A modelled data source is a streamlined version of a data source. When you run data through the modelling process, you end up with a cleaner, simplified version that makes custom metric building easier and faster!
Keep reading to learn more about what modelling your data sources can do for you!
What are the benefits of modelled data sources?
Have you ever wanted to:
- Prepare data for custom metric building to provide clear, all-tabular, aligned data ... and only need to do it once? Calculations are built into the modelled data source and tree-structured data is converted into table data. Data is easier to understand and visualize and calculations can be reused.
- Take a data source with multiple sheets and convert it into a single table? Organize and order data from multiple sheets into one, simplified table format that doesn't require you to toggle between multiple sheets when building visualizations.
By modelling your data sources, you can do all this and more!
Modelling a data source leverages all the flexibility available in PowerMetrics, brings significant efficiency gains for the builder, and simplifies the visualization building experience. The ability to create a modelled data source once, and then apply it within and across your metric visualizations, reduces duplication of work effort and improves consistency between visualizations and within dashboards.
Simplification gains
Our design focuses on simplifying the process of creating a modelled data source and clarifies the relationship between your raw data and the modelled data source you will create based on that data.
- The data in a modelled data source is always represented in a tabular (versus tree-structured) format, making your data easier to understand and visualize. The relationship between tabular columns in the data source and columns in the preview area when modelling is more obvious than when using tree data.
- Most of the data manipulation, including combining data with multiple sheets into one table, is performed when modelling, which streamlines and simplifies the process of creating custom metrics.
How do I create a modelled data source?
When you create data sources in PowerMetrics, we automatically model them for you. (Metrics can only be created based on modelled data sources.)
If needed, you can make further refinements to your data using our model editor. For example, you can apply formulas and various settings, such as date/time, number, currency, and text formats, to produce the exact metrics for visualization.
For more detailed information on modelling data sources, see How do I model a data source?
How do I manage my modelled data sources?
After modelling a data source, you can view and edit its general properties.
Note: Some of the following options don't apply for modelled data sources that are created and managed by PowerMetrics when you add instant metrics.
To see which data sources have been modelled, go to your Data Sources page, either by clicking Data Sources in the left navigation sidebar or by clicking your Account Name (at the bottom of the sidebar) and selecting Data Sources:
- If the data source has been modelled, the
modelled symbol will display under the Format type.
Or
- Use the drop-down filter list to change your data source view to only show modelled data sources.
To see and edit details for a modelled data source:
- On the Data Sources page, select a modelled data source to see its details page. Here you can:
- Click Edit Properties to modify the modelled data source name and description.
- See the owner and when the modelled data source was created.
- See the Data Source ID.
- Click Edit Model to edit the modelled data source.
- When the modelled data source was last refreshed (based on the data source it was created from).
- Under Connection, see which data source the modelled data source uses.
- See a visual representation of the modelled data source.
- Delete the modelled data source.