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Configuration options

docs/content/guides/getting-started/configuration-options/configuration-options.md

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Configure your grid down to each column, row, and cell, using various built-in options that control Handsontable's behavior and user interface.

[[toc]]

Overview

::: only-for javascript

To apply configuration options, pass them as a second argument of the Handsontable constructor, using the object literal notation:

js
import Handsontable from "handsontable";

const container = document.querySelector('#example');
const hot = new Handsontable(container, {
  // configuration options, in the object literal notation
  licenseKey: "non-commercial-and-evaluation",
  data: [
    ['A1', 'B1', 'C1', 'D1'],
    ['A2', 'B2', 'C2', 'D2'],
    ['A3', 'B3', 'C3', 'D3'],
  ],
  width: 400,
  height: 300,
  colHeaders: true,
  rowHeaders: true,
  customBorders: true,
  dropdownMenu: true,
  multiColumnSorting: true,
  filters: true,
  manualRowMove: true,
});

:::

::: only-for react

To apply configuration options, pass them as individual props of the HotTable or HotColumn components.

jsx
<HotTable
  autoWrapRow={true}
  autoWrapCol={true}
  licenseKey="non-commercial-and-evaluation"
  data={[
    ['A1', 'B1', 'C1', 'D1'],
    ['A2', 'B2', 'C2', 'D2'],
    ['A3', 'B3', 'C3', 'D3'],
  ]}
  width={400}
  height={300}
  colHeaders={true}
  rowHeaders={true}
  customBorders={true}
  dropdownMenu={true}
  multiColumnSorting={true}
  filters={true}
  manualRowMove={true}
/>

:::

::: only-for angular

To apply configuration options, pass them as GridSettings object to HotTableComponent.

ts
import { GridSettings } from "@handsontable/angular-wrapper";

data = [
  ["A1", "B1", "C1", "D1"],
  ["A2", "B2", "C2", "D2"],
  ["A3", "B3", "C3", "D3"],
];
gridSettings: GridSettings = {
  autoWrapRow: true,
  autoWrapCol: true,
  width: 400,
  height: 300,
  colHeaders: true,
  rowHeaders: true,
  customBorders: true,
  dropdownMenu: true,
  multiColumnSorting: true,
  filters: true,
  manualRowMove: true,
};
html
<hot-table [data]="data" [settings]="gridSettings" />

:::

Depending on your needs, you can apply configuration options to different elements of your grid, such as:

For the full list of available configuration options, see the configuration options' API reference.

Cascading configuration

Handsontable's configuration cascades down:

  • From the top-level grid options (GlobalMeta)
  • Through the mid-level column options (ColumnMeta)
  • To the bottom-level cell options (CellMeta)

When you modify the mid-level column options (using the columns option):

  • The options that you change overwrite the top-level grid options.
  • The options that you change cascade down to the bottom-level cell options.
  • Any unchanged options are inherited from the top-level grid options.

When you modify the bottom-level cell options (using the cell option):

  • The options that you change overwrite the top-level grid options.
  • The options that you change overwrite the mid-level column options.
  • Any unchanged options are inherited from the mid-level column options or the top-level grid options.

When you modify any options with the cells function, the changes overwrite all other options.

::: tip

The cells option is a function invoked before Handsontable's rendering cycle. Implemented incorrectly, it can slow Handsontable down. Use the cells option only if the cell option, the columns option, and the setCellMeta() method don't meet your needs.

:::

For more details on Handsontable's cascading configuration, see the MetaManager class.

Plugin options

Configuration options come from:

<div class="boxes-list"> </div>

If you use Handsontable through modules: to use an option that comes from a Handsontable plugin, you need to import and register that plugin when initializing your Handsontable instance.

To find out if an option comes from a plugin, check the Category label in the configuration options' API reference.

Set grid options

::: only-for javascript

To apply configuration options to the entire grid, pass your options as a second argument of the Handsontable constructor, using the object literal notation.

:::

::: only-for react

To apply configuration options to the entire grid, pass your options as individual props of the HotTable or HotColumn components.

:::

::: only-for angular

To apply configuration options to the entire grid, pass your options as GridSettings object to HotTableComponent.

