I’d like to propose an enhancement for Anvil’s handling of linked tables, specifically regarding the display of linked data. Presently, when linking tables, the displayed tag in a column is fixed to show a default identifier, typically a primary key from the linked table. While functional, this approach has limitations in terms of readability and user-friendliness.
Proposed Feature: The ability to customize what is displayed in the tag of a linked table. This feature would allow users to select which columns from the linked table are shown in the tag, enabling a more descriptive and informative display.
Use Case Example: Consider a Contact table with columns such as contact_id, first_name, last_name, email, and phone. Currently, the linked table tag might only show contact_id, which isn’t very descriptive at a glance. With the proposed feature, users could configure the tag to display a concatenated value, like first_name + last_name. This change would significantly enhance the usability of the interface by allowing users to see more meaningful data directly.
Benefits:
- Improved Clarity: Displaying more descriptive tags makes it easier to understand linked data at a glance.
- Enhanced Customization: Allows users to tailor the display to suit their specific needs, enhancing the overall user experience.
- Increased Efficiency: Reduces the need to cross-reference tables to understand linkages, saving time and effort.
I believe this feature would be a valuable addition to Anvil, benefiting a wide range of applications that rely on linked tables for data management.
Thank you for considering this suggestion. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and any further improvements that could be made to this idea.