Resource Search Interface

Nexla's powerful and flexible API-powered search interface makes locating any needed resource, category of resources, or data of interest—from data flows and data sources to Nexsets, data lookups, schema templates, and more—quick and easy, regardless of how many resources the user's account contains.

The resource search interface is available in screens in the Integrate and Discover sections, located at the top of the resource list.

• Integrate Screens:
   
   
   
• Discover Screen:
   
   
   

1. Video Tutorial

The video below introduces the resource search interface.

 

2. Performing a Resource Search

Resource searches can be performed using any number and/or combination of keywords understood by the search interface. These keywords correspond to various resource characteristics, including the name, description, data source/destination connector type, current status, Nexset attribute names, and many more.

Queries can be constructed by typing and/or selecting keyword–value pairs in the search bar (Section 2.1) or by using the Advanced Search window (Section 2.2).

2.1 Search Bar

1. To begin constructing a resource search, first, click inside the search bar. This will automatically open a dropdown menu.

   To search using only a keyboard, press the / key.

2. The dropdown menu displays a list of keywords recognized by the interface, along with a description of the characteristic to which each keyword corresponds.

     

3. Keywords can be added to the search by typing directly into the search bar or by selecting a keyword from the list.

     

4. Once a keyword has been added, it must be assigned a value. Keyword values can also be typed into the search bar or chosen from the list of recommended values.

     Recommended Values List:

    
   

   • The list of recommended keyword values is continuously updated as text is entered in the field.
       

   • Click on a recommended keyword–value pair to add it to the search.
       

5. After entering one or more keyword–value pairs in the search bar, press the Enter key to apply the search filters and view the list of results.

6. See Section 3 for information about the features and functions of resource query results in each screen.

2.2 Advanced Search Window

1. To access the Advanced Search window, click the icon in the search bar.

     

2. Assign a value to one or more of the keywords shown in the Advanced Search window.

   • For keywords with a text field to the right, type the value into the text field.

       

   • For keywords with a pulldown menu to the right, select the value from the menu.

       

3. Once all desired keyword–value pairs have been assigned, click in the bottom right corner of the window to apply the search filters and view the list of results.

     

   • Optional: To exit the Advanced Search window without applying filters, click .

       

4. See Section 3 for information about the features and functions of resource query results in each screen.

2.3 Complex Queries

• Any number of keyword–value pairs recognized by the search interface can be combined to create queries of any level of complexity, including locating individual resources of interest and identifying categories of resources. Users can apply multiple filters to easily and quickly locate resource(s) or data needed for any use case.

    

• The search interface also understands additional keywords beyond those listed in the search-bar dropdown menu or Advanced Search window. These keywords can be typed directly into the search bar and assigned a value, following the format keyword:value.

  The full list of keywords recognized by the search interface is shown in Section 5.

    

• If a keyword that the interface does not understand is entered, it will be indicated in strikethrough font and will not be included in the search filters.

    

 

3. Search Results/Resource Lists

From the resource lists displayed in screens in the Integrate section, users can easily view information about any accessible resource(s) and access many associated functions.

• Resource lists initially display a complete listing of either owned or shared resources available in the user's account.

  See Section 4.2 to learn how to view lists of owned and/or shared resources.

• Resource lists are updated according to any keyword–value filters applied using the search interface (Section 2).

3.1 All Data Flows

• In the All Data Flows screen, click on any listed flow to open an expanded view of the data flow.

    

• All information and functions available for data flows and resources in the All Data Flows screen can be accessed from search result lists.

3.2 All Projects

• Since projects are typically collaborative projects centered around teams of users, the access keyword has the default value collaborator in the All Projects screen.

    

• The search interface can be used to locate projects using keyword–value pairs.

    

• Click on a listed project to open it.

    

• After opening a project, the search interface can be used to locate data flows and/or resources within the project.

    

3.3 Sources & Destinations

• In the Sources and Destinations screens, click on any listed resource to open the resource information screen.

    

• Click the button in the top right corner of the resource information screen to view the data flow to which the source or destination belongs in the All Data Flows screen.

    

  • When a flow is accessed in this way, the search bar in the All Data Flows screen is populated with only the data_source_id or data_sink_id keyword with the corresponding resource ID as the value (the access keyword is omitted). This means that the URL can be more easily shared with and opened by other users.

