Data view workflow

This is an introduction to the recommended workflow for creating and defining data views. Review the following information before creating a data view.

Prerequisites

To create a data view, you must first create a Data View service instance with a Stream Store instance configured as a dependency. This Stream Store instance must includes the streams and data that you want to include in the Data View.

For instructions on creating a Data View and/or Streams Store service instance, see Create service or application instance.

API console

While creating or editing a data view, select View in API console to open it in the API console. The console includes the URI and query values for accessing your data view in its current configuration.

View in API console

Data view creation workflow

To create and define a data view, complete these tasks in order.

1. Create a data view

   Begin creation of a data view by creating a data view object, which includes a name and description for the data view. The data view will not yet include any queries or data fields yet—you will add those later.

2. Add a query

   Each data view includes one or more query. These queries determine what data items (streams) are included in the data view.

3. Select data field sets

   A data view includes one or more data field sets, which are collections of data fields originating from the same query. A data field is a property or metadata from the streams included in a query. One field serves as the index while others contain information related to the data items.

   When configuring a data view, you can configure the data field set for each query by choosing which data fields you want to include in the data view.

4. Configure data shape

   Data views can be configured to return data in either a standard shape or a narrow shape. Standard shape returns data in a grouped row format. Narrow shape is a pivot of the standard table.

5. Preview and save the data view

   As you work with your data view, you can generate a preview of how the data will be shaped and organized. After you are satisfied with how the data is organized in the preview, you can view its URI in the API console to begin working with the data in a third-party application.