Using Explore

Explore without writing SQL

Use Explore to group, summarize, filter, and sort a table without writing SQL. Choose a table, add columns to Group By or Measures, then select Run query.

Getting started

1. Open a table from any dataset, then select Explore.
2. Choose a table from the table picker. The dataset tree uses the same paths as SQL.
3. Find its columns in the Columns panel. On a smaller screen, select Show columns to open the panel.

Drag columns to build your view

Explore has two areas where you drop columns:

• Group By: drag columns here to create one row for each value or combination of values. For example, add region and product to break down results by region and product.
• Measures: drag any column here to calculate a summary. Numeric columns default to Sum, while other columns default to Count. Use the menu to choose Count, Distinct, Sum, Avg, Min, or Max when available.

Applying filters

Under Filters, select + Add. Choose a column and one of these operators: =, !=, >, <, >=, <=, IS NULL, or IS NOT NULL. Enter a value when the operator requires one.

Sorting results

Use the sort icon beside a Group By column. Select it once for ascending order, again for descending order, and a third time to clear sorting. Select Run query to update the results.

Example: revenue by region

1. Select your sales table from the table picker.
2. Drag region into the Group By well.
3. Drag amount into the Measures well.
4. Confirm that the aggregation menu beside amount shows Sum.
5. Optionally, use the sort icon beside region to choose an order.
6. Select Run query. The results show total revenue by region. Explore displays up to 1,000 result rows.

Use the generated SQL

After you select Run query, the generated SQL appears above the results. Select and copy the text, then open the SQL Console (sign in to open this page) to refine or run it again.