# Ui-table (Dashboard 1) vs ui-tabulator (Dashboard 2) vs ui-table (Dashboard 2)

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ui-table-dashboard-1-vs-ui-tabulator-dashboard-2-vs-ui-table-dashboard-2/97989>\
**Category:** Dashboard\
**Created:** [5 July 2025 20:37 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ui-table-dashboard-1-vs-ui-tabulator-dashboard-2-vs-ui-table-dashboard-2/97989 "2025-07-05T20:37:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 14\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![rakgupta](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/rakgupta/32/42535_2.png) [@rakgupta](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/rakgupta)\
**Post date:** [5 July 2025 20:37 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ui-table-dashboard-1-vs-ui-tabulator-dashboard-2-vs-ui-table-dashboard-2/97989/1 "2025-07-05T20:37:22Z")

</div>

I am starting to plan on moving my Dashboard 1 to Dashboard 2. Currently, I have quite a few pages displaying data in table format using ui-table. If ui-table (Dashboard 1) and ui-tabulator (Dashboard 2) both use the tabulator module, would it be simpler for me to use ui-tabulator instead of the built in Dashboard 2 table node? Or are the differences between ui-table (1.0) and ui-tabulator (2.0) significant enough that I would not be able to leverage much of my existing setup?

My use of data tables is primarily for displaying and sorting data (no dynamic update, no data entry, no double-clicks on rows etc). I do format a number of columns (date/time, decimal formatting, column alignment etc.)

Thanks for your help.

**Note** : I have looked at the documentation for ui-tabulator but could not find many examples.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![omrid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@omrid](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/omrid)\
**Post date:** [5 July 2025 21:58 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ui-table-dashboard-1-vs-ui-tabulator-dashboard-2-vs-ui-table-dashboard-2/97989/2 "2025-07-05T21:58:56Z")

</div>

`ui-tabulator` in dashboard-2 follows the same concept of `ui-table` in dashboard-1, whereas the dashboard-2 `ui-table` is based on a `Vue` template and behaves differently. Hence, the migration to `ui-tabulator` should be easier.

D-2 `ui-tabulator` supports all the basic capabilities of D-1 `ui-table`, plus a quantum leap of new functionality, such as;

1. Table data & styles are automatically saved in the Node-red datastore, automatically (re)populating the table upon page load/refresh
2. Support for both _ **shared** _ and _ **multi-user** _ modes
3. Ability to set _ **functions** _ in the table configuration (and runtime commands) enabling conditional-formatting, as well as dynamic event-handlers, mutators, filters, sorters, grouping etc.
4. Ability to retrieve/search data from the table
5. The table node can send notifications for user-selected table events, e.g. clicks, data-changes etc.
6. In-cell editing
7. Multiple options for cell, row, column & table styling

`ui-tabulator` is fully maintained. it includes comprehensive on-line documentation (in the editor), and example flow covering most of the functionality. The node follows a live development roadmap, and reported issues & feature requests are handled promptly.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![rakgupta](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/rakgupta/32/42535_2.png) [@rakgupta](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/rakgupta)\
**Post date:** [6 July 2025 15:47 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ui-table-dashboard-1-vs-ui-tabulator-dashboard-2-vs-ui-table-dashboard-2/97989/3 "2025-07-06T15:47:49Z")

</div>

Thanks so much! Will move ahead with ui-tabulator. Looking forward to trying the enhancements!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![davidz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@davidz](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/davidz)\
**Post date:** [6 July 2025 21:35 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ui-table-dashboard-1-vs-ui-tabulator-dashboard-2-vs-ui-table-dashboard-2/97989/4 "2025-07-06T21:35:08Z")

</div>

I prefer the ui-table in Dashboard 2 personally. It is much better than ui-table in Dashboard 1 in terms of performance and features. The ui-table in Dashboard 2 automatically formats data from database queries, so that there is minimum work for a quick start.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![rakgupta](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/rakgupta/32/42535_2.png) [@rakgupta](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/rakgupta)\
**Post date:** [7 July 2025 21:39 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ui-table-dashboard-1-vs-ui-tabulator-dashboard-2-vs-ui-table-dashboard-2/97989/5 "2025-07-07T21:39:39Z")

</div>

> [@davidz](#):
>
> The ui-table in Dashboard 2 automatically formats data from database queries, so that there is minimum work for a quick start.