    See Section 4.1 to learn more about bookmarking and sharing search queries.

      

3.4 Nexsets & Discover

• In the Nexsets and Discover screens, the attr_name keyword can be used to locate all Nexsets that contain a specified attribute—i.e., attr_name:order_date.

    

    

• Click on a Nexset to open the Nexset information screen.

  To learn more about the information and functions available in the Nexset information screen, see Nexset (Data Product) Information.

    

3.5 Common Components Screens

• In any of the screens under the Common Components heading (Credentials, Lookups, Schema Templates, Reusable Transforms, and API Keys), click on a listed resource to open the resource information screen.

    

 

4. FAQs & Features

4.1 Bookmark/Share Search Queries

Each time a search is performed via the resource search interface, the URL is updated to reflect the combination of all keyword–value pairs used in the search.

  

• For queries that are performed regularly, the URL can be bookmarked for easy navigation back to the query without re-entering the search terms each time.

• Query URLs can also be shared with other users. When another user navigates to the query URL, the search interface will reflect all entered keyword–value pairs.

  If the recipient user has a different level of access to the resource(s)—i.e., Collaborator instead of Owner—the user will typically need to change the value of the access keyword after navigating to the query URL.

4.2 Veiw Owned/Shared Resources

The access keyword is automatically populated in the search interface in most screens. The value of this keyword determines whether owned or shared resources are displayed.

• access:owner – When the value of access is owner, resources to which the user has Owner-level access will be displayed.
• access:collaborator – When the value of access is collaborator, resources which have been shared with the user will be displayed.

  

To select whether owned or shared resources are displayed:

1. Click on the access keyword.

     

2. Select the desired access level from the dropdown menu.

     

3. Press the Enter key to update the resource list according to the selected access value.

     

4.3 Top Search Results

As keyword–value pairs are added to the search bar, the search menu will also display the corresponding top results.

  

• Click on a listed top result to open the resource.

    

5. Recognized Keywords

The table below lists all keywords currently recognized by the search interface. Keywords are listed according to the resource type to which they apply.

5.1 Nexsets

The following keywords can be applied to Nexsets.

Search Keyword	Value Type	Description
id	integer	Unique Nexset identifier
data_source_id	integer	Unique identifier of the data source  from which the Nexset originates
parent_data_set_id	integer	Unique identifier of the  parent Nexset
copied_from_id	integer	Unique identifier of the resource from   which the Nexset was copied
name	string	Assigned Nexset designation/title
description	string	Assigned Nexset description
status	string	Current status of the Nexset  (i.e., active, paused, init)
code_container_id	integer
output_schema_annotations	string
output_schema_validation_enabled	bool	Boolean value indicating whether output schema validation is enabled
source_schema	string
managed	bool
public	bool
out_validation_enabled	bool
created_at	datetime	Datetime of Nexset creation
updated_at	datetime	Datetime of Nexset update
tags	string	Applied tags for categorization/  identification
source_schema_properties	object
output_schema_properties	object
source_type	string
attr_name	string	Name of an attribute that the  Nexset contains
schema_attr	string	Name of an attribute included  in the applied schema

 

5.2 Data Sources

The following keywords can be applied to Data Sources.

Search Keyword	Value Type	Description
id	integer	Unique data source identifier
data_source_id	integer	Unique data source identifier
connector_type	string
data_credentials_id	integer
name	string	Assigned data source designation/title
description	string	Assigned data source description
flow_name	string	Assigned name of the data flow  containing the data source
flow_description	string	Assigned description of the data flow  containing the data source
status	string	Current status of the data source  (i.e., active, paused, init,  rate_limited)
ingest_method	string	(i.e., POLL, API)
source_format	string	(i.e., JSON, XML, CSV, TSV)
source_config	object
template_config	object
poll_schedule	string
data_sink_id	integer
vendor_endpoint_id	integer
code_container_id	integer
managed	bool
copied_from_id	integer	Unique identifier of the data source from   which the data source was copied
created_at	datetime
updated_at	datetime
tags	string
source_type	string
connector_name	string
connector_code	string	Classification of the connector used  to create the data source
source_connector_name	string
source_connector_code	string	Classification of the connector used  to create the data source

 

5.3 Data Destinations

The following keywords can be applied to Data Destinations.

