# | Function/Panel | Description |
|---|---|---|
1. | Navigation menu | The buttons here enable you to save, publish and delete a transformation flow. |
2. | Steps | The different types of transformation steps can be selected from the buttons. There are three main types:
These are connected to one another by connectors. |
3. | Middle header menu |
|
4. | Configuration panel | Used to configure a selected step or the overall flow. The tabs in this panel will vary according to the selected step or main flow. |
5. | Data preview panel | This shows the extracted and/or transformed data. Every time a change is made, it can instantly be viewed here. |
6. | Transformation builder canvas | This canvas is used to create the transformation flow. Drag items here to include them in the flow. |
7. | Canvas positioner | The map view can be used to move the canvas around - this is useful when there are large numbers of steps on the canvas. You can also use this to re-centre the canvas. |
Steps
Include an input step to define where to extract your data from. The following types can be used:
Input Step Types
Icon | Input source | Description |
 | File | This input method is used when extracting data from a file with a .csv extension. |
 | Freehand SQL | Use this method to import data from a database using an SQL query. |
 | Report | Use this method to use a Yellowfin report as the source of data. |
 | Database table | This input step can be used to import data from a single database table. |
 | Third party connector | To extract data from a third-party connector, such as Twitter, Facebook, Google Analytics, etc. |
Input step functions
Once an input step is added to the canvas, right click on it to see the functions that can be performed on it.
These are explained below:
| Function | Description |
|---|---|
Copy | |
Break Connections | |
Delete |
Use a transformation step to transform or convert the connected data.
Transformation Step Types
Icon | Transformation type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Aggregate Step | This step summarises data including the ability to count, sum and average metric fields. |
 | Calculated Field | This step creates a calculated field based on other fields in the step. |
 | Filter | This step is for filtering data in a step. |
 | Merge | This step merges two sets of data based on the configured Join Fields. |
 | Split | This step duplicates an input dataset to create identical output datasets. |
Output step
Save the transformed data into a database using an output step.
Icon | Transformation type | Description |
SQL Database | This outputs data to a selected writeable data source. There are multiple options to create and manage tables and indexes, and to insert or update data. |
Connectors
Connectors are used to join steps together and create a relationship between them. Data will flow from one step to another step. Click on a step to reveal its connecting points. These points are then used to connect one step to another. The flow of a connector is represented with an arrowhead at the end of it.
Connection rules (running left to right):
- An input step can be connected to only one transformation or output step.
- A transformation step cannot be connected to an input step, but to another transformation or output step.
- All types of transformation steps, except the split step, can only be connected to one other step.
- A split step can be connected multiple times.
- Connections can only be made to an output step, but it cannot be the origin of a connection.
Breaking a connection:
Once a connection is created between two steps, it can be broken or deleted. Simply right-click on one of the steps, and click on Break Connections. This will break all the connections associated with that step.
Alternatively right-click on the connector itself and select Break connections.
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Configuration panel
Click here learn more about this panel.
Data preview panel
Click here learn more about this panel.