Thanks @davidz. Since I am migrating an existing Dashboard1 setup, it appears I would have to undo my existing code (setup, formatting etc.) to use ui-table. Is that not the case?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![rakgupta](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/rakgupta/32/42535_2.png) [@rakgupta](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/rakgupta)\
**Post date:** [8 July 2025 15:29 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ui-table-dashboard-1-vs-ui-tabulator-dashboard-2-vs-ui-table-dashboard-2/97989/6 "2025-07-08T15:29:18Z")

</div>

> [@omrid](#):
>
> `ui-tabulator` in dashboard-2 follows the same concept of `ui-table` in dashboard-1

@omrid - I ran into some issues using ui-tabulator (could just be my lack of understanding) and have created a GitHub issue. [GitHub Issue #15](https://github.com/omrid01/node-red-dashboard-2-table-tabulator/issues/15). Can you take a look at it when you get a chance?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![omrid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@omrid](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/omrid)\
**Post date:** [8 July 2025 23:13 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ui-table-dashboard-1-vs-ui-tabulator-dashboard-2-vs-ui-table-dashboard-2/97989/7 "2025-07-08T23:13:45Z")

</div>

Your configuration includes the directive

```auto
"layout": "fitDataTable",

```

Which overrides the column width %. If you take it out, the % will work.

Regarding the date field, it is due to a missing dependency (Tabulator relies on the **luxon** datetime package). I will add it into the node on the next ui-tabulator release. For now, you can import it manually by adding a `ui-template` node to the page, with the following:

```auto
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/luxon@2.3.1/build/global/luxon.min.js"></script>

```

(You can download the package and load it from a local location).

Please note, that ui-Tabulator uses the latest Tabulator version (6.3) whereas D1 ui-table uses a very old Tabulator version, so always check the Tabulator documentation to see if anything changed.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![rakgupta](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/rakgupta/32/42535_2.png) [@rakgupta](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/rakgupta)\
**Post date:** [9 July 2025 12:44 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ui-table-dashboard-1-vs-ui-tabulator-dashboard-2-vs-ui-table-dashboard-2/97989/8 "2025-07-09T12:44:45Z")

</div>

> [@omrid](#):
>
> Which overrides the column width %. If you take it out, the % will work.

Thanks that did it. It was a copy/paste from ui-table (DB1) and it worked there!

