The Data Knowledge Studio is a DataGalaxy module that represents the context of your data as diagrams, so that a complex model stays readable for the people who consume it.
What is the Data Knowledge Studio?
One of the main challenges of a data catalog is to be able to easily restore the context of an object or a perimeter of data to the consumers of the knowledge. This makes it possible for:
- Expert users, who produce knowledge, to make complex models easily understandable by focusing on a specific perimeter.
- Business users, who consume knowledge, to quickly understand the main management issues of an object.
However, with the complexity of the data landscape (a multiplication of objects and links, non-direct links, etc.), it is difficult to obtain useful and easily understandable information from a list of objects, hierarchical or not. Similarly, graphical representations such as lineages quickly become saturated and don't make it easy to focus on a defined perimeter or context. You need to be able to limit the perimeter shown and, if possible, document it. The Data Knowledge Studio is an answer to these problems.
The Data Knowledge Studio is a DataGalaxy module offering a wide range of graphical elements to materialize different types of representations in the form of diagrams, according to the desired context.
Two types of diagrams are available:
- Free diagrams: they offer a visual interface to represent all the types of objects in your data catalog and the links that exist between them, regardless of their module. This makes it much more natural to understand the concepts involved in a given functional scope.
- Physical diagrams: the physical model of a relational database. This diagram offers a visual interface to define tables and their columns, as well as primary keys, foreign keys and the relations between those tables. To learn more, see Use Physical Diagrams.
How to access free diagrams
Free diagrams are available for all objects, so they are accessible directly on the object's card. You can see whether each object is represented in one or more diagrams and navigate to them to view the context in which the object appears.
Diagrams are part of the Data Knowledge Studio, which is a module in its own right, available at the same level as the 4 historical modules of a workspace. From the workspace home page or from the navigation bar, you can access the list of free and physical diagrams.
How to manage free diagrams
How to create a diagram
Free diagrams are created only from the dedicated module, by clicking +.
How to populate a diagram
You can use existing objects or create objects directly in the diagram.
- To use existing objects, use the search bar: launch the search on a term and drag and drop the desired objects onto the drawing area, called the scene.
- To create an object, click + on the side of the diagram. Any object created this way is created not only in the diagram but also in the module concerned. As a result, only users with write access to the modules can create objects via the diagrams.
How to create links between objects
The free diagram lets you create links between objects directly from the interface.
- Hover over the source object. Lateral handles appear on either side of the object.
- Click a handle and, without releasing, move to the target object, then release the click. The link created is of type
is linked to.
How to add related objects
The free diagram lets you quickly find the objects linked to an object present on the scene and bring them onto the scene with a simple drag and drop. The existing objects and links are then automatically materialized on the scene.
How to customize a diagram
One of the strong points of the diagram is customization: colors, naming of links, display of additional information, and reducing the size of objects.
- Option 1 lets you choose the object display type.
- Option 2 lets you choose the object's display color.
- Option 3 lets you name the link. This does not change the type of link and is only displayed in the diagram.
- Option 4 lets you choose the type of line, and option 5 the type of arrow.
You can also display more information on the objects with the extra data option in the side menu. This information is displayed on all objects in the diagram, in read-only mode.
How to describe a diagram
Free diagrams are considered objects, which means they can be described by attributes. These attributes are managed like all the other attributes: they can be created by the administrator of the client space and configured by the administrator of your workspace. You can display them by clicking on the magnifying glass in the diagram.
The magnifying glass opens the overview panel of your object, where you find the attributes describing it, the list of objects composing it, and other functions (insights, tasks, comments, MetaBot).
How to share a diagram
Sharing a diagram means making it public: it is available to anyone who can access your workspace. This is done via the 3 small dots to the right of your diagram name.
