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Schema Preview

The schema preview panel is the starting point for every Data View session. It occupies the left side of the workspace and gives you a searchable, hierarchical view of every datasource, schema, table, and column you have access to.

The Schema Browser​

When you open a Data View, the left panel displays a tree of your connected datasources. The hierarchy follows the structure of each source:

Datasource
  └── Schema
        └── Table
              └── Column (with data type)

You can expand and collapse each level by clicking the arrow icons. Column entries show the column name alongside its data type (e.g., VARCHAR, INT, TIMESTAMP), so you can understand the shape of your data before running any queries.

Searching for Datasources​

At the top of the schema panel, a search bar lets you filter the datasource list by name. Type any part of a datasource name and the tree updates in real time to show only matching results. This is especially useful when your workspace contains dozens of connected sources.

Keyboard Shortcut

Click into the search bar and start typing immediately -- there is no need to press a separate search button.

Previewing Table Data​

Once you locate the table you want to inspect, click on it to select it and then click the Preview button. Datafi fetches the first 100 rows from the source and displays them in the data grid.

What the Preview Shows​

  • Column headers -- Every column in the table is represented as a header in the grid.
  • 100 rows -- The default preview limit is 100 rows. This keeps the initial load fast while giving you enough data to understand the table's contents.
  • Live data -- The preview queries the source in real time. You see current data, not a cached snapshot.

Preview Limitations​

The 100-row default is intentional. Large tables can contain millions of rows, and loading all of them into a browser tab would be slow and impractical. If you need more rows or a specific subset, use the query panel to write a targeted query with filters or a LIMIT clause.

Layout Toggle​

The Data View toolbar includes a layout toggle that lets you show or hide major areas of the workspace. This is useful when you want to maximize screen real estate for a specific task.

Available Layout Options​

ToggleEffect
Hide datasource panelCollapses the left schema browser so the data grid and query panel occupy the full width.
Hide query panelCollapses the bottom query area so the data grid takes up more vertical space.
Show bothRestores the default three-panel layout with the schema browser on the left, the data grid in the center, and the query panel at the bottom.

When to Use Each Layout​

  • Exploring schemas -- Keep the datasource panel open and hide the query panel. You have a wide schema tree and a full-width data grid for previews.
  • Writing queries -- Hide the datasource panel to give the query editor and results grid maximum space.
  • Reviewing results -- Hide both the datasource panel and query panel to focus entirely on the data grid.

You can toggle the layout at any time without losing your current query or results.

Working with the Schema Panel​

Inspecting Column Details​

Expand a table node to see every column with its data type. This preview is pulled from the Data Catalog metadata, so it loads instantly without querying the source.

customers
  ├── customer_id       INT
  ├── first_name        VARCHAR
  ├── last_name         VARCHAR
  ├── email             VARCHAR
  ├── created_at        TIMESTAMP
  └── region            VARCHAR

Some datasources contain hundreds of schemas and thousands of tables. Use these strategies to navigate efficiently:

  1. Search -- Type a table or schema name in the search bar to narrow the tree.
  2. Collapse all -- Click the collapse icon at the top of the panel to close every expanded node, then drill into only the schema you need.
  3. Favorite sources -- If your workspace supports pinning, pin frequently used datasources so they appear at the top of the list.

Refreshing Schema Metadata​

Schema metadata is cached for performance. If a table or column has been added to the underlying source since you last opened the Data View, click the refresh icon at the top of the schema panel to pull the latest metadata from the Data Catalog.

Policy Enforcement

The schema browser respects your access policies. You only see datasources, schemas, tables, and columns that your role is authorized to view. If you expect to see a source but it does not appear, check with your workspace administrator.

Next Steps​

  • Querying Data -- Use the query panel to go beyond the 100-row preview and write targeted queries.
  • Filtering and Exporting -- Apply filters and sort columns in the data grid, then export results to CSV.