Scroll behavior (vertical, horizontal) in Figma - Dashboard Guide

Dashboard Mode - Scroll behavior (vertical, horizontal)

Goal

Understand how vertical and horizontal scroll behaviors help users explore large dashboards smoothly.

Sample Data

Month	Region	Sales	Profit	Customers
Jan	North	100	30	50
Feb	South	150	45	60
Mar	East	200	70	80
Apr	West	130	40	55
May	North	170	50	65
Jun	South	190	60	75
Jul	East	210	80	85
Aug	West	160	55	70

Dashboard Components

• KPI Cards (Top Row): Show Total Sales, Total Profit, and Total Customers.
  Formulas:
  • Total Sales = SUM(Sales) = 1310
  • Total Profit = SUM(Profit) = 430
  • Total Customers = SUM(Customers) = 540
• Horizontal Scroll Table: Monthly sales by region with columns for each month (Jan to Aug).
  This table is wider than the screen, so horizontal scroll is enabled.
• Vertical Scroll Chart: Bar chart showing Sales by Region.
  Chart height is fixed, so vertical scroll appears if data grows.

Dashboard Layout

+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| KPI Cards: Total Sales | Total Profit | Total Customers      |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| Horizontal Scroll Table: Monthly Sales by Region (wide)     |
|  <--- Scroll horizontally to see all months --->            |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| Vertical Scroll Chart: Sales by Region (fixed height)       |
|  | Scroll vertically if more regions added |                |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+
    

Interactivity

Filters for Region and Month let users narrow data.

• Applying a Region filter updates KPI cards, table, and chart.
• Applying a Month filter updates KPI cards and horizontal scroll table only.
• Horizontal scroll allows viewing all months without changing filters.
• Vertical scroll lets users see all regions if many are added.

Self Check

If you add a filter for Region = 'East', which components update?

• KPI Cards show totals only for East region.
• Horizontal Scroll Table shows sales for East region across months.
• Vertical Scroll Chart shows sales bars only for East region.

Key Result

Dashboard demonstrating vertical and horizontal scroll behaviors with KPI cards, a wide table, and a fixed-height chart.

Practice

1. What does vertical scroll behavior do in a Figma frame?

easy

A. It allows users to move content up and down inside the frame.

B. It allows users to move content left and right inside the frame.

C. It locks the content so it cannot be scrolled.

D. It automatically resizes the frame to fit all content.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand vertical scroll behavior

   Vertical scrolling means moving content up and down inside a frame.

2. Step 2: Match behavior to options

   It allows users to move content up and down inside the frame. correctly describes vertical scrolling as up and down movement.

3. Final Answer:

   It allows users to move content up and down inside the frame. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Vertical scroll = up/down movement [OK]

Hint: Vertical scroll means up and down movement [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing vertical with horizontal scrolling
• Thinking vertical scroll locks content
• Assuming vertical scroll resizes frame

2. Which option correctly sets horizontal scroll behavior in Figma's frame properties?

easy

A. Set Overflow behavior to 'Horizontal scrolling'.

B. Set Overflow behavior to 'Resize frame'.

C. Set Overflow behavior to 'No scrolling'.

D. Set Overflow behavior to 'Vertical scrolling'.

Solution

1. Step 1: Locate Overflow behavior setting

   In Figma, scroll behavior is set under Overflow behavior in the right panel for frames.

2. Step 2: Choose correct scroll type for horizontal

   To enable horizontal scroll, select 'Horizontal scrolling' option.

3. Final Answer:

   Set Overflow behavior to 'Horizontal scrolling'. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Horizontal scroll = 'Horizontal scrolling' setting [OK]

Hint: Choose 'Horizontal scrolling' for horizontal scroll [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Selecting vertical scrolling for horizontal scroll
• Choosing no scrolling by mistake
• Confusing resize frame with scroll behavior

3. Given a Figma frame with Overflow behavior set to 'Vertical scrolling' and content taller than the frame, what happens when you preview the frame?

medium

A. You can scroll left and right to see hidden content.

B. You can scroll up and down to see hidden content.

C. The frame resizes automatically to show all content.

D. No scrolling is possible; content is clipped.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand vertical scrolling with taller content

   Vertical scrolling allows moving content up and down when content height exceeds frame height.

2. Step 2: Predict preview behavior

   Since content is taller, vertical scroll lets user scroll up/down to see hidden parts.

3. Final Answer:

   You can scroll up and down to see hidden content. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Vertical scroll + taller content = up/down scroll [OK]

Hint: Vertical scroll lets you move up/down if content is taller [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking horizontal scroll works for tall content
• Assuming frame resizes automatically
• Believing no scroll means content is visible

4. You set a frame's Overflow behavior to 'Horizontal scrolling' but users cannot scroll horizontally in preview. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. The frame is set to 'Vertical scrolling' instead.

B. The frame's content height is larger than the frame height.

C. The frame's content width is smaller or equal to the frame width.

D. The frame has no fill color.

Solution

1. Step 1: Check content size relative to frame

   Horizontal scrolling works only if content width exceeds frame width.

2. Step 2: Identify cause of no horizontal scroll

   If content width is smaller or equal, no horizontal scroll is needed or possible.

3. Final Answer:

   The frame's content width is smaller or equal to the frame width. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Horizontal scroll needs wider content [OK]

Hint: Check if content width exceeds frame width for horizontal scroll [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing height with width for horizontal scroll
• Assuming vertical scroll setting causes issue
• Thinking fill color affects scroll behavior

5. You want a Figma frame to allow users to scroll vertically but not horizontally, even if content is wider than the frame. How should you set the scroll behavior and frame properties?

hard

A. Set Overflow behavior to 'No scrolling' and resize frame to fit content.

B. Set Overflow behavior to 'Horizontal scrolling' and increase frame height.

C. Set Overflow behavior to 'Vertical scrolling' and resize frame width to fit content.

D. Set Overflow behavior to 'Vertical scrolling' and ensure frame width clips content horizontally.

Solution

1. Step 1: Choose vertical scroll behavior

   Set Overflow behavior to 'Vertical scrolling' to allow up/down movement only.

2. Step 2: Control horizontal clipping

   Keep frame width fixed so wider content is clipped horizontally, preventing horizontal scroll.

3. Final Answer:

   Set Overflow behavior to 'Vertical scrolling' and ensure frame width clips content horizontally. -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Vertical scroll + fixed width = vertical only scroll [OK]

Hint: Use vertical scroll and fixed width to block horizontal scroll [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Setting horizontal scroll instead of vertical
• Resizing frame width to fit content allowing horizontal scroll
• Choosing no scrolling disables all scroll