The Data Sources work area includes the following features:
1. **Create Source**: Select to create a new data source configuration. See [Define a Source](#define-a-source).
2. **Import Source**: Select to import a new data source configuration and connection information. See [Import or Export Sources](/simba-embedded-analytics/docs/self-service-analytics/26.3/connect-to-data/sources/import-export-data-source).
3. **Export Selected Items**: Export one or more data sources by selecting the checkbox for a source to export. The **Export Selected Items** button becomes active. Select to download the sources in JSON format. See [Import or Export Sources](/simba-embedded-analytics/docs/self-service-analytics/26.3/connect-to-data/sources/import-export-data-source).
4. **Embed Sources Inventory**: Select 
to generate a code snippet to embed the sources inventory in your application. See [Generate a Sources Inventory HTML Snippet](/simba-embedded-analytics/docs/self-service-analytics/26.3/embed-and-extend/embed/dash-embed-gencode-dashboard#generate-a-sources-inventory-html-snippet).
5. A table that lists the data sources you can see, sort, and favorite.
6. Options to modify source permissions, view and modify row and column security filters, refresh the cache, and manage Available Visual Types.
7. A search bar at the top of the page you can use to search for a specific data source in the table.
**Access the Data Sources work area**
1. Log into Self-Service Analytics.
2. Select the **Sources** card on your home page or **Data Sources** from the main menu.. The Sources work area appears.
Depending on your settings, you can edit and delete data sources listed in the table. You can also clear the cache for a data source. If there are many sources listed, you may need to search for the source you need.
### Search Field
You can use the search field to filter the sources in this work area by source Name, Description (if provided), Connection, or Author. For example, if you type a **C** in the search box, only sources that include the letter *C* in the selected field searched are shown in the working area. See [Search and Filter Lists](/simba-embedded-analytics/docs/self-service-analytics/26.3/get-started/welcome#search-and-filter-lists).
### Buttons
The buttons on the page allow easy access to saved data sources, as well as other data sources created by other users in your Self-Service Analytics environment that you have been granted access to see. Use the options shown to create new sources, filter the data sources shown, as well as import, export, or create sources.
| Button | Description |
|---|---|
| All | Removes any filters for the sources list and displays all sources available to you within your environment. |
|
Displays only the sources that you have marked as favorites. |
|
Displays only the sources that you created and saved. Sources created and saved by other users are hidden. |
|
Displays only the sources that other users shared with you. |
|
|
Select to generate an embeddable sources inventory link.
See [Generate a Sources Inventory HTML Snippet](/simba-embedded-analytics/docs/self-service-analytics/26.3/embed-and-extend/embed/dash-embed-gencode-dashboard#generate-a-sources-inventory-html-snippet). |
| **Export Selected Items** | Allows you to export multiple selected items. |
| **Import Source** |
Allows you to import a source.
See [Import or Export Sources](/simba-embedded-analytics/docs/self-service-analytics/26.3/connect-to-data/sources/import-export-data-source). |
| **Create Source** |
Allows you to create a new source.
See [Define a Source](#define-a-source). |
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| Select (not labeled) | Select one or more items to perform bulk actions, such as export, for your resources. |
| Fav | Mark the source as a favorite. |
| Type | An icon identifying the data store type for the data source. |
| Name | The name assigned during data source creation. |
| Description (not labeled) | The description icon is visible if a description associated with a source. You can search for a source by the contents of this field. |
| Tags | Content tags applied to the source. Select the filter icon to open a drop down list and select tags to filter your list or to [narrow your search results](/simba-embedded-analytics/docs/self-service-analytics/26.3/get-started/welcome#filter-lists-and-search-results-using-tags). If several tags are associated with an item, hover over the ellipsis to see all tags for this resource. |
| Filter icon | Select to filter the work area's contents by one or more content tags. |
| Connection | The display name of the [data store connection definition](/simba-embedded-analytics/docs/self-service-analytics/26.3/connect-to-data/connections-managing) connected to this data source. For flat files, you define a Display Name when you upload the file; this name is shown. |
| Author | The user name of the data source creator. |
| Modified Date | The time stamp when the data source configuration definition was last modified. |
| Permissions | Select the permissions icon for a data source to assign and manage its permissions. You can only define permissions for a data source if you are logged in as a user with the **Administer Sources** [privilege](/simba-embedded-analytics/docs/self-service-analytics/26.3/administer/users/aaa-ov#group-privilege-reference), or as a user with the **Manage Source Permissions** privilege. |
| Row | Select the row security ( ) icon for a data source to define its row security for [authorization groups](/simba-embedded-analytics/docs/self-service-analytics/26.3/administer/users/aaa-ov#manage-user-groups). You can only define row security for a data source if you are logged in as a user with the **Administer Sources** [privilege](/simba-embedded-analytics/docs/self-service-analytics/26.3/administer/users/aaa-ov#group-privilege-reference), or as a user with the **Manage Source Permissions** privilege. |
| Column | Select the column security ( ) icon for a data source to define its column security for different [authorization groups](/simba-embedded-analytics/docs/self-service-analytics/26.3/administer/users/aaa-ov#manage-user-groups). You can only define row security for a data source if you are logged in as a user with the **Administer Sources** [privilege](/simba-embedded-analytics/docs/self-service-analytics/26.3/administer/users/aaa-ov#group-privilege-reference), or as a user with the **Manage Source Permissions** privilege. |
| Actions |
Shows icons you can select to perform actions for the data source.
