Using the data preview

The data preview is a useful option in the Query Panel when we want to get a preview of the data; that is, see the raw data before it gets fetched and formatted in the table.

This option is great for getting a "sense" of the data, if the values we expect to be returned are actually these.

This feature can also be useful when we want to make sure a specific value was returned by the query but isn't shown in the report results for some reason, for example, a local report filter.

Getting ready

We want to get the data preview before we run the report and get the results.

How to do it...

We will click on the Refresh option located to the upper-right corner of the Data Preview window.

Now, we will be able to see that this pane is populated with the row data, as shown in the following screenshot:

How it works...

Data preview is another feature in the Query Panel that we can use to our benefit. Seeing the row data before it's formatted, filtered, and so on in the report level can be very informative in some cases when we want to get a better understanding of the data regardless of its formatting.

There is more

The row data can also be previewed by using the Data option in the report level.

See also

• For more information on how to view the raw data, see Chapter 3, Working Inside the Report