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Tool Mastery | Browse

Alteryx_KB
Alteryx
Alteryx
Created

Browse.pngThis article is part of the Tool Mastery Series, a compilation of Knowledge Base contributions to introduce diverse working examples for Designer Tools. Here we’ll delve into uses of the Browse Tool on our way to mastering the Alteryx Designer:

 

Note: Each Browse in a workflow will require temp space and physical memory to visualize your data and these requirements will increase with the size of your data set. If this becomes too taxing for your process, defer to in-tool browsing or disable Browse Tools without having to remove them from your workflow .

 

In v11.0+ the Browse Tool has added data profiling functionality that supplements the tool's uses. See it in action below 

 

Far more than just a window to your data, the Browse Tool  has a catalog of features to best view, investigate, and copy/save data at any checkpoint. That observation into your data anywhere in your prep & blend gives valuable feedback that often speeds workflow development and makes it easier to learn tools by readily visualizing their transforms. Be equipped, and browse through the catalog of useful applications below!

Split Views
Use one of the Split View options in the Browse Tool. This will allow you to select the table view on one side, and the map view on the other, thus enabling you to identify which records are associated with particular spatial objects on the map:


# Records, # Fields, # Bytes
Use the Browse Tool to gain an insight on your data at a particular stage in the module. Next to the view selection buttons, you will see that the Browse Tool provides you with: # of records, # of fields, and size of the data in bytes:


New Window
Open your Browse in a New Window. This is great for use with comparisons of data, whether it be of a tabular or visual nature:


Cell Viewer
Use Cell Viewer to see what’s going on inside your data:


Field Selection Options
Select and deselect the fields that you wish to display, directly in the Browse Tool. This is helpful when working with data that contains a large number of fields, but you’d like only to view a few of the fields in your Browse:

 

View Metadata

Stop to see your fields, types, and sizes; just switch from "Data" to "Metadata" view:

metadata.png

 

See previews of reports/maps before formal output/visualization

In the Browse Tool's configuration menu you can see a "Report" or "Map" tab if you are working with reporting or spatial objects, respectively. Sneak a peak at them before outputting to a formal report format:

report.png

 

Data Profiling in the Browse Tool

 

The Data Profiling in the Browse Tool was created to assist the user in better understanding the quality of their data at any point within the workflow.

 

This option will assist users in understanding the quality of their data, assist in troubleshooting and help fix issues that may arise when attempting to parse, join, or output their data.

 

HimeshP_4-1574359228908.png
 
 
 

 

 

How Data Profiling works:

 

Add a Browse Tool after any tool you want to check the quality of your data. We highly recommend getting into the habit of adding a Browse Tool after your Inputs. This will allow you to understand right off the bat what the condition of your data is.

 

You can then run the workflow and select the Browse Tool. The Configuration Window will display graphs relating to each of your columns in your data as well as some specific information on the field and the type of data. By selecting a specific column in your Results window the Data Profiling in the Configuration Window will change showing you the quality of the data within that column. You will receive different graphs and information depending on the data type in the field.

 

Please see our wonderful online Help document for the Browse Tool  which contains all of the information on the charts and Metadata.

 

Tips and Tricks:

 

The Browse Tool will only render the Data Profiling when the Browse Tool is selected. Depending on how much data is flowing into the Browse Tool, it may take a little time for the Browse Tool to render the Data Profiling reports. If you don’t select the Browse Tool when you are working in the workflow it will not use any memory until you place the Browse Tool to render the reports.

 

If you would like to capture this data and use the data in a workflow or extract that information you can use the Basic Data Profile Tool . This tool will grab the information from the Data Profiling in the Browse Tool. At this point in time, we do not have the option to export the graphs.

 

You can turn the Data Profiling feature off by going to your user settings and uncheck the "Collect and display data profile information". However, as recommended earlier in the article, using the Data Profiling after your Input Data Tool  is now considered best practice and at the very least the Data Profiling should be used at this point. You can always turn the option off after you have reviewed your data.

 

Copying and Pasting Lat./Long. Values

 

Copy: In a Browse tool, under the map tab, right click on any point on the map. The Latitude and Longitude for that location will be displayed. If you click on [Copy Point (x.y)] you will have copied that Latitude Longitude value to your clipboard.

 

HimeshP_5-1574361174651.png

Paste: Right click on the module canvas, select “Paste” and a Text Input tool will be added to your module, with the values of your copied point already populated in the tool.

 

HimeshP_6-1574361347956.png

 

Additional Information

Click on the corresponding language link below to access this article in another language -

 

Comments
wenjuanchen
8 - Asteroid

Hi @Alteryx_KB,

 

Thanks for the detailed introduction! I found it very useful.

 

Seems this article covers both the Browse-Configuration window and Results-Browse window. Is it possible for you to talk about the connections and difference between them, and how to best use the combination of both to serve a developer's purpose?