Search Keyword	Value Type	Description
id	integer	Unique data destination identifier
data_sink_id	integer	Unique data destination identifier
connector_type	string
data_set_id	integer
data_credentials_id	integer
vendor_endpoint_id	integer
data_map_id	integer
data_source_id	integer
code_container_id	integer
name	string	Assigned data destination designation/title
description	string	Assigned data source description
flow_name	string	Assigned name of the data flow  containing the data destination
flow_description	string	Assigned description of the data flow  containing the data destination
status	string	Current status of the data source  (i.e., active, paused, init,  rate_limited)
sink_format	string	(i.e., JSON, XML, CSV, TSV)
sink_config	object
template_config	object
sink_schedule	string
managed	bool
in_memory	bool
copied_from_id	integer	Unique identifier of the data destination from   which the data destination was copied
created_at	datetime	Datetime of data destination creation
updated_at	datetime
tags	string
sink_type	string
connector_name	string
connector_code	string	Classification of the connector used  to create the data destination
sink_connector_name	string
sink_connector_code	string

 

5.4 Projects

The following keywords can be applied to Projects.

Search Keyword	Value Type	Description
id	integer	Unique project identifier
name	string	Assigned project designation/title
description	string	Assigned project description
client_identifier	string
client_url	string
copied_from_id	integer	Unique identifier of the project from   which the project was copied
created_at	datetime	Datetime of project creation
updated_at	datetime	Datetime of project update

 

5.5 Lookups

The following keywords can be applied to static and dynamic Lookups.

Search Keyword	Value Type	Description
id	integer	Unique lookup identifier
name	string	Assigned lookup designation/title
description	string	Assigned lookup description
public	bool	Boolean value representing public accessibility  of the lookup (i.e., true or false)
data_type	string
data_format	string
emit_data_default	bool
use_versioning	bool
data_default	string
data_defaults	object
data_map	object
map_entry_count	integer
map_entry_schema	object
data_sink_id	integer
map_primary_key	string
managed	bool
created_at	datetime	Datetime of lookup creation
updated_at	datetime	Datetime of lookup update
tags	string

 

5.6 Credentials

The following keywords can be applied to Credentials.

Search Keyword	Value Type	Description
id	integer	Unique credential identifier
connector_type	string	Classification of the connector with which  the credential is used
name	string	Assigned credential designation/title
description	string	Assigned credential description
vendor_id	integer
verified_status	string
verified_at	datetime
managed	bool
copied_from_id	integer
created_at	datetime	Datetime of credential creation
updated_at	datetime	Datetime of credential update
tags	string

 

5.6 Schema Templates

The following keywords can be applied to Schema Templates.

Search Keyword	Value Type	Description
id	integer	Unique schema template identifier
data_credentials_id	integer
name	string	Assigned schema template designation/title
description	string	Assigned schema template description
detected	bool
managed	bool
template	bool
public	bool	Boolean value representing public accessibility  of the schema template (i.e., true or false)
schema	object
annotations	object
validations	object
data_samples	object array
copied_from_id	integer	Unique identifier of the resource from   which the schema template was copied
created_at	datetime	Datetime of schema template creation
updated_at	datetime	Datetime of schema template update
tags	string

 

5.6 Code Container (Transforms)

The following keywords can be applied to Code Containers (Reusable Transforms).

Search Keyword	Value Type	Description
id	integer	Unique code container identifier
data_credentials_id	integer
runtime_data_credentials_id	integer
name	string	Assigned code container designation/title
description	string	Assigned code container description
reusable	bool
public	bool	Boolean value representing public accessibility  of the code container (i.e., true or false)
resource_type	string	(i.e., source, sink, transform, "error,  validator)
output_type	string	(i.e., record, attribute)
code_type	string	(i.e., jolt_standard, jolt_custom,  python, javascript)
code_encoding	string	(i.e., none, base64)
code_config	object
code	string
managed	bool
copied_from_id	integer	Unique identifier of the resource from   which the code container was copied
created_at	datetime	Datetime of code container creation
updated_at	datetime	Datetime of code container update
custom_config	object
tags	string