* Select the delete (  ) icon to delete a data source configuration. Before you delete a data source configuration, you must delete all the dashboards and visuals that use it. See [Delete a Data Source](#delete-a-data-source). You can only delete a data source if you are logged in as, a user with the **Administer Sources** [privilege](/simba-embedded-analytics/docs/self-service-analytics/26.3/administer/users/aaa-ov#group-privilege-reference), or a user with **read** and **delete** [permission](/simba-embedded-analytics/docs/self-service-analytics/26.3/connect-to-data/sources/ds-permissions) for the data source.
* Select the clear cache (  ) icon to clear the data cache for a data source configuration. Select one or more cache options to clear:
* Data Cache: Clears the cached query results. * Statistics Cache: Clears the cache of fields statistic metadata, such as min, max, and distinct values numbers. See [How Self-Service Analytics Caches Data](/simba-embedded-analytics/docs/self-service-analytics/26.3/connect-to-data/sources/data-source-config-global-settings-tab#how-self-service-analytics-caches-data) and [Clear the Cache for a Data Source Configuration](/simba-embedded-analytics/docs/self-service-analytics/26.3/connect-to-data/sources/data-source-config-global-settings-tab#clear-the-cache-for-a-data-source-configuration). You can only clear the cache for a data source if you a user with the **Administer Sources** [privilege](/simba-embedded-analytics/docs/self-service-analytics/26.3/administer/users/aaa-ov#group-privilege-reference), or a user with **write** [permission](/simba-embedded-analytics/docs/self-service-analytics/26.3/connect-to-data/sources/ds-permissions) for the data source. * Select the More menu (  ) button to view the More menu for a data source configuration. Options include:
* Available Visual Types: Select to define what visuals are available for this data source configuration. See [Available Visual Types](/simba-embedded-analytics/docs/self-service-analytics/26.3/analyze-data/visuals/available-visual-types). * Export Source: Select to export the source information in JSON format. See [Import or Export Sources](/simba-embedded-analytics/docs/self-service-analytics/26.3/connect-to-data/sources/import-export-data-source). |
4. Enter a unique name (replacing the default name, **Untitled Source**) for your source.
5. Select and expand a connection from the right **Connections** panel to find a schema and entity in your selected connection. If using a Dundas BI (Managed) connection, see [Define a New Source from a Dundas BI (Managed) Connection](#define-a-new-source-from-a-dundas-bi-managed-connection).
6. Drag and drop a selected entity from the right panel. This is added to your source work area as a connection node, linked to an output node. The default name is the same as the entity, appended with a number. After you save the source, you can select the connection node to rename the entity using the properties panel.
9. If you choose to use the **Existing Entity**, you can enable **Entity Data Cache**, and select which fields you want to include by expanding and making selections in the **Available Fields** list. The Preview icon in the Available Fields work area opens an **Entity Preview** dialog box. This preview includes all of the fields in the entity (no matter your selections) to help you decide what to include or exclude.
Optionally, add metadata at the field level stored as a keyed pair of Property and Value in your environment. Use in several ways:
* As information consumed by an integrated AI tool: for example, Simba Intelligence or other tool can read the information and interpret it without adding it to the visual.
* As internal information for users who can view the data in your source.
The metadata you define is available using the API, and exported with the source (JSON format); when you move, share, and [copy](#copy-a-source) or [export](/simba-embedded-analytics/docs/self-service-analytics/26.3/connect-to-data/sources/import-export-data-source) your source to share with other environments.
API documentation is provided in your environment at this link: `https://
**View a schema in a source**
1. Create or edit a source that uses a schema.
2. Select the View link next to your selected Schema. A schema work area opens you can use to view the tables and relationships of that schema. Larger data sets may take a few moments to load.
3. View the existing relationships and any user defined joins to better understand the relationships present.
4. Close the work area when you're done viewing the schema information, and repeat for other schemas if needed.
6. Drag and drop the entity to the source creation work area. This is added to your visual work area, linked to an output.
7. Select **Save Source** to save your output and make further changes to your source. Optionally, edit the Description and Tags for this source.
10. Select **Apply** to apply your changes, and **Save Source**, if needed. Once saved, your new source is added to the list on the Sources page.