Managing large amounts of data is exciting. As a dataset grows in complexity and size, finding efficient ways to sort and analyze this info becomes more important. Azure Cosmos DB Data Explorer is a tool to query, review, and manage your data.  We’ve heard from your feedback in our NPS survey that there’s a need for more options to dive deeper into your data within Data Explorer when using filters. Users have often faced challenges in customizing their data views, sorting their Items and quickly reapplying previous filters. These pain points can lead to inefficiencies and frustrations, especially when time is tight.

We are introducing several new features within the filters view in Data Explorer to review your data in your documents: the Custom Column Selector, additional default filters, improved sorting, horizontal and vertical query view, and Filter History. These changes are designed to streamline your workflow, saving you time and effort by making data exploration more efficient and tailored to your specific needs.

What is the Custom Column Selector?

The Custom Column Selector allows you to customize your data views by selecting specific columns that are most relevant to your analysis when using the NoSQL API. Previously, in the Data Explorer items view, you could only see the partition key and ID columns. Now, with this new feature, you can select one or many properties from your document and create additional columns to easily view your data.  Additionally, we’ve incorporated a feature that enables you to sort each column either in ascending or descending order. This feature is valuable for users who need to focus on specific data points. Additionally, Data Explorer retains the columns you have chosen to view in your container, so they will remain selected when you return.

What is Filter History?

Filter History enables you to quickly revisit and apply previous filters. This saves you from the repetitive task of manually reconstructing filters for recurring queries. With Filter History, you can access a log of your past filters and reapply them with a simple click.  This feature is particularly beneficial for users who perform regular analyses on similar datasets.

What is the advanced Query view?

We have introduced a new feature in the query view that allows you to switch between horizontal and vertical views for the query and results panel. You can easily toggle between these views by selecting the “Views” option in the command bar menu. To save your preferred view, simply click on the gear icon in the top right of the command bar menu, select “Default Query Results View,” choose your preference (horizontal or vertical), and then save. This feature enhances the flexibility of your data analysis, enabling you to customize your workspace according to your needs.

What are the new default filters?

We are also adding two new default filters: “Order by c_ts ASC” and “Where c.PartitionKey =“. The “Order by c_ts ASC” filter allows you to easily sort items in ascending order based on the timestamp, ensuring that you can quickly find the most recent entries or historical data as needed. The “Where c.PartitionKey =” filter will automatically populate with your partition key, streamlining the query process and making it easier to filter data based on specific partitions. These default filters are designed to enhance your data querying experience, providing more immediate and relevant views of your datasets.

Getting Started with Custom Column Selector, Default Filters, Advanced Query View and Filter History

Step-by-Step Guide

Using the Custom Column Selector:

•  Navigate to the Azure portal and select your Azure Cosmos DB account.
•  Click on “Data Explorer” in the left navigation menu to open the interface.
• Once in Data Explorer, open the collection you want to query, select Items.
• Click on the ellipsis menu on the top right of any Column, select Edit Column
• Select the columns you wish to display and save your settings.
• Your data view will now reflect only the selected columns, making it easier to focus on relevant data.

Reset your Column View:

• Click on the ellipsis menu on the top right of any Column, select Edit Column
• Select Reset to return to the default view.
• Or you can Clear your Filter History, Columns, and Viewport settings by selecting the gear icon in the top right Data Explorer Global menu.
• Select Clear History.

Sort your Column View ascending or descending:

• Click on the ellipsis menu on the top right of any Column, select Edit Column
• Select Reset sorting to return to the default view.

Remove a Custom Column:

• Once in Data Explorer, open the collection you want to view, select Items.
• Click on the ellipsis menu on the top right of any Column, select Remove Column

Using Filter History:

• Once in Data Explorer, open the collection you want to view, select Items.
• Click Edit Filter
• Apply a filter to your data as you normally would.
• After applying the filter, your filter will be automatically saved and added to the Default filter list in the filter window Drop Down.
• To reapply a previous filter, click on the Edit Filter button.
• Clear any Filter from the filter window. This step is required to be able to view your saved Filters.
• Click the Drop Down in the filter window.
• Select the desired filter from the list.
• Select Apply Filter

Clear your Filter History:

• Select the gear icon in the top right corner of Data Explorer to access settings
• Select the Clear History button
• Confirm you want to clear your history.  This included filter column splitter positions, custom columns, and your tab layout.

Apply a Default Filter:

• Once in Data Explorer, open the collection you want to view, select Items.
• Click Edit Filter
• Click the arrow in the menu bar to review and select a Default Filter.

Change your Query Window view

• In the Data Explorer command bar menu, select the “Views” option to toggle between horizontal and vertical views of your query window.
• To save your preferred view, click on the gear icon in the top right corner of the command bar menu.
• Choose “Default Query Results View” from the dropdown menu.
• Select either horizontal or vertical as your default view.
• Click Save to apply your settings.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the new Custom Column Selector, Advanced Query View, Default filters and Filter History features in Azure Cosmos DB Data Explorer are designed to enhance your data management experience. By enabling you to customize your data views and quickly reapply previous filters, these features streamline your workflow, making your data exploration more efficient and tailored to your needs.

We would love to hear your feedback and suggestions on how we can make Azure Cosmos DB Data Explorer even better. Please feel free to leave a comment below, or provide feedback via the feedback icon on any Azure Cosmos DB blade within the portal. Thank you for using Azure Cosmos DB and happy exploring! Learn more here! 

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About Azure Cosmos DB

Azure Cosmos DB is a fully managed and serverless NoSQL and vector database for modern app development, including AI applications. With its SLA-backed speed and availability as well as instant dynamic scalability, it is ideal for real-time NoSQL and MongoDB applications that require high performance and distributed computing over massive volumes of NoSQL and vector data.

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