How to use a dictionary to create an Anvil table?

Anvil Q&A
#1

Consider the following dictionary:

{“x” : [“a”, “b”]
“y” : [4, 7]
}

How can we use this dictionary to create a new table or populate an existing empty table?

The column names of that table would be the keys and each column would contain the values of the above dictionary.

#2

How about the docs:-)?
Creating Data Grid via code
Adding the data or components to existing data grid

#3

@KR1 In my post I am referring to the Anvil table (database) not Data grid.

1 Like
#4

Ahh sorry.

you can populate the table with a list of rows.

list = [
{'column1key': value1, 'column2key': value2},
{'column1key': value3, 'column2key': value4}
]

right docs :slight_smile:

You can’t create a new table or database columns with a code. So you have to make it with provided UI and then load the data.

2 Likes
#5

Thank you! That really helps.

#6

You can actually create columns in existing Anvil table from code using anvil.tables.table_name.add_row method. It will add missing columns using value type to assign a type to a new column:

row_dict = {
    'column1': value1, 'column2': value2, 'column3': value3
}
anvil.table.my_table.add_row(**row_dict)

You have to switch this option on in app settings
Screenshot 2023-09-29 at 20.11.53

1 Like
#7

Recommend switching it off afterwards. Otherwise, a bug in your code could end up adding unwanted columns.

1 Like