Overview
| Icon | Description |
|---|---|
 | Data Surf allows you to navigate a tree of related data by resolving foreign keys and then loading data from a target table. For example, you might start with a contact, then you could find the contact's addresses or find any transactions that involved the contact. Feature Highlights
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Data Surf makes it easy for you to navigate through related data without having to write repetitive boiler plate code, which can lead to mistakes. Create a new surf in the database that you want to surf, and specify the starting point. Select the row that you want to find related data for, and you can easily find the linked data. As you surf, a graph is created that lets you track where you have been and the ways the loaded entities relate. You can select any node to view its data, or you can color nodes or groups of nodes to bring clarity to your graph, or you can remove a node or group of nodes. You can also re-load the data related to a node, and then save your surf and re-load it later.
You can also apply your surf to a new set of data. Use the re-targeting feature to re-load the graph based on a new initial data set. You can re-target a graph while loading it, effectively creating a surf template. You can even export the image of your graph so that you can include it in reports.
Creating a New Surf
Create a new Data Surf for your selected target by completing the following steps:
1. Select Data Surf to open the New Surf window.
2. Select a database for your surf. Enter a SQL Server connection or select a previous connection from the drop down list. Enter your connection credentials, then select a database for the comparison. Select Next to continue.
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Note: Data Surf automatically starts a search for local servers when it starts. Select Find Local Servers if you know a new server has appeared since the application started, or the dialog opens before the initial search completes.
Note: Selecting SQL Server Security gives you the option to enter a username and password. Select a server, then select OK to profile space usage on the server as a whole. Select a database to profile space usage on that single database.
3. Select the table that you want to use as the surf starting point. Select Next to continue.
Note: You can use the search bar to narrow down the list of displayed tables. Hover over a table to display information about the table columns in a tooltip.
4. Enter the criteria for your Data Surf. Select the Select rows based on criteria option, then select a column, and enter a match value. Or deselect the Select rows based on criteria option to select all rows from the table. Select Finish to generate your Data Surf.
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Note: The match is always an exact match. Whatever you enter in the box then becomes part of the query that's executed against the server.
Success: You can now navigate your Data Surf!
Navigating Data Surf
After your Data Surf has generated, you can navigate through your selected information. Make a selection in the data grid to begin surfing: 
Navigate to a desired node by selecting a node in the Navigate menu:
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Note: The rows that load for the selected node display in the grid in the lower half of the screen. The selected node is highlighted using a dashed line surrounding it.
Finding Related Data
Find related data for one or more rows by doing one of the following:
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| Related Data Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Parent Row | Rows where a foreign key points from the current table to the other table. |
| Child Row | Rows where a foreign key points from the other table to the current table. |
Note: Hovering the mouse over individual tables displays tooltips that show you the name of the foreign key being followed, the name of the related table, and the column names that match.
Note: When navigating based on multiple rows, multiple new data nodes are created in the graph. Node creation is based on the number of unique key values in the selected data. In the example image below, three rows are selected, and each contains a unique key value. Three nodes have been created in the graph to represent these unique values.
Customizing a Data Surf
Data Surf provides you with multiple customization options to help you navigate your server. Right click a node and select Color node to change the color of the node.
Note: Hovering over a color displays a preview of the node in that color. The following node colors are available: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Cyan, Blue and Purple. Select User Defined to open the Choose Color window and create a custom color.
Right click on a node and then select Remove Node to the remove the node from the display. Select Remove Node & All Dependents to remove the selected node and its dependents from the display.
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Select a node, and then select Refresh Node Data to reload the data for the node.
Data Surf Toolbar Options
File Options
| Toolbar button | Description | Image | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Opens the New Surf window and allows you to create a new Data Surf. |  | ||
 | Open a previously saved surf. Select a surf (.dsd) file, then select open to load the surf. |  | ||
 | Save the current surf as a (.dsd) file. Enter an appropriate surf name, then select Save to save your surf. |  | ||
 | Save the current surf as a (.dsd) file. Enter an appropriate surf name, then select Save to save your surf. |  | ||
 | Save the current graph in your Data Surf as one of the following image files (.bmp, .jpg, .png). Select Save Surf Image to open the Export image window. Select an image Width, Height, and format; then select OK to open the Save Image window. Enter an appropriate name for your image, then select Save to save the image. |
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Navigation Options
| Toolbar button | Description | Image | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Goes back to the previously selected node in the Data Surf. Note: You can also go back by selecting CTRL + Left. |  | ||
 | Goes to the next selected node in the Data Surf. Note: You can also go forward by selecting CTRL + Right. |  | ||
 | Retarget takes your relational exploration and applies it to a new starting point. You can use retarget to specify a new column and value for the starting point of the surf, and refresh all parts of the surf based on these values. Warning: Retarget overwrites your existing Data Surf. Select Retarget to open the Retarget surf window for the Data Surf. Select the column you would like to match, and enter a value to match. Select OK to retarget the surf in the current surf window. |
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 | Retarget to New Tab takes your relational exploration and applies it to a new starting point in a new tab. You can use this option to specify a new column and value for the starting point of the surf, and refresh all parts of the surf based on these values. Select Retarget to New Tab to open the Retarget surf window for the Data Surf. Select the column you would like to match, and enter a value to match. Select OK to retarget the surf into a new tab. |
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Important: The surf can change shape significantly after retargeting for one of the following reasons:
- A relation that previously held data now does not hold any data, and further relations cannot be explored
- A relation that previously held a single row now holds multiple rows, and the relations are explored for each key in the available data
View Options
| Toolbar button | Description |
|---|---|
 | Zooms in on the selected graph area. |
 | Zooms out of the selected graph area. |
 | Organizes the Data Surf graph in one of the following layouts:
See the table below for a depiction of each view. |
Data Surf Layouts
Data Surf arranges the nodes in the surf graph according to the currently specified layout algorithm. The default layout algorithm for surf displays can be specified in the preferences screen.
| Layout | Image |
|---|---|
| Force Directed |  |
| Circle |  |
| Grid |  |
| Spiral |  |
| Horizontal Hierarchy |  |
| Vertical Hierarchy |  |
