--- title: "Data Explorer" slug: "reports-data-explorer" updated: 2026-02-26T18:23:20Z published: 2026-02-26T18:23:20Z --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://knowledge.technolutions.net/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Data Explorer Data Explorer enhances the capabilities of [Reports](/docs/report-builder-overview-structure-and-navigation#view-report-layer-0-0) by including pivot tables for summarizing and reorganizing data and revealing underlying patterns. Data Explorer uses a customizable query to fetch relevant data from a database or from other sources. Once the data is retrieved, you can apply pivot tables to the obtained data. Pivot tables can aggregate and summarize data based on various dimensions and metrics, providing a flexible way to organize and analyze data by enabling users to drag data fields into different sections of the pivot table interface. These sections typically include rows, columns, values, and filters. ### Admissions and Student Success Example #### Setting Up the Report for Data Explore 1. Click **Queries / Reports** on the Slate navigation bar and select **Reports**in the sidebar. 2. Click **New Report**, enter the appropriate details, and click **Save**. (Alternately, select an existing report to open it, and click **Edit Report**.) 3. Click Data Explorer. An **Edit Part** popup appears. ![Data_Explorer.png](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/image-1771370479555.png) 4. Enter the following configurations: ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/15669413867291.png) - **Status**: Set to **Active**. - **Name:** Enter a name for the part. - **Type:** Set to **Configurable Joins**. - **Category, Base:**Select a base that narrows your results as much as possible. For example, if you want person information, select the Person base. 5. Click **Save.**An **Edit Part** popup appears for building a query. 6. Add **Exports**to represent the data available for the pivot table. Add **Filters**to determine the population available to the pivot table. Add joins if necessary to access the desired data. 7. Click **Save**. > [!TIP] > Tip > > The Explorer query can be accessed and updated anytime by opening the report, selecting Edit Report, double-clicking the explorer query, and selecting Edit in the upper right corner. [![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/15669630914971.png)](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/15669630914971.png) > [!CAUTION] > Important! > > One or more filters must be applied to the query to ensure the Data Explorer's fast, reliable operation. Ensure the Matching Rows value is less than 100,000, which is the limit of Data Explorer. #### Adding the Explorer Widget The (temporarily) blank page for the report includes two available widgets. [![Explorer___Static_Content.png](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/explorer___static_content.png)](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/explorer___static_content.png) To create a pivot table: 1. Click **Explorer**. An **Edit Part** popup appears, with a **Type** of “Data Explorer.” 2. For **Title**, provide an appropriate name for the pivot table. 3. Select the checkboxes for Editable and Persist Edits as desired. - **Editable**: Lets users edit the pivot table as they view it, though changes are reverted when the page is refreshed. - **Persist Edits**: Users can make edits to the table, and those changes will save even when the page is refreshed. Requires **Editable** to be selected. - **Neither option selected**: Users who have access to the report can view the pivot table but cannot interact with it. [![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/15670124624155.png)](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/15670124624155.png) 1. Click **Save**. The Explorer widget appears on the report page. #### Setting Up the Explorer Widget Layout The Explorer widget includes the four main areas of a pivot table: - **Values Area**: Where data is displayed. - **Row Area**: Left of the Values Area, where exports can be placed to create a *row-oriented* perspective. - **Column Area**: Across the top of the Values Area, exports placed here will provide a *column-oriented* perspective, helpful in creating a matrix or showing trends over time. - **Filter Area**: Configure and filter the data appearing on the pivot table. [![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/15669954365211.png)](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/15669954365211.png) #### Selecting the Data to Display The **exports**generated by the previous query setup all start in the **Filter Area** on the far left. 1. Drag these exports to the Row or Column Areas to incorporate them in the data display. [![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/15669935963291.png)](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/15669935963291.png) 1. Exclude the returned value of an export by selecting the export and deselecting the value in the list. Use *Select All* or *Select None* to activate or deactivate all exports at once. [![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/15669952493979.png)](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/15669952493979.png) 1. When a chart is selected for a data display type, **double clicking** the chart presents additional options: **Start, Charts,** and **Customize**. The **Start**tab provides recommended chart types according to the data you include on the table. The **Charts** tab includes additional chart types. Lastly, the **Customize** tab enables further customizing of a selected chart. [![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/15670014121499.png)](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/15670014121499.png) #### Static Content The Static Content widget is an HTML WYSIWYG editor. Dragging the widget to the report section opens the editor, where HTML support content can be added to the report. ### Advancement Example #### Setting Up the Report for Data Explorer 1. Click **Queries / Reports** on the Slate navigation bar and select **Reports** in the sidebar. 