:::

For example, to set the entire grid's width and height:

::: only-for javascript

js
const hot = new Handsontable(container, {
  // top-level grid options that apply to the entire grid
  width: 400,
  height: 300
});

:::

::: only-for react

jsx
<HotTable width={400} height={300} />

:::

::: only-for angular

ts
import { GridSettings } from "@handsontable/angular-wrapper";

gridSettings: GridSettings = {
  width: 400,
  height: 300,
};
html
<hot-table [settings]="gridSettings" />

:::

Example

To configure each cell in the grid as read-only, apply the readOnly option as a top-level grid option.

The top-level grid options cascade down:

  • To the mid-level column options
  • To the bottom-level cell options

As a result, each cell in the grid is read-only:

::: only-for javascript

::: example #example1 --js 1 --ts 2

@code @code

:::

:::

::: only-for react

::: example #example1 :react --js 1 --ts 2

@code @code

:::

:::

::: only-for angular

::: example #example1 :angular --ts 1 --html 2

@code @code

:::

:::

Set column options

To apply configuration options to an individual column (or a range of columns), use the columns option.

::: only-for javascript

js
const hot = new Handsontable(container, {
  columns: [
    {},
    {},
    // column options, apply to each cell of the third (by physical index) column
    {
      readOnly: true,
    },
  ],
});

:::

::: only-for react

jsx
<HotTable
  columns={[
    {width: 100}, // column options for the first (by physical index) column
    {width: 100}, // column options for the second (by physical index) column
    {width: 100}, // column options for the third (by physical index) column
  ]}
/>

Alternatively, you can use the HotColumn component to configure columns declaratively:

jsx
<HotTable>
  <HotColumn width={100}/>
  <HotColumn width={100}/>
  <HotColumn width={100}/>
</HotTable>

:::

::: only-for angular

ts
import { GridSettings } from "@handsontable/angular-wrapper";

gridSettings: GridSettings = {
  columns: [
    { width: 100 }, // column options for the first (by physical index) column
    { width: 100 }, // column options for the second (by physical index) column
    { width: 100 }, // column options for the third (by physical index) column
  ],
};
html
<hot-table [settings]="gridSettings" />

:::

Example

In the example below, the columns option is set to a function.

The function applies the readOnly: true option to each column that has a physical index of either 2 or 8.

The modified mid-level column options:

  • Overwrite the top-level grid options
  • Cascade down to the bottom-level cell options

As a result, each cell in the third and ninth columns is read-only:

::: only-for javascript

::: example #example2 --js 1 --ts 2

@code @code

:::

:::

::: only-for react

::: example #example2 :react --js 1 --ts 2

@code @code

:::

:::

::: only-for angular

::: example #example2 :angular --ts 1 --html 2

@code @code

:::

:::

Set row options

To apply configuration options to an individual row (or a range of rows), use the cells option.

Any options modified through cells overwrite all other options.

::: only-for javascript

The function can take three arguments:

  • row: a row coordinate (a physical index)
  • col: a column coordinate (a physical index)
  • prop: if your data is an array of objects, prop is a property name for a column's data source object.

If your data is an array of arrays, prop is the same as col.

js
const hot = new Handsontable(container, {
  // the `cells` options overwrite all other options
  cells(row, col, prop) {
    if (row === 1 || row === 4) {
      return {
        // row options, which apply to each cell of the second row
        // and to each cell of the fifth row
        readOnly: true,
      };
    }
  }
});

:::

::: only-for react

The function can take three arguments:

  • row: a row coordinate (a physical index)

  • col: a column coordinate (a physical index)

  • prop: if your data is an array of objects, prop is a property name for a column's data source object.

    If your data is an array of arrays, prop is the same as col.

jsx
<HotTable cells={(row, col, prop) => {
  if (row === 1 || row === 4) {
    return {
      // row options, which apply to each cell of the second row
      // and to each cell of the fifth row
      readOnly: true,
    };
  }
}}/>

:::

::: only-for angular

The function can take three arguments:

  • row: a row coordinate (a physical index)

  • col: a column coordinate (a physical index)

  • prop: if your data is an array of objects, prop is a property name for a column's data source object.

