Making comments in a report

[Anonymous]

I am working on a report that I want to add comments to.

I'd love to be able to add them in a seperate column in a table.  Or as a tooltip.  I don't want to just comment in the app version because then when I update it, the comments disappear.  

I want to add a column to my table, and be able to physically (in the table format) write in different comments for each line.

for example:

name                     date                         comment

ABC Comp           1/1/2001                  this practice is super old

123 Comp            2/4/5021                 this practice logically can't exist

let me know if this makes sense.  Thanks in advance.  i just don't know how to do this, or if it's even possible.

[raghunaththilag]

1. Add a Comment Column to Your Table

Steps:

1. Insert a New Column:

   • Open your table in a spreadsheet tool (e.g., Excel, Google Sheets) or your reporting software.
   • Add a new column labeled "Comments" next to the relevant data columns.

2. Write Comments Directly:

   • In the "Comments" column, write specific comments for each row or line item.
   • Save the table to ensure the comments persist.

Advantages:

• Easy to view and edit directly within the table.
• The comments are tied to the data and don’t disappear when the table updates.

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2. Use Tooltips for Comments

If your reporting tool supports tooltips, you can add comments as tooltips for individual cells.

Steps:

1. Enable Tooltip Support:

   • Check if your tool allows adding tooltips (e.g., Excel has a "Notes" or "Comment" feature).

2. Add Tooltips:

   • Right-click a cell → Select Insert Note (or Insert Comment).
   • Add your comment in the tooltip field.

3. View Tooltips:

   • Hover over the cell to see the comment.

Advantages:

• Keeps the table clean while allowing comments.
• Comments are tied to specific cells.

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3. Use a Separate Sheet for Comments

If the table has too many rows or needs to stay uncluttered, maintain a separate sheet for comments.

Steps:

1. Create a separate "Comments" sheet in your document.
2. Link each comment to a unique identifier (e.g., a row number or product ID) from the main table.
3. Use the VLOOKUP or INDEX-MATCH function to fetch comments dynamically, if needed.

Advantages:

• Keeps the main table clean.
• Easily track changes and updates to comments.

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4. Create Persistent Comments in Reporting Tools

If you're using a reporting tool like Power BI or Tableau:

• Add a "Comments" field to your data source and populate it with comments.
• Display the comments in the report as a separate column or tooltip.

Steps:

1. Add a "Comments" field to your data source (e.g., database, spreadsheet).
2. Import the updated data source into your reporting tool.
3. Configure your report to display the comments alongside the data.

Advantages:

• Ensures comments persist and are part of the report data.
• Comments remain tied to the correct data points even after updates.

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5. Export Comments Along with the Report

• If you’re exporting the report (e.g., as a PDF or printout), ensure the comments column or tooltips are included.
• For tooltips, some tools allow exporting them as inline text.

[Nathaniel_C]

Hi @Anonymous , where are you getting your data? You could add it to the original data as a field. Or you could put the comments in a table using enter data that you create, and then in powerquery merge the two tables.
Let me know if you have any questions.

If this solves your issues, please mark it as the solution, so that others can find it easily. Kudos 👍are nice too.
Nathaniel

[Anonymous]

I am pulling in my data from postgres SQL - Is there not a way to add just plain non-coded text to a column?

[Nathaniel_C · Accepted solution]

Add your text here, and then merge the two tables.
Let me know if you have any questions.

If this solves your issues, please mark it as the solution, so that others can find it easily. Kudos 👍are nice too.
Nathaniel