The Matrix View is a way to enter and review disaggregated data in ActivityInfo. It allows form designers and data entry users to work with data in a pivot-table style interface while keeping the underlying data in the long, analysis-friendly format.
Instead of submitting multiple long-format records manually, users can enter values directly into a grid where each row and column represents a combination of dimension values.
This feature is especially useful when secondary data collected through other systems are disaggregated into multiple dimensions and used for reporting against indicators.
When to Use the Matrix View
Use the Matrix View when your form collects:
- Indicator results disaggregated by multiple categories (e.g., sex, age, location, population group).
- Large numbers of combinations that would be cumbersome to enter row-by-row.
- Data that benefits from interactive table editing, paste-from-Excel, and matrix navigation.
How Matrix View Works
The Matrix Form View Model has the following properties:
- One or more column dimensions, which are an ordered selection of key fields with single selection or single-select reference field types.
- One or more row dimensions, which are an ordered selection of key fields.
- One or more measures, that include non-key quantity fields.
Prerequisites**: Key fields and measures**
To enable a Matrix View, the form must contain at least two key fields, which:
- Define the unique combination of values for each record.
- Act as the dimensions (row, column, or facet axes) in the matrix.
Key fields may include:
- Single-select fields
- Reference fields
Please note that the key fields are required fields, and no two records share the same set of key values.
The form design must also include non-key quantity fields.
An example of a form design to collect secondary data on beneficiaries reached by a project covering the health and education sectors, disaggregated by region, gender and age group.
| Label | Field Type | Options | Key? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sectors | Single selection | Health, Education | Yes |
| Region | Single selection | North, South | Yes |
| Sex | Single selection | Male, Female | Yes |
| Age Group | Single selection | Children, Adults | Yes |
| Year | Text | No | |
| Target | Quantity | N/A | |
| Reached | Quantity | N/A | |
| % Achieved | Calculated (Reached/Target) | N/A |
Data Entry
The Matrix View benefits from the Interactive Table editing feature that allows you to copy and paste directly from Excel or Google Sheets spreadsheets.
- Specify the number of rows you want to by clicking on the Add button. You can specify whether you want the records at the top or bottom in the event you have existing records.
- The rows will automatically appear as specified on the table view. Copy the records from your external spreadsheet data source.
- Paste in the Interactive Table by clicking on the first cell and pressing Ctrl + V. All the records will appear as draft records, stored on your local device until they are submitted to the server.
- Select all the draft records by clicking on the first cell and dragging over all the records you want to submit or by using Ctrl + A. On the record panel on the left side, click on Submit drafted records to server to save the records.
Opening the Matrix View
- Open the Views panel and select Matrix.
If the Matrix View does not show yet, you need to check that you have a reference or a single select field set as key and a quantity field. No other field types can be set as key.
Selecting Dimensions
Click on Select Columns to open the matrix view editor.
Available dimensions and measures
These are the key fields in your form that you can drag and drop to column, row or facet dimensions.
Measures are non-key fields which you use to enter quantity values.
Limits
- Every key field must appear in at least one axis. If you omit one, it is automatically added as a row dimension.
- A field cannot be both a row and column dimension at the same time.
- Column dimensions must be from enumerable types (single select, reference).
- If there are too many resulting columns (over 200), the matrix cannot be displayed.
- At least one measure must be selected in the Matrix.
Multiple Measures
If you select more than one measure, the system automatically adds a dimension named Value, which behaves like an extra column layer.
Facet dimensions
The facet dimensions feature allows you to filter your data based on a particular key field. You can also have multiple facet dimensions.
Example of a Matrix View showing the number of male adults and children beneficiaries reached in the education sector in the North region.
Saving the Matrix View
Once you have configured the matrix, you can proceed to save it and also share it.
Data entry in the Matrix View
Once you have configured your Matrix, it is possible to use the Interactive Table feature within the configured matrix. This allows you to:
- Edit field values directly from inside the cells
- Adding multiple new records at the same time from an external data source
- Fill-down repeated values
- Reviewing validation status and correcting field values
- Saving or deleting records or draft records in bulk
Editing field values in the Matrix
You can edit individual field values in the Matrix by:
- Double-click on a cell in the matrix.
- Type in the new value and press enter.
- The record immediately turns into a draft that is saved in your local device until the record is submitted to the server to commit the changes. Click on the record panel on the right side and click on Submit drafted records to server.
- The new value is now committed and can be viewed by other users.
Adding multiple new records
This feature is useful especially when you have your matching matrix in an Excel or Google Sheets spreadsheet. It allows you to copy and paste the values directly into the matrix.
- Add rows depending on the number of records you want to add to the matrix by clicking on the Add rows button. Each click adds a single row.
- Copy the rows you want to add into the matrix from the external source.
- Click on the first cell of the added rows and press Ctrl + V to paste the record.
- Once you have pasted the records, proceed to click on Submit and select All valid records in this form to commit.
Reviewing validation status and correcting field values
All fields in the matrix that are incorrect will be highlighted and marked either invalid or duplicate.
You can correct the records within the matrix by double-clicking on the affected cells and rectifying the values.
Fill down values
You can use the fill handle in the bottom-right corner of a cell or selection to copy values up or down in a column or from left to right in a row, similar to spreadsheet behavior. The fill down will be subject to validation rules.
- If one cell is selected, its value is repeated.
- If multiple cells are selected, the pattern is repeated.
Records will appear as draft records until they are submitted to the server.
Submitting, discard drafts or deleting bulk draft records
You can submit or delete multiple draft records that have been selected in the matrix.
- Click on a cell and drag downwards to select the respective cells that you want to submit or delete.
- On the records panel, there are options to either submit the drafted records to the server, discard all the drafted values or to delete the selected records.
Summary
The Matrix View is designed to make working with highly disaggregated indicator data both efficient and reliable. By transforming long-format records into an interactive, pivot-table-style interface, it allows users to enter, review, and validate large volumes of data in a way that closely matches how results are typically reported and reviewed.
Form designers benefit from the Matrix View because it preserves a clean, analysis-ready data model while exposing a flexible, user-friendly interface. Data entry users benefit from faster workflows, reduced duplication, and fewer errors, especially when working with many combinations of disaggregation values.
By enforcing the use of key fields as dimensions, the Matrix View ensures that every data point is uniquely defined and consistently structured. At the same time, features such as multiple measures, facet dimensions, and Excel-style paste support make it practical for real-world reporting scenarios, including the integration of secondary data from external systems.
Overall, the Matrix View bridges the gap between robust indicator data modeling and intuitive data entry, making it particularly well suited for complex reporting requirements in monitoring, evaluation, and results-based management contexts.