Define a Visual Data Discovery Source
This applies to: Visual Data Discovery
Sources define what data you and your users can access through a data connection or in an uploaded file. Use this data to create visuals, self service reports, and dashboards in your environment. You can create a source from an existing connection, uploaded files, or as a combination of data from multiple connections as joins or hierarchical data. Adjust the available content by selecting specific entities, associated schemas, or providing custom SQL.
If you are creating a fusion or hierarchical source, add multiple data entities and set up a join configuration. See Create a Fusion Source, Hierarchical Fields and Structures, and Define a Hierarchical Source.
If you are adding a file as a data entity, some options may differ. See Manage File Uploads and Data Entity Details - From File.
Define a New Source
Define a new source
Log in as a user with the Administer Sources or Create New Data Sources privilege.
Select Data Sources from the main menu in Visual Data Discovery. The Sources work area appears.
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On the Sources page, select the Create Source button. The Source Creation work area opens.
Enter a unique Name for your source and optional Description in the Source Definition work area. This description is searchable from the Sources page.
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Click the Add button to add a data entity From Connection or From File.
Select From Connection to open the Data Entity Details work area. You will only see the connections you have read permission for. See About Source Permissions.
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Enter a unique Data Entity Name, then select an available connection in the Select Connection list.
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Depending on the connection you select, you'll need to select an existing entity or provide Custom SQL, then provide other information as needed to add the data entity.
By default, all Available Fields for your source are included: clear the appropriate check box to exclude the field from the source. Select Apply to save the data entity or Cancel to discard your changes. Select Save Source to save this source. As needed, update the default settings on the Fields tab, Cache tab, or Global Settings tab.
Table visuals and Detail dialogs display fields in the order they are retrieved from the source. When you create a source using custom SQL, your fields are shown in the order you specify.
Once saved, your new source is added to the list on the Sources page.
View Relationships for a Schema in a Source
You can view the relationships for the schemas you add to your data sources to better understand the relationships present. Add a schema and select the view icon to see how the data in your tables are connected. To add more relationships to a schema, edit it in the connection directly.
Zoom in or out in this work area, or use the mini map to navigate among the various tables that make up your schema.
Create or edit a source that uses a schema.
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Select the view icon next to your selected Schema. A schema work area opens you can use to view the tables and relationships of that schema. Larger data sets may take a few moments to load.
View the existing relationships and any user defined joins to better understand the relationships present.
Close the work area when you're done viewing the schema information, and repeat for other schemas if needed.
Note: For Postgres connections, both tables and data relationship information are read from the connection. Other supported connections include table information but do not read relationship information. See Connector Support for Schema Visualization. No information is provided for unsupported connections.
Define a new source from a Managed Dashboards connection
Note: This feature is no longer in beta and can be used in production environments.
Log in as a user with the Administer Sources or Create New Data Sources privilege.
Select Sources from the main menu in Visual Data Discovery. The Sources page appears.
On the Sources page, select the Create Source button. The Source Creation work area opens.
Enter a unique Name for your source and optional Description in the Source Definition work area. This description is searchable from the Sources page.
Click the Add button and From Connection to add a connection from your Managed Dashboards connections. The Data Entity Details work area populates.
Select From Connection to open the Data Entity Details work area. You will only see the connections you have read permission for. See About Source Permissions.
Enter a unique Data Entity Name, then select an available Managed Dashboards connection in the Select Connection list.
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Depending on the information in connection you select, you'll need to select an existing entity or provide Custom SQL, then provide other information as needed to add the data entity. By default, all Available Fields for your source are included: clear the appropriate check box to exclude the field from the source. Select Apply to save the data entity or Cancel to discard your changes. Select Save Source to save this source. As needed, update the default settings on the Fields tab, Cache tab, or Global Settings tab.
Table visuals and Detail dialogs display fields in the order they are retrieved from the source. When you create a source using custom SQL, your fields are shown in the order you specify.
Once saved, your new source is added to the list on the Sources page.