I'm getting inconsistent results in displaying data. Sometimes only one row will show, sometimes two or three, but never the whole data set. I tried to create a test case by passing in data from an inject node (using msg.tbSetData = array of values, and also msg.tbCmd = "setData", msg.tbArgs = array of values) and nothing showed. I've been looking at the Tabulator documentation and examples but nothing seems to work. Below is the test flow:

```flows
[{"id":"0316cd25d00c5e0d","type":"tab","label":"Test ui-tabulator","disabled":false,"info":"","env":[]},{"id":"2d823c1347018a71","type":"ui-tabulator","z":"0316cd25d00c5e0d","name":"","group":"add4028b768d1c47","initObj":"{\n\t\"columns\": [\n\t\t{\n\t\t\t\"title\": \"Row\",\n\t\t\t\"field\": \"row_id\",\n\t\t\t\"formatter\": \"rownum\",\n\t\t\t\"width\": \"8%\"\n\t\t},\n\t\t{\n\t\t\t\"formatter\": \"datetime\",\n\t\t\t\"formatterParams\": {\n\t\t\t\t\"inputFormat\": \"yyyy-MM-dd hh:mm:ss\",\n\t\t\t\t\"outputFormat\": \"yyyy-MM-dd\",\n\t\t\t\t\"invalidPlaceholder\": \"(invalid date)\"\n\t\t\t},\n\t\t\t\"title\": \"Date\",\n\t\t\t\"field\": \"Date\",\n\t\t\t\"width\": \"12%\"\n\t\t},\n\t\t{\n\t\t\t\"formatter\": \"datetime\",\n\t\t\t\"formatterParams\": {\n\t\t\t\t\"inputFormat\": \"yyyy-MM-dd hh:mm:ss\",\n\t\t\t\t\"outputFormat\": \"hh:mm:ss a\",\n\t\t\t\t\"invalidPlaceholder\": \"(invalid time)\"\n\t\t\t},\n\t\t\t\"title\": \"Time\",\n\t\t\t\"field\": \"Time\",\n\t\t\t\"width\": \"12%\"\n\t\t},\n\t\t{\n\t\t\t\"title\": \"Source\",\n\t\t\t\"field\": \"Source\",\n\t\t\t\"width\": \"15%\"\n\t\t},\n\t\t{\n\t\t\t\"title\": \"Event\",\n\t\t\t\"field\": \"Event\",\n\t\t\t\"width\": \"15%\"\n\t\t},\n\t\t{\n\t\t\t\"title\": \"Device\",\n\t\t\t\"field\": \"Device\",\n\t\t\t\"width\": \"20%\"\n\t\t},\n\t\t{\n\t\t\t\"title\": \"Value\",\n\t\t\t\"field\": \"Value\",\n\t\t\t\"width\": \"18%\"\n\t\t}\n\t]\n}","funcs":"","allowMsgFuncs":false,"maxWidth":"","events":"","order":2,"multiUser":false,"validateRowIds":false,"themeCSS":"","themeFile":"","tblDivId":"","printToLog":false,"width":"26","height":"14","x":724.8346862792969,"y":307.82719802856445,"wires":[[]]},{"id":"2ac511ca77dd0298","type":"inject","z":"0316cd25d00c5e0d","name":"setData (no Args)","props":[{"p":"setData","v":"[{\"Date\":\"2025-07-09 06:54:17\",\"Time\":\"2025-07-09 06:54:17\",\"Source\":\"events\",\"Event\":\"contact\",\"Device\":\"Bedroom Closet Contact\",\"Value\":\"closed\"},{\"Date\":\"2025-07-09 06:52:40\",\"Time\":\"2025-07-09 06:52:40\",\"Source\":\"events\",\"Event\":\"nextPoll\",\"Device\":\"Hub Details\",\"Value\":\"2025-07-09 06:57:39 CDT\"},{\"Date\":\"2025-07-09 06:52:40\",\"Time\":\"2025-07-09 06:52:40\",\"Source\":\"events\",\"Event\":\"lastUpdated\",\"Device\":\"Hub Details\",\"Value\":\"1752061962219\"},{\"Date\":\"2025-07-09 06:51:16\",\"Time\":\"2025-07-09 06:51:16\",\"Source\":\"events\",\"Event\":\"dewPoint\",\"Device\":\"Backyard Temp and Humidity\",\"Value\":\"69.4\"},{\"Date\":\"2025-07-09 06:51:16\",\"Time\":\"2025-07-09 06:51:16\",\"Source\":\"events\",\"Event\":\"heatIndex\",\"Device\":\"Backyard Temp and Humidity\",\"Value\":\"74.5\"},{\"Date\":\"2025-07-09 06:49:24\",\"Time\":\"2025-07-09 06:49:24\",\"Source\":\"events\",\"Event\":\"contact\",\"Device\":\"Bedroom Closet Contact\",\"Value\":\"open\"},{\"Date\":\"2025-07-09 06:49:24\",\"Time\":\"2025-07-09 06:49:24\",\"Source\":\"events\",\"Event\":\"switch\",\"Device\":\"Bedroom Closet Switch\",\"Value\":\"on\"},{\"Date\":\"2025-07-09 06:47:39\",\"Time\":\"2025-07-09 06:47:39\",\"Source\":\"events\",\"Event\":\"nextPoll\",\"Device\":\"Hub Details\",\"Value\":\"2025-07-09 06:52:38 CDT\"},{\"Date\":\"2025-07-09 06:47:39\",\"Time\":\"2025-07-09 