.215 19.44 1 0 3 1
Hornet Sportabout 18.7 8 360.0 175 3.15 3.440 17.02 0 0 3 2
Valiant 18.1 6 225.0 105 2.76 3.460 20.22 1 0 3 1
Duster 360 14.3 8 360.0 245 3.21 3.570 15.84 0 0 3 4
Merc 240D 24.4 4 146.7 62 3.69 3.190 20.00 1 0 4 2
Merc 230 22.8 4 140.8 95 3.92 3.150 22.90 1 0 4 2
Merc 280 19.2 6 167.6 123 3.92 3.440 18.30 1 0 4 4
Merc 280C 17.8 6 167.6 123 3.92 3.440 18.90 1 0 4 4
Merc 450SE 16.4 8 275.8 180 3.07 4.070 17.40 0 0 3 3
Merc 450SL 17.3 8 275.8 180 3.07 3.730 17.60 0 0 3 3
Merc 450SLC 15.2 8 275.8 180 3.07 3.780 18.00 0 0 3 3
Cadillac Fleetwood 10.4 8 472.0 205 2.93 5.250 17.98 0 0 3 4
Lincoln Continental 10.4 8 460.0 215 3.00 5.424 17.82 0 0 3 4
Chrysler Imperial 14.7 8 440.0 230 3.23 5.345 17.42 0 0 3 4
Fiat 128 32.4 4 78.7 66 4.08 2.200 19.47 1 1 4 1
Honda Civic 30.4 4 75.7 52 4.93 1.615 18.52 1 1 4 2
Toyota Corolla 33.9 4 71.1 65 4.22 1.835 19.90 1 1 4 1
Toyota Corona 21.5 4 120.1 97 3.70 2.465 20.01 1 0 3 1
Dodge Challenger 15.5 8 318.0 150 2.76 3.520 16.87 0 0 3 2
AMC Javelin 15.2 8 304.0 150 3.15 3.435 17.30 0 0 3 2
Camaro Z28 13.3 8 350.0 245 3.73 3.840 15.41 0 0 3 4
Pontiac Firebird 19.2 8 400.0 175 3.08 3.845 17.05 0 0 3 2
Fiat X1-9 27.3 4 79.0 66 4.08 1.935 18.90 1 1 4 1
Porsche 914-2 26.0 4 120.3 91 4.43 2.140 16.70 0 1 5 2
Lotus Europa 30.4 4 95.1 113 3.77 1.513 16.90 1 1 5 2
Ford Pantera L 15.8 8 351.0 264 4.22 3.170 14.50 0 1 5 4
Ferrari Dino 19.7 6 145.0 175 3.62 2.770 15.50 0 1 5 6
Maserati Bora 15.0 8 301.0 335 3.54 3.570 14.60 0 1 5 8
Volvo 142E 21.4 4 121.0 109 4.11 2.780 18.60 1 1 4 2

Paged data to show big tables

mtcars |> rmarkdown::paged_table()

Changing column headings

mtcars |> as_tibble(rownames = "make_model") |>
  select(make_model, mpg, cyl, wt) |>
  kable(col.names = c("Make & Model", "Miles per gallon", 
                      "Cylinders", "Weight (1000 lbs)")) |>
  kable_styling(full_width = FALSE)
Make & Model Miles per gallon Cylinders Weight (1000 lbs)
Mazda RX4 21.0 6 2.620
Mazda RX4 Wag 21.0 6 2.875
Datsun 710 22.8 4 2.320
Hornet 4 Drive 21.4 6 3.215
Hornet Sportabout 18.7 8 3.440
Valiant 18.1 6 3.460
Duster 360 14.3 8 3.570
Merc 240D 24.4 4 3.190
Merc 230 22.8 4 3.150
Merc 280 19.2 6 3.440
Merc 280C 17.8 6 3.440
Merc 450SE 16.4 8 4.070
Merc 450SL 17.3 8 3.730
Merc 450SLC 15.2 8 3.780
Cadillac Fleetwood 10.4 8 5.250
Lincoln Continental 10.4 8 5.424
Chrysler Imperial 14.7 8 5.345
Fiat 128 32.4 4 2.200
Honda Civic 30.4 4 1.615
Toyota Corolla 33.9 4 1.835
Toyota Corona 21.5 4 2.465
Dodge Challenger 15.5 8 3.520
AMC Javelin 15.2 8 3.435
Camaro Z28 13.3 8 3.840
Pontiac Firebird 19.2 8 3.845
Fiat X1-9 27.3 4 1.935
Porsche 914-2 26.0 4 2.140
Lotus Europa 30.4 4 1.513
Ford Pantera L 15.8 8 3.170
Ferrari Dino 19.7 6 2.770
Maserati Bora 15.0 8 3.570
Volvo 142E 21.4 4 2.780

