Working with Queries

Learn how to query your data using natural language or SQL, and understand your results effectively.

Natural Language Queries (Recommended for Beginners)

The easiest way to get started is using natural language. Simply ask questions in plain English:

How to Ask Questions with Zero Cognitive Load

Step-by-step process:

1

Select your database

Choose from your connected databases in the sidebar

2

Type your question

Ask in plain English what you want to know

3

Press Enter or click "Run Query"

Execute your query and see the results

4

Review the results

Analyze your data in the results table

Example Natural Language Queries:

"Show me all sales from last month"
"What are the top 10 customers by revenue?"
"Compare sales between 2022 and 2023"
"Show me products with low inventory"

SQL Queries (For Advanced Users)

If you're familiar with SQL, you can write queries directly for more precise control:

How to use SQL mode:

1

Toggle to SQL mode

Use the switch in the query panel to enable SQL input

2

Write your SQL query

Use standard SQL syntax with your database's specific features

3

Execute the query

Click run to see your results

Example SQL Query:

SELECT customer_name, total_sales 
FROM sales 
WHERE date >= '2023-01-01' 
ORDER BY total_sales DESC
LIMIT 10;

This query shows the top 10 customers by sales since the beginning of 2023.

Understanding Your Results

Clean Results Interface - Distraction-Free Data Presentation

Data Table View

Table Structure

  • • Rows: Each row represents one record
  • • Columns: Each column shows different information
  • • Headers: Click to sort data ascending/descending

Interactive Features

  • • Pagination: Navigate through large datasets
  • • Row Selection: Click row numbers to select
  • • Sorting: Click column headers to sort

Navigation Features

Foreign Keys

Click on linked values to explore related data automatically

Go Back

Return to previous views when exploring linked data

Copy Data

Select rows and press Ctrl+C to copy to clipboard

Understanding Query Reasoning

Ever wonder what just got executed? See exactly how your natural language query gets converted to SQL with full transparency.

Query Reasoning - See How Natural Language Converts to SQL

What you can see:

Query Translation

  • • Your original natural language question
  • • The generated SQL query
  • • Which tables and columns were selected

Execution Details

  • • Query execution time
  • • Number of rows returned
  • • Any filters or conditions applied

Best Practices for Writing Queries

Natural Language Tips

  • Be specific: "Show me sales from January 2023" is better than "show me sales"
  • Use time periods: "Last 30 days", "This year", "Last month"
  • Include limits: "Top 10 customers" instead of "all customers"
  • Use comparisons: "More than $1000", "Less than 50 units"

Performance Tips

  • Filter early: Use specific date ranges and conditions
  • Limit results: Start with smaller datasets to test queries
  • Use indexes: Query on indexed columns when possible
  • Test incrementally: Build complex queries step by step
Previous: Connecting to DataNext: Visualizing Data