 

Again thanks so much for the wonderful introduction.

annamozul
7 - Meteor

Hi!

 

Thank you for sharing this, it was very helpful. However, I don't think I got the idea of how to "See previews of reports/maps before formal output/visualisation". I don't see a tab " Report" in my Brouse tool, any thoughts? 

 

Thank you.

rohit782192
11 - Bolide

Can you provide more Enhace Feature that we can use in Alteryx.

 

How we Publish to Tableau using Browse tool.

rohit782192
11 - Bolide

Can we save the report or Email the report to anyone.

Inactive User
Not applicable

@Alteryx_KBgreat stuff, thank you!

 

Just to pivot-up @annamozul comment, I don't see "See previews of reports/maps before formal output/visualisation" within my Browse tool interface.

NeilR
Alteryx Alumni (Retired)

@Inactive User & @annamozul, you'll only see a Map tab in the Browse tool if your data contains a Spatial Object data type. You'll only see the Report tab if you've been building up a report with the reporting tools.

NeilR
Alteryx Alumni (Retired)

@rohit782192 you can save reports in various formats and email them with the Render and Email tools.

annamozul
7 - Meteor

@NeilR 

DebbieHale
8 - Asteroid

The "short video" mentioned above is not available.

 

Please see our wonderful online Help document for the Browse Tool which contains all of the information on the charts and Metadata, click on View data on the page to find out more. We also have a short video that will walk you through the Data Profiling.

MikeN
Alteryx Alumni (Retired)

@Alteryx_KB - can you see @DebbieHale 's note above - the YouTube video you refer to is not available (I verified).

NeilR
Alteryx Alumni (Retired)

@DebbieHale & @MikeN thanks for bringing this to our attention. I've removed the link. The YouTube video was out of date and had been deleted. We're working on a new video which should be ready within the next few weeks - I'll add a reference to it when it's ready.

tamarapaza_97
5 - Atom

this is very useful thanks!

salgamez
6 - Meteoroid

Thanks for the info. Although when clicking on see it in action here, the here link to the Youtube displays a video not found message. https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=HFkKrdNAFnE&index=6&t=2s&list=PLfSLx4WE4q51pbBieVLKNbsqZh4m...

ckussoy
6 - Meteoroid

The graphs rendered in the Browse Tool via Data Profiling -- it would be SO awesome to export them somehow.

Thank you for a great introduction! 

jrsupp
5 - Atom

The browse tool is a great feature. Seeing the metadata, in concert with the data profiling really allows for a 360 view of the data. While the demo video for the data profiling is still down as of this post, the Viewing Data interactive lesson covers this under "The Browse Tool's Results Window": https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Interactive-Lessons/Viewing-Data/ta-p/73953

AlainEscalona
5 - Atom

Very interesting and helpful!

yusuf_alma
5 - Atom

I'm curious to view map with Browse Tool. Is there any link to try this out?

NeilR
Alteryx Alumni (Retired)

@yusuf_alma there are multiple sample workflows available within Designer that show mapping within the Browse tool, see screenshot below...

NeilR_0-1610123645942.png

 

Shilpanaveen
5 - Atom

Thank you for sharing this. I am curious to know is there any option to activate/add view map and holistic option in browse tool as these options are not visible in designer for me. 

GraziellePereira
7 - Meteor

I could not find the "filter option " in the browse Profile area. 

My version is 2019.3

mjsnyder
7 - Meteor

Thank you, this show the step by step process which is very helpful.

lepome
Alteryx Alumni (Retired)
Ravindraoo7
5 - Atom
Thank you, this show the step by step process and insight what we are working with , which is very helpful,
logdog0411
8 - Asteroid

Wow, I've been using this for a while now and had no idea there was so much you could do with it. I've got this post bookmarked for reference. Thanks so much!

acctbadger96
6 - Meteoroid

Hi,

 

As I understand it, the primary function of the browse tool is to analyze the quality of the data coming in in a graphical/tabular way?

tanthony17
5 - Atom

Thank you

Tyrane782001
7 - Meteor

The browse tool is very helpful in looking at your data in graphs and even maps. love it!

VTU15986
5 - Atom

good

 

mvtejano
7 - Meteor

Interesting and very helpful. Thank you.

nithya_0406
5 - Atom

Interesting and very helpful. Thank you.

mshivanna
5 - Atom

Thank you. It was very helpful.

Gayitri420
7 - Meteor

thank u it was really helpful

srilakshmi123
7 - Meteor

hhtps://community.altery.com/t5/alteryx-community-english/ct-p/externa

Anitha1289
7 - Meteor

How we Publish to Tableau using Browse tool.

Shyam_amarapu_2002
7 - Meteor

10-fire ball

GuthurthiRaju
6 - Meteoroid

great

Yashraj96
5 - Atom

thank you

castanedamisa
5 - Atom

great!

Mgaurav2grt
7 - Meteor

best one