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.

 

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Summary of Content

Data Source Options
Create a Data Element
       ... from a New Data Source
       ... from a Source Already in Use in the Workbook
       ... from an Existing Element [option 1]
       ... from an Existing Element [option 2]
Identify and/or Change an Element's Data Source
Related Resources

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. 

Uploading CSVs and writing custom SQL are features only available to organization Admins and Creators; see Account types.

Upstream changes have an effect on elements

If a data source is modified, any dependent elements may be effected. For example, if Element B uses Element A as a data source, removing a column from Element A will immediately make that column inaccessible for Element B.

Follow the instructions in the next section to create a data element from a new source, a source already in use in the workbook, or an existing element. 

Create a data element

Create a data element from a new source

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. Open the workbook's ADD NEW panel.
    Screen_Shot_2022-02-02_at_3.49.10_PM.png
  2. Under DATA ELEMENTS, click to select your desired element type: TABLE, VIZ, or PIVOT TABLE. 
  3. It's time to select a data source.
    Open the NEW tab.
  4. Select a source type: TABLES and DATASETS, WRITE SQL, or UPLOAD CSV.
    Screen_Shot_2022-02-02_at_3.57.41_PM.png
  5. Follow the prompts on the Select a source page. Then click Done. 
    Your new element will appear on the page, and the editor panel will open up to the specific element’s configuration view.
    You may now interact with your new element using the editor panel, toolbar, or the element itself.

Create a data element from a source already in use in the workbook

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. Open the workbook's ADD NEW panel.
    Screen_Shot_2022-02-02_at_3.49.10_PM.png
  2. Under DATA ELEMENTS, click to select your desired element type: TABLE, VIZ, or PIVOT TABLE. 
  3. It's time to select a data source.
    Open the IN USE tab.
  4. Select a data source from the list.
    Screen_Shot_2022-02-02_at_4.04.05_PM.pngYour new element will appear on the page, and the editor panel will open up to the specific element’s configuration view.
    You may now interact with your new element using the editor panel, toolbar or the element itself.

Create a data element from an existing element [option 1]

This option creates an element from an existing element via the editor panel. To create an element directly from an element tile on a page's canvas, skip to option 2.

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. Open the workbook's ADD NEW panel.
    Screen_Shot_2022-02-02_at_3.49.10_PM.png
  2. Under DATA ELEMENTS, click to select your desired element type: TABLE, VIZ, or PIVOT TABLE. 
  3. It's time to select a data source.
    Open the PAGE ELEMENTS tab.
  4. Select an element.
    Note: Elements are organized by page. 
    Screen_Shot_2022-02-02_at_4.07.21_PM.png
    Your new element will appear on the page, and the editor panel will open up to the specific element’s configuration view.
    You may now interact with your new element using the editor panel, toolbar or the element itself.

Create a data element from an existing element [option 2]

This option creates an element directly from an existing element tile on a page's canvas. To create an element via the editor panel, scroll up to option 1.

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. Click new element (Screen_Shot_2022-02-02_at_4.12.17_PM.png) icon button.
    Screen_Shot_2021-05-19_at_10.18.37_AM.png
  3. Select an element type: Visualization, Table, or Pivot table.Screen_Shot_2021-05-19_at_10.24.24_AM.png

To create a data element that references an existing Workbook element in your SQL, you can create a Warehouse View of your element and use the path of the View as the query's source table in SQL Runner. You must have Write Access configured on your connection. For more information about WriteSQL sourced tables, see Reference existing Sigma workbooks in your SQL.

Identify and edit an element's data source

Before you start: This action is only available in edit mode. To begin 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.

  • Click on the source name to access a full list of its columns,
    OR
  • Click on the vertical ••• menu to view, replace, or edit the source.

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Related resources

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