    If your data is an array of arrays, prop is the same as col.

ts
import { GridSettings } from "@handsontable/angular-wrapper";

gridSettings: GridSettings = {
  cells: (row, col, prop) => {
    if (row === 1 || row === 4) {
      return {
        // row options, which apply to each cell of the second row
        // and to each cell of the fifth row
        readOnly: true,
      };
    }
  },
};
html
<hot-table [settings]="gridSettings" />

:::

Example

In the example below, the cells option sets each cell in the first and fourth row as readOnly.

Options modified through cells overwrite all other options.

::: only-for javascript

::: example #example3 --js 1 --ts 2

@code @code

:::

:::

::: only-for react

::: example #example3 :react --js 1 --ts 2

@code @code

:::

:::

::: only-for angular

::: example #example3 :angular --ts 1 --html 2

@code @code

:::

:::

Set cell options

To apply configuration options to individual cells, use the cell option.

::: only-for javascript

js
const hot = new Handsontable(container, {
  cell: [
    {
      // cell options, apply only to a cell with coordinates (0, 0)
      row: 0,
      col: 0,
      readOnly: true,
    },
    {
      // cell options, apply only to a cell with coordinates (1, 1)
      row: 1,
      col: 1,
      readOnly: true,
    }
  ],
  autoWrapRow: true,
  autoWrapCol: true,
});

:::

::: only-for react

jsx
<HotTable cell={[
  { // bottom-level cell options overwrite the top-level grid options
    // apply only to a cell with coordinates (0, 0)
    row: 0,
    col: 0,
  },
  {
    // bottom-level cell options overwrite the top-level grid options
    // apply only to a cell with coordinates (1, 1)
    row: 1,
    col: 1,
  }
]}/>

:::

::: only-for angular

ts
import { GridSettings } from "@handsontable/angular-wrapper";

gridSettings: GridSettings = {
  cell: [
    {
      // bottom-level cell options overwrite the top-level grid options
      // apply only to a cell with coordinates (0, 0)
      row: 0,
      col: 0,
    },
    {
      // bottom-level cell options overwrite the top-level grid options
      // apply only to a cell with coordinates (1, 1)
      row: 1,
      col: 1,
    },
  ],
};
html
<hot-table [settings]="gridSettings" />

:::

Example

In the example below, the cell option sets cell A1(0, 0) and cell B2(1, 1) as readOnly.

The modified cell options:

  • Overwrite the top-level grid options
  • Overwrite mid-level column options

::: only-for javascript

::: example #example4 --js 1 --ts 2

@code @code

:::

:::

::: only-for react

::: example #example4 :react --js 1 --ts 2

@code @code

:::

:::

::: only-for angular

::: example #example4 :angular --ts 1 --html 2

@code @code

:::

:::

Read cell options

When Handsontable is running, you can check a cell's current options, using the getCellMeta() method.

The getCellMeta() method returns an object with:

For example:

::: only-for javascript

js
import Handsontable from 'handsontable';

const container = document.querySelector('#example');
const hot = new Handsontable(container, {
  // top-level grid options that apply to the entire grid
  data: [
    ['A1', 'B1', 'C1', 'D1'],
    ['A2', 'B2', 'C2', 'D2'],
    ['A3', 'B3', 'C3', 'D3'],
  ],
  licenseKey: 'non-commercial-and-evaluation',
  width: 'auto',
  height: 'auto',
  rowHeaders: true,
  colHeaders: true,
  // in the top-level grid options, all cells are read-only
  readOnly: false,
  cell: [
    {
      // bottom-level cell options overwrite the top-level grid options
      // apply only to a cell with coordinates (1, 1)
      row: 1,
      col: 1,
      readOnly: true,
    }
  ]
});

// for cell (0, 0), the `readOnly` option is the default (`false`)
// returns `false`
hot.getCellMeta(0, 0).readOnly;

// for cell (1, 1), the `cell` option overwrote the default `readOnly` value
// returns `true`
hot.getCellMeta(1, 1).readOnly;

:::