Formatting rows & columns

mtcars |> as_tibble(rownames = "make_model") |> select(make_model, mpg, cyl, wt) |>
  kable(col.names = c("Make & Model", "Miles per gallon", "Cylinders", "Weight (1000 lbs)"),
        align = "lccr",
        digits = 1) |>
  column_spec(1, bold = TRUE) |>
  column_spec(3, color = "blue") |>
  row_spec(2, italic = TRUE) |>
  kable_styling(full_width = FALSE, 
                font_size=24)
Make & Model Miles per gallon Cylinders Weight (1000 lbs)
Mazda RX4 21.0 6 2.6
Mazda RX4 Wag 21.0 6 2.9
Datsun 710 22.8 4 2.3
Hornet 4 Drive 21.4 6 3.2
Hornet Sportabout 18.7 8 3.4
Valiant 18.1 6 3.5
Duster 360 14.3 8 3.6
Merc 240D 24.4 4 3.2
Merc 230 22.8 4 3.1
Merc 280 19.2 6 3.4
Merc 280C 17.8 6 3.4
Merc 450SE 16.4 8 4.1
Merc 450SL 17.3 8 3.7
Merc 450SLC 15.2 8 3.8
Cadillac Fleetwood 10.4 8 5.2
Lincoln Continental 10.4 8 5.4
Chrysler Imperial 14.7 8 5.3
Fiat 128 32.4 4 2.2
Honda Civic 30.4 4 1.6
Toyota Corolla 33.9 4 1.8
Toyota Corona 21.5 4 2.5
Dodge Challenger 15.5 8 3.5
AMC Javelin 15.2 8 3.4
Camaro Z28 13.3 8 3.8
Pontiac Firebird 19.2 8 3.8
Fiat X1-9 27.3 4 1.9
Porsche 914-2 26.0 4 2.1
Lotus Europa 30.4 4 1.5
Ford Pantera L 15.8 8 3.2
Ferrari Dino 19.7 6 2.8
Maserati Bora 15.0 8 3.6
Volvo 142E 21.4 4 2.8

Headers spanning multiple columns

mtcars |> select(mpg, cyl, hp, wt) |> kable() |>
  add_header_above(c(" " = 1, "Group A" = 2, "Group B" = 2)) |>
  kable_styling(full_width = FALSE)
Group A
Group B
mpg cyl hp wt
Mazda RX4 21.0 6 110 2.620
Mazda RX4 Wag 21.0 6 110 2.875
Datsun 710 22.8 4 93 2.320
Hornet 4 Drive 21.4 6 110 3.215
Hornet Sportabout 18.7 8 175 3.440
Valiant 18.1 6 105 3.460
Duster 360 14.3 8 245 3.570
Merc 240D 24.4 4 62 3.190
Merc 230 22.8 4 95 3.150
Merc 280 19.2 6 123 3.440
Merc 280C 17.8 6 123 3.440
Merc 450SE 16.4 8 180 4.070
Merc 450SL 17.3 8 180 3.730
Merc 450SLC 15.2 8 180 3.780
Cadillac Fleetwood 10.4 8 205 5.250
Lincoln Continental 10.4 8 215 5.424
Chrysler Imperial 14.7 8 230 5.345
Fiat 128 32.4 4 66 2.200
Honda Civic 30.4 4 52 1.615
Toyota Corolla 33.9 4 65 1.835
Toyota Corona 21.5 4 97 2.465
Dodge Challenger 15.5 8 150 3.520
AMC Javelin 15.2 8 150 3.435
Camaro Z28 13.3 8 245 3.840
Pontiac Firebird 19.2 8 175 3.845
Fiat X1-9 27.3 4 66 1.935
Porsche 914-2 26.0 4 91 2.140
Lotus Europa 30.4 4 113 1.513
Ford Pantera L 15.8 8 264 3.170
Ferrari Dino 19.7 6 175 2.770
Maserati Bora 15.0 8 335 3.570
Volvo 142E 21.4 4 109 2.780

