DunneNote · Tutorial

Working with tables

Import a CSV as a read-only Data Table, make an editable copy, and build an Editable table from scratch.

Available15 min· Beginner· DunneNote 0.9.2

DunneNote has two table canvases. A Data Table is a read-only copy of a CSV or JSON file. An Editable table is a grid you type into. In this tutorial you'll use both, and move data between them and a spreadsheet app.

You'll need#

A notebook with a page open.
A small CSV file. If you don't have one, save these lines in a text file called expenses.csv:

Date,Item,Amount
2026-09-01,Train ticket,42.50
2026-09-03,Lunch,18.00
2026-09-04,Taxi,27.30

Import a Data Table#

Choose New (+) ▸ Table (CSV/JSON) and pick expenses.csv. DunneNote confirms with "Table added."
With the table selected, choose Enter table. Use the arrow keys to move between cells. Try typing: nothing changes, because a Data Table is read-only.
Select the Amount column and choose Sort descending. The largest amount moves to the top. Choose Clear sort (original order) to put it back. Sorting never changes the data itself.
Press Escape to leave the table.

Make an editable copy#

With the Data Table selected, choose Create an editable copy of this table. DunneNote confirms with "Editable copy created below — the original stays read-only."
Select the new copy and choose Enter spreadsheet.
Change Lunch to Team lunch. The original Data Table above is untouched.
Choose Add row and enter a new expense.
Drag the grip at the edge of the Item column to widen it, then double-click the grip to fit the column to its contents.
Select an Amount cell and choose Currency to show the values as money. Only the display changes; the value you typed is what's stored.

Take the data out, and bring it back#

With the editable table selected, choose Copy table as TSV (pastes into Excel or Sheets).
Paste into your spreadsheet app and add a total there.
Copy the rows you want back from the spreadsheet, including the total.
In DunneNote, choose New (+) ▸ Paste data table, paste into the dialog, and create the table. You now have an Editable table with the spreadsheet's results.

Build a table from scratch#

Choose New (+) ▸ Editable table. DunneNote confirms with "Editable table created."
Choose Enter spreadsheet, then use Add column and Add row to shape it, and type your values.
Press Escape to leave, then try a search for one of the values. The result takes you straight to that cell.

What you've learned#

A Data Table (Table (CSV/JSON)) is read-only. An Editable table is for values you type.
Create an editable copy of this table gives you an editable version and leaves the original alone.
Neither table calculates. Copy table as TSV and Paste data table move data to and from a spreadsheet app.
Table cells are searchable, down to the individual cell.

Next#

Build a form
Data Table and Editable table, the full reference

Something unclear or out of date? Open a support ticket.

DunneNote · Tutorial

Working with tables

Import a CSV as a read-only Data Table, make an editable copy, and build an Editable table from scratch.

Available15 min· Beginner· DunneNote 0.9.2

You'll need#

A notebook with a page open.
A small CSV file. If you don't have one, save these lines in a text file called expenses.csv:

Date,Item,Amount
2026-09-01,Train ticket,42.50
2026-09-03,Lunch,18.00
2026-09-04,Taxi,27.30

Import a Data Table#

Choose New (+) ▸ Table (CSV/JSON) and pick expenses.csv. DunneNote confirms with "Table added."
With the table selected, choose Enter table. Use the arrow keys to move between cells. Try typing: nothing changes, because a Data Table is read-only.
Select the Amount column and choose Sort descending. The largest amount moves to the top. Choose Clear sort (original order) to put it back. Sorting never changes the data itself.
Press Escape to leave the table.

Make an editable copy#

With the Data Table selected, choose Create an editable copy of this table. DunneNote confirms with "Editable copy created below — the original stays read-only."
Select the new copy and choose Enter spreadsheet.
Change Lunch to Team lunch. The original Data Table above is untouched.
Choose Add row and enter a new expense.
Drag the grip at the edge of the Item column to widen it, then double-click the grip to fit the column to its contents.
Select an Amount cell and choose Currency to show the values as money. Only the display changes; the value you typed is what's stored.

Take the data out, and bring it back#

With the editable table selected, choose Copy table as TSV (pastes into Excel or Sheets).
Paste into your spreadsheet app and add a total there.
Copy the rows you want back from the spreadsheet, including the total.
In DunneNote, choose New (+) ▸ Paste data table, paste into the dialog, and create the table. You now have an Editable table with the spreadsheet's results.

Build a table from scratch#

Choose New (+) ▸ Editable table. DunneNote confirms with "Editable table created."
Choose Enter spreadsheet, then use Add column and Add row to shape it, and type your values.
Press Escape to leave, then try a search for one of the values. The result takes you straight to that cell.

What you've learned#

A Data Table (Table (CSV/JSON)) is read-only. An Editable table is for values you type.
Create an editable copy of this table gives you an editable version and leaves the original alone.
Neither table calculates. Copy table as TSV and Paste data table move data to and from a spreadsheet app.
Table cells are searchable, down to the individual cell.

Next#

Build a form
Data Table and Editable table, the full reference

Something unclear or out of date? Open a support ticket.