::: only-for react

jsx
// Consider the HotTable component with the `cell` option declared:
<HotTable
  cell={[
    {
      row: 1,
      col: 1,
      readOnly: true,
    }
  ]}
/>;

// for cell (0, 0), the `readOnly` option is the default (`false`)
// returns `false`
hot.getCellMeta(0, 0).readOnly;

// for cell (1, 1), the `cell` option overwrote the default `readOnly` value
// returns `true`
hot.getCellMeta(1, 1).readOnly;

:::

::: only-for angular

ts
@ViewChild(HotTableComponent, { static: false }) readonly hotTable!: HotTableComponent;

import { GridSettings } from "@handsontable/angular-wrapper";

// Consider the HotTable component with the `cell` option declared:
gridSettings: GridSettings = {
  cell: [
    {
      row: 1,
      col: 1,
      readOnly: true,
    },
  ]
};

// for cell (0, 0), the `readOnly` option is the default (`false`)
// returns `false`
hotTable.hotInstance.getCellMeta(0, 0).readOnly;

// for cell (1, 1), the `cell` option overwrote the default `readOnly` value
// returns `true`
hotTable.hotInstance.getCellMeta(1, 1).readOnly;
html
<hot-table [settings]="gridSettings" />

:::

Change cell options

When Handsontable is running, you can change the initial cell options, using the setCellMeta() method.

For example:

::: only-for javascript

js
import Handsontable from 'handsontable';

const container = document.querySelector('#example');
const hot = new Handsontable(container, {
  // top-level grid options that apply to the entire grid
  data: [
    ['A1', 'B1', 'C1', 'D1'],
    ['A2', 'B2', 'C2', 'D2'],
    ['A3', 'B3', 'C3', 'D3'],
  ],
  licenseKey: 'non-commercial-and-evaluation',
  width: 'auto',
  height: 'auto',
  rowHeaders: true,
  colHeaders: true,
});

// changes the `readOnly` option of cell (1, 1) back to `false`
hot.setCellMeta(1, 1, 'readOnly', false);

// returns `false`
hot.getCellMeta(1, 1).readOnly;

:::

::: only-for react

jsx
// changes the `readOnly` option of cell (1, 1) back to `false`
hot.setCellMeta(1, 1, 'readOnly', false);

// returns `false`
hot.getCellMeta(1, 1).readOnly;

:::

::: only-for angular

ts
@ViewChild(HotTableComponent, { static: false }) readonly hotTable!: HotTableComponent;

import { GridSettings } from "@handsontable/angular-wrapper";

// Consider the HotTable component with the `cell` option declared:
gridSettings: GridSettings = {
  cell: [
    {
      row: 1,
      col: 1,
      readOnly: true,
    },
  ]
};

// changes the `readOnly` option of cell (1, 1) back to `false`
hotTable.hotInstance.setCellMeta(1, 1, "readOnly", false);

// returns `false`
hotTable.hotInstance.getCellMeta(1, 1).readOnly;
html
<hot-table [settings]="gridSettings" />

:::

Implement custom logic

You can apply configuration options to individual grid elements (columns, rows, cells), based on any logic you implement, using the cells option.

The cells option overwrites all other options.

::: only-for javascript

The function can take three arguments:

  • row: a row coordinate (a physical index)
  • col: a column coordinate (a physical index)
  • prop: if your data is an array of objects, prop is a property name for a column's data source object.

If your data is an array of arrays, prop is the same as col.

js
const hot = new Handsontable(container, {
  cells(row, col) {
    if ((row === 1 || row === 5) && col === 1) {
      return {
        readOnly: true,
      };
    }
  }
});

:::

::: only-for react

The function can take three arguments:

  • row: a row coordinate (a physical index)

  • col: a column coordinate (a physical index)

  • prop: if your data is an array of objects, prop is a property name for a column's data source object.

    If your data is an array of arrays, prop is the same as col.

jsx
<HotTable
  cells={(row, col) => {
    if ((row === 1 || row === 5) && col === 1) {
      return {
        readOnly: true,
      };
    }
  }}
/>

:::

::: only-for angular

The function can take three arguments:

  • row: a row coordinate (a physical index)

  • col: a column coordinate (a physical index)

  • prop: if your data is an array of objects, prop is a property name for a column's data source object.