06:47:39\",\"Source\":\"events\",\"Event\":\"lastUpdated\",\"Device\":\"Hub Details\",\"Value\":\"1752061662134\"},{\"Date\":\"2025-07-09 06:42:39\",\"Time\":\"2025-07-09 06:42:39\",\"Source\":\"events\",\"Event\":\"nextPoll\",\"Device\":\"Hub Details\",\"Value\":\"2025-07-09 06:47:38 CDT\"},{\"Date\":\"2025-07-09 06:42:39\",\"Time\":\"2025-07-09 06:42:39\",\"Source\":\"events\",\"Event\":\"lastUpdated\",\"Device\":\"Hub Details\",\"Value\":\"1752061361942\"},{\"Date\":\"2025-07-09 06:41:40\",\"Time\":\"2025-07-09 06:41:40\",\"Source\":\"events\",\"Event\":\"switch\",\"Device\":\"Bedroom Closet Switch\",\"Value\":\"off\"},{\"Date\":\"2025-07-09 06:37:39\",\"Time\":\"2025-07-09 06:37:39\",\"Source\":\"events\",\"Event\":\"nextPoll\",\"Device\":\"Hub Details\",\"Value\":\"2025-07-09 06:42:38 CDT\"},{\"Date\":\"2025-07-09 06:37:39\",\"Time\":\"2025-07-09 06:37:39\",\"Source\":\"events\",\"Event\":\"lastUpdated\",\"Device\":\"Hub Details\",\"Value\":\"1752061061759\"},{\"Date\":\"2025-07-09 06:36:37\",\"Time\":\"2025-07-09 06:36:37\",\"Source\":\"events\",\"Event\":\"contact\",\"Device\":\"Bedroom Closet Contact\",\"Value\":\"closed\"},{\"Date\":\"2025-07-09 06:33:09\",\"Time\":\"2025-07-09 06:33:09\",\"Source\":\"events\",\"Event\":\"switch\",\"Device\":\"Bedroom Closet Switch\",\"Value\":\"on\"},{\"Date\":\"2025-07-09 06:32:39\",\"Time\":\"2025-07-09 06:32:39\",\"Source\":\"events\",\"Event\":\"nextPoll\",\"Device\":\"Hub Details\",\"Value\":\"2025-07-09 06:37:38 CDT\"},{\"Date\":\"2025-07-09 06:32:39\",\"Time\":\"2025-07-09 06:32:39\",\"Source\":\"events\",\"Event\":\"lastUpdated\",\"Device\":\"Hub Details\",\"Value\":\"1752060761365\"}]","vt":"json"}],"repeat":"","crontab":"","once":false,"onceDelay":0.1,"topic":"","x":398.8345642089844,"y":172.82720947265625,"wires":[["2d823c1347018a71","b65678d49725e839"]]},{"id":"b65678d49725e839","type":"debug","z":"0316cd25d00c5e0d","name":"debug 2","active":true,"tosidebar":true,"console":false,"tostatus":false,"complete":"true","targetType":"full","statusVal":"","statusType":"auto","x":448.6470031738281,"y":299.31798571875,"wires":[]},{"id":"5c4373048b773f96","type":"inject","z":"0316cd25d00c5e0d","name":"setData (wtih Args)","props":[{"p":"tbArgs","v":"[{\"Date\":\"2025-07-09 06:54:17\",\"Time\":\"2025-07-09 06:54:17\",\"Source\":\"events\",\"Event\":\"contact\",\"Device\":\"Bedroom Closet Contact\",\"Value\":\"closed\"},{\"Date\":\"2025-07-09 06:52:40\",\"Time\":\"2025-07-09 06:52:40\",\"Source\":\"events\",\"Event\":\"nextPoll\",\"Device\":\"Hub Details\",\"Value\":\"2025-07-09 06:57:39 CDT\"},{\"Date\":\"2025-07-09 06:52:40\",\"Time\":\"2025-07-09 06:52:40\",\"Source\":\"events\",\"Event\":\"lastUpdated\",\"Device\":\"Hub Details\",\"Value\":\"1752061962219\"},{\"Date\":\"2025-07-09 06:51:16\",\"Time\":\"2025-07-09 06:51:16\",\"Source\":\"events\",\"Event\":\"dewPoint\",\"Device\":\"Backyard Temp and Humidity\",\"Value\":\"69.4\"},{\"Date\":\"2025-07-09 06:51:16\",\"Time\":\"2025-07-09 06:51:16\",\"Source\":\"events\",\"Event\":\"heatIndex\",\"Device\":\"Backyard Temp and Humidity\",\"Value\":\"74.5\"},{\"Date\":\"2025-07-09 06:49:24\",\"Time\":\"2025-07-09 06:49:24\",\"Source\":\"events\",\"Event\":\"contact\",\"Device\":\"Bedroom Closet Contact\",\"Value\":\"open\"},{\"Date\":\"2025-07-09 06:49:24\",\"Time\":\"2025-07-09 06:49:24\",\"Source\":\"events\",\"Event\":\"switch\",\"Device\":\"Bedroom Closet Switch\",\"Value\":\"on\"},{\"Date\":\"2025-07-09 06:47:39\",\"Time\":\"2025-07-09 06:47:39\",\"Source\":\"events\",\"Event\":\"nextPoll\",\"Device\":\"Hub Details\",\"Value\":\"2025-07-09 06:52:38 CDT\"},{\"Date\":\"2025-07-09 06:47:39\",\"Time\":\"2025-07-09 