Create a data element

Workbooks support three element types: control elements, UI elements, and data elements. Data elements are built from data sources (i.e. warehouse tables, Sigma datasets, sql, and other data elements). They include tables, pivot tables, and visualizations.

Requirements

• To create a data element, you must have Can Edit access to the individual workbook and be in Edit mode.

Data source options

Each workbook can contain multiple elements sourced from a variety of data sources. You can pull in new data sources at any time and are not restricted to a single source per workbook or workbook page. An element's data can be sourced from cloud data warehouse (CDW) tables, Sigma datasets, uploaded CSVs, written SQL, or other workbook data elements.

Upstream changes have an effect on elements

If a data source is modified, dependent elements might be affected. For example, if Element B uses Element A as a data source, removing a column from Element A immediately makes that column inaccessible to Element B.

Create a data element

You can create a data element from several different sources:

• A new source.
• A source already in use in the workbook.
• An existing data element. To create an element directly from an element tile on a page's canvas, see Create a data element from an existing element tile on the canvas.

Before you start:

• This action is only available in edit mode. To start editing, click Edit in the top right corner of the page.
• To upload CSVs or write custom SQL, you must be assigned an account type with the Upload CSV or Write SQL permission enabled. See Account types.

To add a data element to your workbook page, do the following:

1. Select to open the workbook's ADD NEW ELEMENT panel.

2. Under DATA ELEMENTS, select the type of element you want to add: TABLE, VIZ, or PIVOT TABLE.

3. Review the available data sources:

   • You can search for a data source or workbook element, select Elements to review data elements from the current workbook, or select Tables and Datasets to browse to a table or dataset to which you have access.
   • Hover over an available data source and select Preview () to open the data source columns and values.
   • Review the number next to the to identify sources in use by the workbook.

4. Select a data source. You can add a data source immediately, or preview it and select specific columns to add:

   • Select a data source from search results, browsing the Elements from the current workbook, or selecting a table or dataset from Tables and Datasets.
   • If you preview a data source, you can select or deselect different columns in the data source and then select Add to add the data source.
   • Select CSV to upload a CSV-formatted file.
   • Select SQL to write custom SQL to retrieve data from a CDW. See Write custom SQL.
   • Select Join or Union to combine data sources. See Join data in workbooks.
   

   After you select the data source for the element, the new element appears on the page with the editor panel open for the new element.

Create a data element from an existing element tile on the canvas

This option creates an element directly from an existing element tile on a page's canvas. To create an element using the editor panel, see Create a data element from an existing element using the editor panel.

Before you start: This action is only available in edit mode. To begin editing, click Edit in the top right corner of the page.

1. Hover over the element you want to use as a data source.

2. Select to create a dependent visualization based on the selected element.

3. Select an element type: Visualization, Table, or Pivot table.
   

   The new element appears on the page with the editor panel open for the new element.

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If you want to create a data element by querying an existing workbook element with SQL, you can create a warehouse view for the element and reference the path to the view in your SQL syntax. Your connection must be configured with write access. For more information about SQL-sourced tables, see the Reference existing Sigma workbooks section in Write custom SQL.

Identify and edit an element's data source

Before you start: This action is only available in edit mode. To start editing, click Edit in the top right corner of the page.

An element's data source is listed at the bottom of the editor panel when the element is selected.

To view, change, or transform a data source for a selected element, select the at the bottom of the editor panel.