2. Click **New Report**, enter the appropriate details, and click **Save**. (Alternately, select an existing report to open it, and click **Edit Report**.) 3. Click **Data Explorer**. An **Edit Part** popup appears. ![Data_Explorer.png](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/image-1771370479555.png) 1. Complete the following: - **Name:** Enter a name for the part. - **Type:** Select "Configurable Joins." - **Category, Base:**Select a base that narrows your results as much as possible. For example, if you want gift information, select the Gift base rather than the donor or person base. In the next step, you can add a join to the donor or person base if additional constituent information is needed. [![Configure_Data_Explorer_Part.png](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/configure_data_explorer_part.png)](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/configure_data_explorer_part.png) 2. Click **Save.**A query configuration pop-up appears. 3. Add **Exports** to the query. These exports represent the data available for the pivot table. Determine the population available to the pivot table with **Filters.**This section can be accessed and updated anytime by clicking **Edit** in the upper right corner. 4. Click **Save.** [![Configure_Exports_and_Filters.png](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/configure_exports_and_filters.png)](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/configure_exports_and_filters.png) > Important! > > One or more filters must be applied to the query to ensure the Data Explorer's fast, reliable operation. Ensure the Matching Rows value is less than 100,000, which is the limit of Data Explorer. The resulting (temporarily) blank report page includes two widget options: [![Explorer___Static_Content.png](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/explorer___static_content.png)](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/explorer___static_content.png) #### Creating the Explorer Widget To create a pivot table: 1. Select the **Explorer** widget. An **Edit Part** pop-up appears. 2. Provide a **Title** for the pivot table, and select the edit options. There are three edit options the rendered portal: Editable, Persist Edits, and choosing neither. - **Editable**: This option lets users edit the pivot table as they view it, though changes are reverted when the page is refreshed. - **Persist Edits**: With this option, users can make table edits, which save even when the page is refreshed. This requires Editable to also be selected. - **With neither option selected**: Users who have access to the report can view the pivot table but cannot interact with it. [![Configure_Pivot_Table.png](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/configure_pivot_table.png)](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/configure_pivot_table.png) 3. Click **Save.** #### The Explorer Widget Layout The Explorer widget appears, including the four main areas of a pivot table: - **Values Area**: Where the resulting data is displayed. - **Row Area**: To the left of the Values Area, exports can be placed here to create a *row-oriented* perspective. - **Column Area**: Across the top of the Values Area, exports placed here provide a *column-oriented* perspective, helpful in creating a matrix or showing trends over time. - **Filter Area**: On the upper left of the page, this area configures and filters the data to appear on the pivot table. [![Explorer_Widget.png](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/explorer_widget.png)](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/explorer_widget.png) #### Selecting Data to Display Additionally, a list of **exports** available for the pivot table appears on the far left of the Explorer widget. This list appears as generated by the previous query setup. Drag these exports to the Row or Column Areas to incorporate them into the data display. [![Drag_Exports_to_Row_or_Column_Areas_to_Display_Data.png](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/drag_exports_to_row_or_column_areas_to_display_data.png)](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/drag_exports_to_row_or_column_areas_to_display_data.png) Exclude the returned value of an export by selecting or clearing the export value in the list. Use *Select All* or *Select None* to activate or deactivate all exports simultaneously. [![Select_or_Deselect_Exports_for_Display.png](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/select_or_deselect_exports_for_display.png)](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/select_or_deselect_exports_for_display.png) When a chart is selected for a data display type, **double-clicking** the chart presents additional options: **Start, Charts,** and **Customize**. [![Double_Click_the_Values_Area.png](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/double_click_the_values_area.png)](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/double_click_the_values_area.png) The **Start** tab provides recommended chart types according to the data included in the table. The **Charts** tab includes additional chart types. Lastly, the **Customize** tab enables further customization of a selected chart. [![Start__Charts____Customize_tabs.png](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/start__charts____customize_tabs.png)](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/start__charts____customize_tabs.png) #### Static Content The Static Content widget is an HTML WYSIWYG editor. Dragging the widget to the report section opens the editor, and HTML support content can be added to the report. ####