# \[SOLVED\] Editing existing string in DataTable, excel style

**URL:** <https://community.plotly.com/t/solved-editing-existing-string-in-datatable-excel-style/67347>\
**Category:** Dash Python\
**Tags:** question\
**Created:** [August 25, 2022, 11:06am UTC](https://community.plotly.com/t/solved-editing-existing-string-in-datatable-excel-style/67347 "2022-08-25T11:06:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![caseguide](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b77776/32.png) [@caseguide](https://community.plotly.com/u/caseguide)\
**Post date:** [August 25, 2022, 11:06am UTC](https://community.plotly.com/t/solved-editing-existing-string-in-datatable-excel-style/67347/1 "2022-08-25T11:06:27Z")

</div>

I can’t seem to edit an existing string in a DataTable, only blow away the datatable contents. How can I edit just the substring in a DataTable?

EDIT: It appears this is possible by double clicking THEN moving the arrow keys. Possible, but unlike any spreadsheet editor I’ve seen. Requires hitting enter to save changes, if you lose focus, they’re gone. Doesn’t seem possible to only edit the data table with a keyboard. There is no undo via CTRL+Z either.

Seems like data entry “excel style” is not a use case that the DataTable will support.

Versions:  
dash==2.0.0  
dash-table==5.0.0

Based on a GitHub issue this used to be possible. Any words on a fix? It seems like editing cells is a core use case of software like Dash but the UX makes it unusable if you want to edit existing cell values.

My question is basically the same as these:

> [@Update content in an editable datatable](https://community.plotly.com/t/update-content-in-an-editable-datatable/66022):
>
> I am trying to use editable datatable to allow user to add/update a justification for some work items in Dash. The justification usually is a paragraph. I found that if I want to edit the content of a cell, the original content will be overwritten. I can’t find a way to just insert some text without erase the original content. Is there something I missed or it is the default behavior? Is there any other component that can be used for that purpose? I know I can probably use textarea, but in this…

> <https://stackoverflow.com/questions/71861949/how-to-edit-string-in-editable-datatable>

Similar issues raised on GitHub:

> <https://github.com/plotly/dash-table/issues/846>
>
> Hi and thanks for this very useful component!
> 
> I have noticed that clicking in…side an editable cell doesn't set the position of the cursor anymore. It used to work fine in v4.9.0 and seems to be broken since v4.10.0. However all other means of edition still work the same (notably navigating using keyboard arrows still works).
> 
> I use the latest Firefox, and heard people using Chrome experience the same bug.

> <https://github.com/plotly/dash-table/issues/640>
>
> In excel one can use backspace as one types and press enter once done.
> If the d…ash table, using backspace completely empties the cell. In order to erase charcter by character one needs to click on the cell. Is there a way to do this using keyboard only? Or better would be to change the behavior to mimic Microsoft Excel where backspace works character by character when adding cell contents, but removes the entire cell contents otherwise, when using backspace.
> 
> Thanks,
> Vivek

> <https://github.com/rdzanyM/science_points/issues/74>
>
> Editing the table is a horror, there's no cursor, backspace doesn't work, what I… write disappears randomly. I do realize that this is caused by Dash, but can anything be done about this? Are there issues about it on Dash's tracker that suggest some workarounds? Or was this already fixed?