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.
Note: In this release, the user interface and workflows have changed from previous releases. If you are running an earlier release, see Define a New Source (Earlier Releases).
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. A work area opens with the Source Creation tab selected.
Enter a unique name (replacing the default name, Untitled Source) for your source.
Select and expand a connection from the right Connections panel to find a schema and entity in your selected connection. If using a Managed connection, see Define a new source from a Managed Dashboards connection.
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Drag and drop the entity from the right panel. This is added to your visual work area, linked to an output. The default name is the same as the entity, appended with a number. You can select the entity to rename it using the settings panel.
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Select Save Source to save your output and make further changes to your source. Optionally, edit the Description and Tags for this source.
Note: Alternatively, select an item from the Files panel or select Add SQL Entity to define an entity and data to retrieve from a selected connection.
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Select the entity you have added to view and edit information in the Properties panel. Use this panel to edit the Entity Name, change the Select Connection, change the schema in Select Schema, or to View see a visual layout of the entity’s schema.
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If you choose to use the Existing Entity, you can enable Entity Data Cache, and select which fields you want to include by expanding and making selections in the Available Fields list. The Preview icon in the Available Fields work area opens an Entity Preview dialog box. This preview includes all of the fields in the entity (no matter your selections) to help you decide what to include or exclude.
Note: Alternatively, select Custom SQL to define the data to retrieve from your selected connection.
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Select Apply to apply your changes, and Save Source, if needed. Once saved, your new source is added to the list on the Sources page.
Note: There are two preview icons in the Source work area. The Preview icon in the Available Fields work area opens an Entity Preview dialog box. This preview includes all of the fields in the entity (no matter your selections) to help you decide what to include or exclude. The Preview icon next to the Save Source button opens a Source Preview. This preview includes only what fields you have made available after applying your field selections and saving your work.
As needed, update the default settings on the Cache tab or Global Settings tab.
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Manage the Fields and Custom Metrics in the Properties panel for this data source by selecting the Output icon in the work area. If you need a larger work area, select the Expand View link to open a larger work area. See Manage Fields.
For more information about working with the data source fields in your source, see:
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 link 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 link 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
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 (replacing the default name, Untitled Source) for your source in the Source Creation work area.
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Select and expand a Managed connection from the right Connections panel. Select the appropriate entity from your available data cubes or shared data connectors.
Drag and drop the entity to the source creation work area. This is added to your visual work area, linked to an output.
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Select Save Source to save your output and make further changes to your source. Optionally, edit the Description and Tags for this source.
Note: Alternatively, select an item from the Files panel.
Select the entity you have added to view and edit information in the Properties panel. Use this panel to edit the Entity Name, change the Select Connection, or select a different folder in Select Folder.
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Existing Entity is enabled by default, and you can enable Entity Data Cache, then select which fields you want to include by expanding and making selections in the Available Fields list. The Preview icon in the Available Fields work area opens an Entity Preview dialog box. This preview includes all of the fields in the entity (no matter your selections) to help you decide what to include or exclude.
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Select Apply to apply your changes, and Save Source, if needed. Once saved, your new source is added to the list on the Sources page.
Note: There are two preview icons in the Source work area. The Preview icon in the Available Fields work area opens an Entity Preview dialog box. This preview includes all of the fields in the entity (no matter your selections) to help you decide what to include or exclude. The Preview icon next to the Save Source button opens a Source Preview. This preview includes only what fields you have made available after applying your field selections and saving your work.
As needed, update the default settings on the Cache tab or Global Settings tab.
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Manage the Fields and Custom Metrics in the Properties panel for this data source by selecting the Output icon in the work area. If you need a larger work area, select the Expand View link.
Define a New Source (Earlier Releases)
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.
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