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Public and Demo Data

Datafi provides public data sources and demo datasets so you can explore the platform's full capabilities without connecting your own data. Whether you are evaluating Datafi for the first time, onboarding new team members, or testing a new feature, these datasets give you a ready-made environment to work with.

Public Data Sources​

Public data sources are datasets made available through the Datafi discovery service. They are visible to all users in the Data Catalog and can be accessed without any special permissions or credentials.

To find public data sources:

  1. Open the Data Catalog.
  2. Use the search bar or filters to browse available datasets.
  3. Look for datasets marked as Public in their metadata or tags.
  4. Click on a public dataset to view its schema, sample data, and description.

Public datasets are read-only. You can query them, join them with your own data, use them in Data Views and Data Apps, and reference them in chat queries. You cannot modify, delete, or change access settings on public data sources.

Availability

The selection of public data sources may change over time as Datafi adds new datasets or retires older ones. Check the Data Catalog periodically to see what is available.

Demo Data​

Demo datasets are curated sample data sources designed specifically for platform evaluation. They cover common business domains -- sales, inventory, customer records, financial transactions -- so you can test realistic scenarios.

Demo data is useful for:

  • First-time evaluation -- Try queries, build Data Views, and explore governance features without needing access to production data.
  • Onboarding and training -- Walk new team members through the platform using safe, non-sensitive data.
  • Feature testing -- Test new capabilities like AI chat, agents, or policy configurations before applying them to live datasets.
  • Proof of concept -- Demonstrate Datafi's value to stakeholders using tangible, queryable data.

How to Use Demo Data​

Exploring the Query Editor​

  1. Open a demo dataset from the Data Catalog.
  2. Navigate to the Query tab or open the query editor.
  3. Write SQL statements against the demo tables to see how federated queries work.
  4. Experiment with joins, aggregations, and filters.

Building Data Views​

  1. Select a demo dataset as the source for a new Data View.
  2. Configure columns, filters, and visualizations.
  3. Share the Data View with teammates to demonstrate collaborative features.

Testing Policies​

  1. Open a demo dataset and navigate to its policy settings.
  2. Create a row-level or column-level policy to restrict access.
  3. Switch to a Data User perspective to verify that the policy is enforced correctly.
Start Here If You Are New

If you are evaluating Datafi for the first time, start with the demo datasets. They let you experience the full workflow -- querying, building views, applying policies, and sharing data -- in a matter of minutes, with no setup required.

Using Chat with Demo Data​

  1. Open the Chat interface.
  2. Select a demo dataset as the context for your conversation.
  3. Ask questions in plain English, such as "What were the top 10 customers by revenue last quarter?"
  4. Review the generated SQL and results to understand how natural-language queries translate to data.

Demo Data vs Your Own Data​

AspectDemo DataYour Data
Setup requiredNoneConnector configuration or file upload
Data contentSample business dataYour organization's real data
PoliciesFully configurable for testingApplied to protect real information
PersistenceAlways availableDepends on connection status and storage
SensitivityNon-sensitiveMay contain PII or confidential data
Transitioning to Real Data

Demo data is a starting point, not a destination. Once you are comfortable with the platform, connect your own data sources to unlock the full value of Datafi. See Connecting Datasets or Uploading Files to get started.

Next Steps​