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Browsing Data

Learn how to browse and view MongoDB collections in the Data Explorer.

Accessing Data Explorer​

  1. Navigate to Data Explorer:

    • Click "Data Explorer" in navigation
    • Or go to /data

  2. Select Connection:

    • Choose MongoDB connection from vault
    • Or enter connection string
    • Select database

Viewing Collections​

Collection List​

See all collections in your database:

  • Collection Names: List of all collections
  • Document Counts: Number of documents per collection
  • Last Updated: Last modification time
  • Quick Actions: View, edit, delete collections

Opening a Collection​

  1. Click Collection Name:

    • Opens collection view
    • Shows documents in table format
    • Displays first 50 documents

  2. Collection Info:

    • Total document count
    • Collection size
    • Index information

View Modes​

Table View​

Spreadsheet-like view of documents:

  • Rows: Each document is a row
  • Columns: Document fields as columns
  • Sortable: Click headers to sort
  • Resizable: Adjust column widths

Best For: Quick overview, comparing documents

Card View​

Formatted card display:

  • Cards: Each document as a card
  • Formatted: Human-readable format
  • Expandable: Click to see full document

Best For: Reading individual documents

JSON View​

Raw JSON structure:

  • Formatted JSON: Pretty-printed
  • Collapsible: Expand/collapse objects
  • Searchable: Find text in JSON

Best For: Developers, debugging, complex structures

Pagination​

Navigate through large collections:

  • Page Size: 10, 25, 50, 100 documents per page
  • Page Navigation: Previous/Next buttons
  • Jump to Page: Go to specific page
  • Total Pages: See total page count

Sorting​

Sort documents by field:

  1. Click Column Header: Sort ascending
  2. Click Again: Sort descending
  3. Multiple Sorts: Sort by multiple fields

Filtering​

Filter documents:

  1. Quick Filter:

    • Type in search box
    • Searches across all fields
    • Real-time filtering

  2. Field Filters:

    • Click filter icon on column
    • Set filter condition
    • Apply filter

  3. Advanced Filters:

    • Build complex queries
    • Multiple conditions
    • AND/OR logic

Searching Data​

Full-Text Search​

Search across all fields:

  • Search Box: Top of collection view
  • Real-Time: Results update as you type
  • Highlighted: Matching text highlighted

Search within specific fields:

  1. Click Field Filter
  2. Enter Search Term
  3. Select Operator: equals, contains, starts with, etc.

Advanced Query Builder​

Build complex queries:

  • Multiple Conditions: Add multiple filters
  • Operators: equals, not equals, greater than, etc.
  • Logic: AND/OR between conditions
  • Save Query: Save for reuse

Viewing Document Details​

Document Viewer​

Click any document to view details:

  • Full Document: See complete structure
  • Formatted: Human-readable format
  • Editable: Click to edit fields
  • Actions: Edit, delete, duplicate

Field Values​

View field values:

  • Simple Fields: Direct display
  • Nested Objects: Expandable sections
  • Arrays: List view
  • Dates: Formatted dates
  • Links: Clickable URLs

Editing Documents​

Inline Editing​

Edit documents directly:

  1. Click Field: Field becomes editable
  2. Make Changes: Modify value
  3. Save: Click save button
  4. Cancel: Discard changes

Full Document Editor​

Edit entire document:

  1. Click "Edit" Button
  2. Schema-Aware Editor: Helps with structure
  3. Make Changes: Modify fields
  4. Save: Save changes
  5. Validate: Check for errors

Document Actions​

Delete Document​

Remove document:

  1. Select Document: Click checkbox
  2. Click "Delete": Or delete button
  3. Confirm: Confirm deletion
  4. Permanent: Cannot be undone

Duplicate Document​

Copy document:

  1. Click "Duplicate": On document
  2. New Document: Created with same data
  3. Edit: Modify as needed
  4. Save: Save new document

Bulk Operations​

Operate on multiple documents:

  1. Select Documents: Check multiple documents
  2. Choose Action: Delete, update, export
  3. Apply: Execute on all selected

Schema Detection​

Auto-Detection​

NetPad automatically detects:

  • Field Types: String, number, date, etc.
  • Field Names: All field names
  • Structure: Nested objects, arrays
  • Patterns: Common data patterns

Schema View​

View collection schema:

  • Fields: List of all fields
  • Types: Field data types
  • Required: Which fields are always present
  • Examples: Sample values

Best Practices​

  1. Use Filters: Filter before browsing large collections
  2. Pagination: Use pagination for large datasets
  3. Search First: Search before scrolling
  4. Save Queries: Save frequently used filters
  5. Backup: Export before bulk operations

Next Steps​