06:47:39\",\"Source\":\"events\",\"Event\":\"lastUpdated\",\"Device\":\"Hub Details\",\"Value\":\"1752061662134\"},{\"Date\":\"2025-07-09 06:42:39\",\"Time\":\"2025-07-09 06:42:39\",\"Source\":\"events\",\"Event\":\"nextPoll\",\"Device\":\"Hub Details\",\"Value\":\"2025-07-09 06:47:38 CDT\"},{\"Date\":\"2025-07-09 06:42:39\",\"Time\":\"2025-07-09 06:42:39\",\"Source\":\"events\",\"Event\":\"lastUpdated\",\"Device\":\"Hub Details\",\"Value\":\"1752061361942\"},{\"Date\":\"2025-07-09 06:41:40\",\"Time\":\"2025-07-09 06:41:40\",\"Source\":\"events\",\"Event\":\"switch\",\"Device\":\"Bedroom Closet Switch\",\"Value\":\"off\"},{\"Date\":\"2025-07-09 06:37:39\",\"Time\":\"2025-07-09 06:37:39\",\"Source\":\"events\",\"Event\":\"nextPoll\",\"Device\":\"Hub Details\",\"Value\":\"2025-07-09 06:42:38 CDT\"},{\"Date\":\"2025-07-09 06:37:39\",\"Time\":\"2025-07-09 06:37:39\",\"Source\":\"events\",\"Event\":\"lastUpdated\",\"Device\":\"Hub Details\",\"Value\":\"1752061061759\"},{\"Date\":\"2025-07-09 06:36:37\",\"Time\":\"2025-07-09 06:36:37\",\"Source\":\"events\",\"Event\":\"contact\",\"Device\":\"Bedroom Closet Contact\",\"Value\":\"closed\"},{\"Date\":\"2025-07-09 06:33:09\",\"Time\":\"2025-07-09 06:33:09\",\"Source\":\"events\",\"Event\":\"switch\",\"Device\":\"Bedroom Closet Switch\",\"Value\":\"on\"},{\"Date\":\"2025-07-09 06:32:39\",\"Time\":\"2025-07-09 06:32:39\",\"Source\":\"events\",\"Event\":\"nextPoll\",\"Device\":\"Hub Details\",\"Value\":\"2025-07-09 06:37:38 CDT\"},{\"Date\":\"2025-07-09 06:32:39\",\"Time\":\"2025-07-09 06:32:39\",\"Source\":\"events\",\"Event\":\"lastUpdated\",\"Device\":\"Hub Details\",\"Value\":\"1752060761365\"}]","vt":"json"},{"p":"tbCmd","v":"addData","vt":"str"}],"repeat":"","crontab":"","once":false,"onceDelay":0.1,"topic":"","x":403.3051452636719,"y":438.003662109375,"wires":[["2d823c1347018a71","b65678d49725e839"]]},{"id":"12abcf748360dbd8","type":"ui-template","z":"0316cd25d00c5e0d","group":"add4028b768d1c47","page":"","ui":"","name":"","order":1,"width":0,"height":0,"head":"","format":"<script type=\"text/javascript\" src=\"https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/luxon@2.3.1/build/global/luxon.min.js\"></script>\n","storeOutMessages":true,"passthru":true,"resendOnRefresh":true,"templateScope":"local","className":"","x":547.8933715820312,"y":53.82720947265625,"wires":[[]]},{"id":"add4028b768d1c47","type":"ui-group","name":"Test Group","page":"5edb5b5cd718fa05","width":"26","height":"12","order":1,"showTitle":true,"className":"","visible":"true","disabled":"false","groupType":"default"},{"id":"5edb5b5cd718fa05","type":"ui-page","name":"Test ui-tabulator","ui":"de5759a313e7ad79","path":"/page5","icon":"home","layout":"grid","theme":"e4b50d7892c4eb32","breakpoints":[{"name":"Default","px":"0","cols":"3"},{"name":"Tablet","px":"576","cols":"6"},{"name":"Small Desktop","px":"768","cols":"9"},{"name":"Desktop","px":"1024","cols":"12"}],"order":5,"className":"","visible":"true","disabled":"false"},{"id":"de5759a313e7ad79","type":"ui-base","name":"My Dashboard","path":"/dashboard","appIcon":"","includeClientData":true,"acceptsClientConfig":["ui-notification","ui-control"],"showPathInSidebar":false,"headerContent":"page","navigationStyle":"fixed","titleBarStyle":"default","showReconnectNotification":true,"notificationDisplayTime":5,"showDisconnectNotification":true,"allowInstall":true},{"id":"e4b50d7892c4eb32","type":"ui-theme","name":"Default Theme","colors":{"surface":"#ffffff","primary":"#0094ce","bgPage":"#eeeeee","groupBg":"#ffffff","groupOutline":"#cccccc"},"sizes":{"pagePadding":"12px","groupGap":"12px","groupBorderRadius":"4px","widgetGap":"12px","density":"default"}}]

