Creating Datasets
Before you can visualize and explore data, you must create a dataset. Nitro Explorer is pre-loaded with several datasets but you can also create your own.
Users can create Private or Shared datasets:
- Shared datasets - Created on shared databases and accessible to other users within the organization. For example, production_v is shared database, therefore all datasets created on production_v are shared datasets.
- Private datasets - Created on user-specific databases. Cannot be accessed by anyone other than the creator. For example, production_v::modifyall<username>__v is a user-specific database, therefore all datasets created on it are private datasets.
To switch the dataset from private to shared mode or vice-versa:
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Select Edit dataset from the More Actions menu on the dataset you want to switch the database.
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Select the appropriate user-specific or common database, depending on whether you want a private or shared dataset, from the Database drop-down menu.
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Select Save.
If your visualization can be based on the data in Nitro without any manipulation or joining of other data, you can create a physical dataset to power the chart. If you need a more complex or derived dataset to power your chart, you must create a virtual dataset.
Creating a Physical Dataset
To create a physical dataset:
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Select Datasets from the Data menu on the Nitro Explorer home page.
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Select the +Dataset button.
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Select the Datasource, Schema, and Table for the new dataset.
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Select Add.
To upload a CSV as a dataset:
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Select Upload a CSV from the Data menu on the Nitro Explorer home page.
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Complete the required fields on the CSV to Database configuration form.
Users can upload a parquet file as a CSV by specifying the columns in the Use Columns section of the CSV to Database configuration upload form.
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Select Save.
To upload an Excel sheet as a dataset:
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Select Upload Excel from the Data menu on the Nitro Explorer home page.
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Complete the required fields on the Excel to Database configuration form.
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Select Save.
Creating a Virtual Dataset
To create a virtual dataset:
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Select SQL Editor from the SQL Lab menu on the Nitro Explorer home page.
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Create an SQL query.
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Select Run.
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Select the Results tab.
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Select Explore.
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Save the query and results as a new virtual Dataset or create a new one.
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Specify the configuration you wish to use to visualize the data in the Chart Builder.