Use modals to create focused content views

Modals help simplify workbook design and allow you to build a streamlined, app-like experience. An open modal overlays and obscures a workbook page to provide a focused view of the modal content. This reduces visual clutter and allows you to present form fields, provide customized drilldowns, display controls and filters in a dedicated container, etc.

Modals are a layout element, allowing you to guide users and create focused interfaces as you build data apps in Sigma.

Use modals when you want to:

• Spotlight a particular element or set of elements.
• Add elements to a dashboard without creating an additional page.
• Provide an app-like experience for user data entry.

This document explains how to create and customize modals. To incorporate a modal into a workbook, you must configure an Open modal action. For more information about using this action, see Create actions that navigate to destinations.

User requirements

The ability to create and modify modals requires the following:

• To use this feature, you must have Can edit or Can explore access to the individual workbook.
• You must be in Edit or Explore mode for the workbook. See workbook modes overview.

Add a modal to your workbook

There are several ways to add a modal to a workbook, including the following:

• In the Add element bar, select Layout and then select Modal.
• In the workbook footer, select the down arrow (), then select Add modal.
  
• Create a new modal while moving an existing element. In the element toolbar, select More, then select Move to > New modal from the dropdown.
• Create a workbook action to open a modal. In the Select modal field, choose New modal.

A modal appears as a new hidden page tab for the workbook, with a predefined size. Add elements and customize the modal just like a workbook page. All element types are supported, but consider the modal size and layout when adding elements.

By default, a modal includes a default title and primary and secondary buttons. To customize the appearance of the modal, see Customize a modal.

You can optionally rename the modal to keep your workbook organized. In the modal page tab, select the down arrow (), then select Rename or double-click the modal tab to rename it. The modal name is separate from the title that appears on the modal.

Customize a modal

Customize the appearance of a modal to match the use case. For example, a modal that displays documentation might not need buttons, and a modal that modifies a workbook page might benefit from dynamic text formatting in the title.

By default, a modal includes a header with a title and a close icon, and a footer with two buttons. You cannot place additional elements in the header or footer, but you can customize the display and hide both the header and the footer, including the buttons.

To customize the appearance and feature of a modal, see the following sections:

• Customize modal appearance
• Add a title to the modal
• Customize the footer and buttons on the modal

Customize modal appearance

You can customize the width of the modal and the spacing of elements on the modal. You can also choose to show padding and a gap between elements. If desired, add a background color to the modal. The background color does not apply to the footer of the modal.

To customize the width of the modal:

1. Select the modal on the workbook page.
2. In the editor panel, select a Width. By default, the modal width is Small. Choose between Extra small, Small, Medium, Large, and Extra large.

To customize the appearance of the modal, including elements added to it:

1. Select the modal on the workbook page
2. In the editor panel, select Format.
3. Click Modal style to expand the section and view the style options:

Add a title to the modal

By default, a modal includes a header with a default title, New Modal, and a close icon. To hide or modify the title or close icon for the modal:

1. Select the modal on the workbook page.
2. In the editor panel, select Format.
3. Click Header to expand the header formatting options.
4. (Optional) Turn off Show title to hide the title. Show title is enabled by default.
5. If the title is shown, use the text box to add or update the title. Enter an equals sign (=) to use a dynamic text formula. See Add dynamic text based on your data.
6. (Optional) To change the title text's formatting, use the formatting tools to add bold, change the text color, or change the text size.
7. (Optional) To hide or show the close icon, turn Show close icon on or off.

Hiding both the title and the close icon hides the header.

Customize the footer and buttons on the modal

By default there are two buttons in the footer, labeled Primary and Secondary to align with the color styling. You can also add custom buttons to the modal outside of the footer using the Add element bar.

To customize the primary or secondary buttons:

1. Select the modal on the workbook page.
2. In the editor tab, select Format.
3. Click Footer to expand the footer formatting options.
4. (Optional) To hide the primary button, turn off Show primary button.
5. For Text, use the text box to update the placeholder text to a specific call to action. For example, Submit or Acknowledge.
6. (Optional) To hide the secondary button, turn off Show secondary button.
7. For Text, use the text box to update the placeholder text to a secondary call to action. For example, Cancel or Clear.

Hiding both buttons hides the footer.

Delete a modal

To delete a modal, click the caret () in the tab to open the modal menu, then select Delete.

Deleting a modal deletes all elements inside the modal.