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Building workbook queries on topics

When you create a workbook or add a new query tab, you'll be prompted to select a starting point for the query. The Topics view will display the topics you have access to in the model that the workbook is based on.

Using topics in queries​

tip

Workbook queries can be used to create dashboard visualization tiles. If you intend to create and share a dashboard of your work with Restricted Queriers and Viewers, keep in mind that these users can only see dashboard tiles built on topics unless AccessBoost is enabled. Refer to the AccessBoost guide for more information.

Switching topics​

To change topics in a query tab, use the topic switcher in the top left corner of the field browser.

Select the topic you want to use, which will populate the field browser with the topic's tables and fields.

Example topics with labels, descriptions, and groups

Using multiple topics​

A query can only use a single topic at a time. However, depending on your needs, there are a few workarounds that may be useful.

Start your analysis in the topic that best matches your use case. Then:

  • Consider adding a new join path to data that isn't included in the topic yet, or
  • If there isn't a clear relationship, consider using XLOOKUPs or a spreadsheet tab to combine multiple queries into a final output

Note: While a query can only be tied to one topic, you can use multiple topics in a single document by adding multiple queries. The topics must exist in the model that the workbook is built on.

Querying with AI​

If the AI query helper is enabled in your Omni instance, you can use Blobby to query topics using natural language.

Click the ✨ icon in the left navigation in the workbook to open the chat panel. Refer to the Building queries & filters with AI guide for more tips on using the query helper.

Editing topics in the workbook​

To make changes to a query's current topic, click Model > Edit topic. This will open topic in the topic editor.

Refer to the Creating topics guide for more information about the workbook-based topic editor.

Creating topics from queries​

Queries created using All Views & Fields can be converted into topics to enable reuse. In a query tab, click Model > Save as topic. This will open the topic editor, where some information - such as in-use fields - will be automatically populated using metadata from the query.

Refer to the Creating topics guide for more information about the workbook-based topic editor.