```

In ui-table (DB1), the data was just sent in as msg.payload, so not sure what I am missing. Any help would be really appreciated. Thanks!

**Update:** I figured out how the rows are sometimes 1, 2, 3. It appears that only 1 row is actually shown. Every time I change the date, one row gets added to the table. What I don't know is WHY this is happening ☹

 ![Screenshot 2025-07-09 at 8.20.38 AM](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/b/a/ba7b9b77a64a94b281c4d4f82f5d11bff18ecefa.png)

**Update2:** I figured out why it was appending rows - the tbCmd I was using is "addData", so it would add a row. When I changed that to "setData" nothing showed even though the tbArgs had the whole array.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![omrid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@omrid](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/omrid)\
**Post date:** [10 July 2025 20:14 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ui-table-dashboard-1-vs-ui-tabulator-dashboard-2-vs-ui-table-dashboard-2/97989/9 "2025-07-10T20:14:14Z")

</div>

`tbArgs` should not be a JSON, it must be an object of type `array`. See the following extract from the online help:

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/2/a/2a789f200b6205349cb1659f7816cfd7fe5f150e.png).

If you want to provide the tbArgs from an inject node, use a property of type "expression", not JSON.

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/8/f/8f7695e0d8433d42c3daa792beae2d2460213e94.png)

One more thing: I see that you gave the `Row` column the field name `row_id`. If you intend to refer to specific rows by Id (e.g. in `updateData` or `updateRow`), you will need a row Id which is recognized by your table. So either use the default row identifier `id`, or set `row_id` is your row identifier using the`index` property in the table configuration.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![rakgupta](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/rakgupta/32/42535_2.png) [@rakgupta](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/rakgupta)\
**Post date:** [10 July 2025 22:38 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ui-table-dashboard-1-vs-ui-tabulator-dashboard-2-vs-ui-table-dashboard-2/97989/10 "2025-07-10T22:38:14Z")

</div>

Thanks @omrid ...

> [@omrid](#):
>
> If you want to provide the tbArgs from an inject node, use a property of type "expression", not JSON.

I changed it to expression and the data still did not populate ☹.

 ![Screenshot 2025-07-10 at 5.27.16 PM](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/7/0/70220a40e816ba859b9080eea3bc6736ff6908fa.png)

I also tried to trigger loading the data set from a "button" sending in the input from a change node

 ![Screenshot 2025-07-10 at 5.29.42 PM](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/c/5/c5d325c819ddb1e3614b14fc176e78c950aaa0ba.png)  
 ![Screenshot 2025-07-10 at 5.31.22 PM](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/e/6/e6cb35e5b0cfb50f502634000ce953deccdd8c9c.png)

If I put the data in the table configuration, it works just fine. But since I need to feed the data in from a database, that solution is not workable.