    If your data is an array of arrays, prop is the same as col.

ts
import { GridSettings } from "@handsontable/angular-wrapper";

gridSettings: GridSettings = {
  cells: (row, col) => {
    if ((row === 1 || row === 5) && col === 1) {
      return {
        readOnly: true,
      };
    }
  },
};
html
<hot-table [settings]="gridSettings" />

:::

Example

In the example below, the modified cells options overwrite the top-level grid options.

::: only-for javascript

::: example #example5 --js 1 --ts 2

@code @code

:::

:::

::: only-for react

jsx
// for cell (0, 0), the `readOnly` option is the default (`false`)
// returns `false`
hot.getCellMeta(0, 0).readOnly;

// for cell (1, 1), the `cell` option overwrote the default `readOnly` value
// returns `true`
hot.getCellMeta(1, 1).readOnly;

// changes the `readOnly` option of cell (1, 1) back to `false`
hot.setCellMeta(1, 1, 'readOnly', false);

// returns `false`
hot.getCellMeta(1, 1).readOnly;

:::

::: only-for angular

ts
// for cell (0, 0), the `readOnly` option is the default (`false`)
// returns `false`
hot.getCellMeta(0, 0).readOnly;

// for cell (1, 1), the `cell` option overwrote the default `readOnly` value
// returns `true`
hot.getCellMeta(1, 1).readOnly;

// changes the `readOnly` option of cell (1, 1) back to `false`
hot.setCellMeta(1, 1, 'readOnly', false);

// returns `false`
hot.getCellMeta(1, 1).readOnly;

:::

Configuration example

In the example below, some cells are read-only, and some cells are editable:

  • By default, all cells are read-only (as set in the top-level grid options).

  • For the first column, the mid-level column options overwrite the top-level grid options.

    As a result, the first column cells are editable.

  • For cell A1 (0, 0), the bottom-level cell options overwrite both the mid-level column options, and the top-level grid options.

    As a result, cell A1 (0, 0) is read-only, despite being part of the editable first column.

  • For cell C3 (3, 3), the cells option overwrites all other options.

    As a result, cell C3 (3, 3) is editable, despite not being part of the editable first column.

::: only-for javascript

::: example #example6 --js 1 --ts 2

@code @code

:::

:::

::: only-for react

::: example #example6 :react --js 1 --ts 2

@code @code

:::

:::

::: only-for react

Non-Idempotent Options

A non-idempotent option is one that produces different results when applied multiple times. In the context of Handsontable and <HotTable/> component, options like manualColumnMove=[1, 0] will swap columns every time they're applied - first application swaps columns, second application swaps them back, third swaps again, and so on.

Problem

Non-idempotent options like manualColumnMove and manualRowMove cause unwanted visual changes on every React re-render because they operate on visual indexes.

jsx
// Problem: Columns swap on EVERY re-render
const ExampleComponent = () => {
  const [state, setState] = React.useState(0);
  return (
    <>
      <button onClick={() => setState(state + 1)}>{state}</button>
      <HotTable
        manualColumnMove={[1, 0]}  // Columns keep swapping!
        data={[['A', 'B'], [0, 1]]}
        licenseKey="non-commercial-and-evaluation"
      />
    </>
  );
};

Solution

Use initialState to apply these options only during initialization:

jsx
<HotTable
  initialState={{ 
    manualColumnMove: [1, 0]  // Applied only once
  }}
  data={[['A', 'B'], [0, 1]]}
  rowHeaders={true}
  colHeaders={true}
  licenseKey="non-commercial-and-evaluation"
/>

:::

::: only-for angular

::: example #example6 :angular --ts 1 --html 2

@code @code

:::

:::

Configuration options

<div class="boxes-list"> </div>

Core methods

<div class="boxes-list"> </div>

Hooks

<div class="boxes-list"> </div>

Result

Your grid now applies configuration options at the scope you specified -- grid-wide, per column, per row, or per individual cell -- using Handsontable's cascading configuration system.