In a table, you can compile data from multiple sources, including:
- Delimiter-separated values (DSV) files
- Sheets from Spreadsheets you have permission to view
- Results of queries you have permission to view
To keep a table's data current, you can append additional data or replace datasets with updated information. In a table, you can view and manage its datasets from the Datasets panel.
- Imported datasets successfully added data that appears in the table.
- Staged datasets have data that doesn't appear in the table, such as if it was removed or has errors to resolve before it successfully imports.
Note: To help find a specific dataset on the Datasets panel, click Filters , and search for it by name. You can also sort the datasets by name or import date in ascending or descending order.
Source data best practices
To help ensure data integrity and extensibility, follow these best practices for the source data you upload to tables:
- Save static and unique identifiers—such as account numbers or IDs—to identify each record in your data. While names and other identifiers may be easier to recognize, they can also change over time.
- Ensure the first row of your dataset—after the header—is representative of your data. When you upload a dataset, Wdata automatically suggests the columns' data types based on the values in the first row.
- Don't save formatting such as currency symbols. Wdata automatically removes these when it uploads the data to a table.
Note: When you upload decimal values, you can select the format of the imported numbers.
- To enable collaborators to slice-and-dice data effectively, upload the lowest level of data.
Note: Don't use _filename, _tags, _timestamp, or _userID as column IDs. To avoid conflicts, Wdata automatically skips columns with these IDs during import.
Add datasets
To add or replace data in a table, its Owner can:
- Upload a DSV file
- Import or connect a sheet from Spreadsheets
- Import query results
Note: A table can include multiple datasets of different types, if the sources' columns map to the table's columns.
To add or replace data in a table, the Owner can upload a DSV file with columns that map to the table's columns. For example, you can append the data to the table or update existing data with the file. To ensure a successful upload:
- Select a DSV file, such as a comma-separated values (CSV) or tab-separated values (TSV), up to 1G.
- Number fields must be plain text, with no dashes. For example, use
0, not-. - Use a consistent date format throughout the file, such as
yyyy-MM-dd.
Note: On upload, any special characters in column headers convert to underscores (_).
- From Wdata Home , open the table.
- From the Datasets panel, select whether to append the file or replace another dataset with it:
- To append the file to the table, click Add Dataset , and select Upload File .
- To replace an existing dataset with the file, select Replace , Upload File from the dataset's menu.
- To append the file to the table, click Add Dataset , and select Upload File .
- Browse to and select the file to upload.
- Select the delimiter used in the file—comma (,), tab, semicolon(;), or pipe (|).
- Click Show Column Mappings, and select which of the table's columns each of the file's columns map to.
- For any Date, Timestamp, or Decimal column, select the format of its imported data.
- To include metadata your organization tracks about the data, such as Version or Data Source, add a tag, and select its name and value.
- Click Add Data.
Note: From the Datasets panel, you can view information about the uploaded file. If the upload is Staged, click View Import Error for issues to resolve with the file upload.
To add or replace data in a table, the Owner can:
- Import the current data from a sheet from Spreadsheets with columns that map to the table's columns. For example, you can append the data to the table or update existing data with the sheet.
- Connect a sheet from Spreadsheets with columns that map to the table's columns, and then refresh the connection to update the dataset with the sheet's latest data.
Note: To use the sheet as a consistent data source and refresh its dataset from either the table or spreadsheet, select Connect to sheet. Otherwise, for a snapshot of the sheet's current data, import the sheet.
- From Wdata Home , open the table.
- From the Datasets panel, select whether to append the sheet or replace another dataset with it:
- To append the sheet to the table, click Add Dataset , and select Spreadsheet .
- To replace an existing dataset with the sheet, select Replace , Spreadsheet from the dataset's menu.
- To append the sheet to the table, click Add Dataset , and select Spreadsheet .
- Select the spreadsheet and which of its sheets to import data from, and click Next.
- Update the dataset's name as necessary.
Note: By default, the dataset uses the sheet's name.
- To use the sheet as a consistent data source, select Connect to Sheet.
Note: When you connect to the sheet, you can update the connection from the spreadsheet or table to refresh the dataset. To import only a snapshot of the sheet's current data, leave Connect to Sheet unchecked.
- Select which of the table's columns each of the sheet's columns map to, and select how to format each Date and Decimal column.
Note: By default, Date columns from spreadsheets use the ISO 8601 format.
- To include metadata your organization tracks about the data, such as Version or Data Source, add a tag, and select its name and value.
- Click Add Data.
To add or replace data in a table, the Owner can import query results with columns that map to the table's columns. For example, you can use a query to determine a specific segment of records and then append them to the table or update existing data with the results.
- From Wdata Home , open the table.
- From the Datasets panel, select whether to append the results or replace another dataset with them.
- To append the results to the table, click Add Dataset , and select Query .
- To replace an existing dataset with the results, select Replace , Query from the dataset's menu.
- To append the results to the table, click Add Dataset , and select Query .
- Select the query with the results to import, set any parameters, and click Select Query.
- Select which of the table's columns each of the query's columns map to and select how to format each Date and Decimal column.
Note: By default, Date columns from queries use the ISO 8601 format.
- To include metadata your organization tracks about the data, such as Version or Data Source, add a tag, and select its name and value.
- Under Import name, update the dataset's name as necessary.
- Click Add Data.
Refresh a connected spreadsheet dataset
To update a table with the latest data from a connected spreadsheet, click its Refresh on the Datasets panel.
Note: If the spreadsheet is no longer available when you refresh, you can select the sheet to replace the dataset.
Remove an imported dataset
To return an imported dataset to Staged, such as to troubleshoot an issue, select Unimport from the dataset's menu on the Datasets panel, and click Remove Import.
Note: You can only unimport one dataset at a time; if multiple datasets are selected, only the first one will be unimported. However, once each dataset is unimported, you can select multiples and delete them in bulk.
When you remove a dataset, it returns to Staged, and you delete its data and tags from the table. To return the data to the table, you can re-import the dataset as necessary.
To completely remove a Staged dataset, delete it from the table:
- To completely remove a dataset, select Delete from its menu, and click Delete File.
- To remove all Staged datasets, click Delete Imports , enter DELETE, and click Delete.
Reimport a staged dataset
If you remove a dataset, or if a dataset returns import errors, it appears as Staged on the Datasets panel. To re-import the dataset, such as after you update its data or resolve its errors, select Import from its menu, add any tags, and click Import Data.