Flexible HTML Table with Fixed Header and Footer around a Scrollable Body

HTML & CSS
,
2

Hi,

I remember playing around with this about 15 years ago and there was no fullproof solution then and its still not possible today (using the table-layout:auto algorithm) although it may be possible with the new css grid but haven’t had time to test yet.:slight_smile:

These demos are about 15 years old and are fully fluid but there are issues with the headers.
http://www.pmob.co.uk/temp/table-scroll-double-header.htm
http://www.pmob.co.uk/temp/table-fixed-header-example.htm

If the table can used the table-layout:fixed algorithm which makes equal width cells automatically then there is an easy solution.

https://codepen.io/paulobrien/pen/pPpbYJ/

<!DOCTYPE HTML>
<html>
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<title>Untitled Document</title>
<style>
table {
	max-width:980px;
	table-layout:fixed;
	margin:auto;
}
th, td {
	padding:5px 10px;
	border:1px solid #000;
}
thead, tfoot {
	background:#f9f9f9;
	display:table;
	width:100%;
	width:calc(100% - 18px);
}
tbody {
	height:300px;
	overflow:auto;
	overflow-x:hidden;
	display:block;
	width:100%;
}
tbody tr {
	display:table;
	width:100%;
	table-layout:fixed;
}
</style>
</head>

<body>
<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th scope="col">Header 1</th>
      <th scope="col">Header 2</th>
      <th scope="col">Header 3</th>
      <th scope="col">Header 4</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Cell content with content to wrap as required Cell content with content to wrap as required Cell content with content to wrap as required Cell content with content to wrap as required Cell content with content to wrap as required Cell content with content to wrap as required </td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
      <td>Cell content</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
  <tfoot>
    <tr>
      <td>Footer 1</td>
      <td>Footer 2</td>
      <td>Footer 3</td>
      <td>Footer 4</td>
    </tr>
  </tfoot>
</table>
</body>
</html>

I just knocked this up based on another demo I did for someone on the forums but it does use one line of jquery,

https://codepen.io/paulobrien/pen/NvxNyY

I’m sure someone in the js forum could convert the jquery to vanilla js pretty easily :slight_smile:

1 Like