Grouping rows

mtcars |> select(mpg, cyl, hp, wt) |> kable() |>
  group_rows("Group 1", 1, 4) |>
  group_rows("Group 2", 5, 9) |>
  kable_styling(full_width = FALSE)
mpg cyl hp wt
Group 1
Mazda RX4 21.0 6 110 2.620
Mazda RX4 Wag 21.0 6 110 2.875
Datsun 710 22.8 4 93 2.320
Hornet 4 Drive 21.4 6 110 3.215
Group 2
Hornet Sportabout 18.7 8 175 3.440
Valiant 18.1 6 105 3.460
Duster 360 14.3 8 245 3.570
Merc 240D 24.4 4 62 3.190
Merc 230 22.8 4 95 3.150
Merc 280 19.2 6 123 3.440
Merc 280C 17.8 6 123 3.440
Merc 450SE 16.4 8 180 4.070
Merc 450SL 17.3 8 180 3.730
Merc 450SLC 15.2 8 180 3.780
Cadillac Fleetwood 10.4 8 205 5.250
Lincoln Continental 10.4 8 215 5.424
Chrysler Imperial 14.7 8 230 5.345
Fiat 128 32.4 4 66 2.200
Honda Civic 30.4 4 52 1.615
Toyota Corolla 33.9 4 65 1.835
Toyota Corona 21.5 4 97 2.465
Dodge Challenger 15.5 8 150 3.520
AMC Javelin 15.2 8 150 3.435
Camaro Z28 13.3 8 245 3.840
Pontiac Firebird 19.2 8 175 3.845
Fiat X1-9 27.3 4 66 1.935
Porsche 914-2 26.0 4 91 2.140
Lotus Europa 30.4 4 113 1.513
Ford Pantera L 15.8 8 264 3.170
Ferrari Dino 19.7 6 175 2.770
Maserati Bora 15.0 8 335 3.570
Volvo 142E 21.4 4 109 2.780

Adding caption, footnote

mtcars |> head() |> select(mpg, cyl, hp, wt) |> 
  kable(caption="Car data from Motor Trend magazine.") |>
  kable_styling(full_width = FALSE) |>
  footnote(symbol = c("Footnote 1.", 
                      "Footnote 2"))
Car data from Motor Trend magazine.
mpg cyl hp wt
Mazda RX4 21.0 6 110 2.620
Mazda RX4 Wag 21.0 6 110 2.875
Datsun 710 22.8 4 93 2.320
Hornet 4 Drive 21.4 6 110 3.215
Hornet Sportabout 18.7 8 175 3.440
Valiant 18.1 6 105 3.460
* Footnote 1.
† Footnote 2

Packages used

  • knitr – for knitting R markdown documents; already installed; has kable function
  • kableExtra – nicer formatting of tables, e.g., kable_styling
    • also column_spec, row_spec, add_header_above, group_rows, footnote

Other packages to consider:

  • DT for making data tables (web page), especially interactive tables for web pages
  • gt (demos and help)
  • flextable for working with Microsoft Office
  • Information about these and more

Summary

  • Several ways to customize the formatting of a table

Further reading

Task

The lesson’s Task has some exercises for practicing table presentation.