 ![Screenshot 2025-07-10 at 5.33.00 PM](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/4/8/487daa999dec5d50ba9c786de3f634d44b7ac8db.png)  
 ![Screenshot 2025-07-10 at 5.34.43 PM](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/5/5/552ef9b7b597075c5f5fb7d51f9681a86ea85051.png)

I am probably missing something very basic but can't figure it out.

> [@omrid](#):
>
> I see that you gave the `Row` column the field name `row_id`. If you intend to refer to specific rows by Id (e.g. in `updateData` or `updateRow`), you will need a row Id which is recognized by your table. So either use the default row identifier `id`, or set `row_id` is your row identifier using the`index` property in the table configuration.

I don't really need this since I don't typically need to handle row selection, double-click etc. I think it's something left over from my ui-table (DB1) setup so will look into it.

Thanks again for your help. Hopefully, once I get this working, I can stop bothering you 🙏🏼

**EDIT:** Do I need to convert this JSON object into an array using javascript or JSONata? I think the mySQL node returns a JSON object..

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![omrid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@omrid](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/omrid)\
**Post date:** [11 July 2025 00:05 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ui-table-dashboard-1-vs-ui-tabulator-dashboard-2-vs-ui-table-dashboard-2/97989/11 "2025-07-11T00:05:19Z")

</div>

> [@rakgupta](#):
>
> I changed it to expression and the data still did not populate ☹.
> 
> ![Screenshot 2025-07-10 at 5.27.16 PM](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/7/0/70220a40e816ba859b9080eea3bc6736ff6908fa.png)

Look carefully at the example and help excerpt I sent you previously. You need to encapsulate your argument (the data array) **within an array**. (There is a reason behind this)

> [@rakgupta](#):
>
> **EDIT:** Do I need to convert this JSON object into an array using javascript or JSONata? I think the mySQL node returns a JSON object..

If your SQL returns a JSON object, convert it to an object using a JSON node, or convert it in a function node as follows:

```auto
const data = JSON.parse(...your SQL response...);
msg.tbArgs = [data]; // place the argument in an array

```

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![rakgupta](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/rakgupta/32/42535_2.png) [@rakgupta](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/rakgupta)\
**Post date:** [11 July 2025 12:34 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ui-table-dashboard-1-vs-ui-tabulator-dashboard-2-vs-ui-table-dashboard-2/97989/12 "2025-07-11T12:34:20Z")

</div>

> [@omrid](#):
>
> You need to encapsulate your argument (the data array) **within an array**.

That seems to have done the trick! Thanks so much. Just out of curiosity, what is the reason for this?

> [@omrid](#):
>
> If your SQL returns a JSON object, convert it to an object using a JSON node, or convert it in a function node as follows:

I would still need to put it "within an array", correct? If I declared a second array (array2) and put the converted element as array2[0]=array1, would that work? Or is there a simpler way of doing that?  
**EDIT:** Just tried this in a function node and it seems to work. If you have another recommendation, I would really appreciate having that as well.

Thanks a lot for your help.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![omrid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@omrid](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/omrid)\
**Post date:** [11 July 2025 21:16 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ui-table-dashboard-1-vs-ui-tabulator-dashboard-2-vs-ui-table-dashboard-2/97989/13 "2025-07-11T21:16:44Z")

</div>

> [@rakgupta](#):
>
> That seems to have done the trick! Thanks so much. Just out of curiosity, what is the reason for this?

Tabulator API calls have a varying number of arguments. So instead of maintaining a specific call signature for each Tabulator API (and having to update the node whenever Tabulator changes an API, e.g. adds an argument), sending arguments in an array makes the call generic & protects ui-tabulator from such Tabulator changes.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/1X/d073cd938eafa2e558d7c2cd59003b3ef4963033.png) [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [10 August 2025 21:16 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ui-table-dashboard-1-vs-ui-tabulator-dashboard-2-vs-ui-table-dashboard-2/97989/14 "2025-08-10T21:16:54Z")

</div>

This topic was automatically closed 30 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.