---
schema_version: "1"
id: 9920820a8f1f4fa72d41c45d5b34b53f988b5ec6523336fd5695ef33d74219b5
title: View Underlying Data
collection: tableau
version: next
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/tableau/next/en-us/public/desktop/inspectdata_viewdata.md
canonical_url: https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/public/desktop/en-us/inspectdata_viewdata.htm
source_site: help.tableau.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: be74668c280e1359908bd52432efa2bfd7f1647bbdf77665ef0e8563b1f6f68e
description: Use the View Data window to see the underlying data behind marks and views.
---
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# View Underlying Data

When you see a Tableau visualization, do you wonder what data makes up each mark or even the entire viz? A typical viz contains aggregated measures based on the structure of the dimensions in the view. Every mark you see in a viz has underlying column and row data. The View Data window displays this data in a tabular format, scoped to the current selection or the current view.

If you have the required permissions, you can view underlying data in a worksheet, sheets in a dashboard, or in the Data Source page. In the worksheet, you can [customize](#CustomizeView) the View Data window and [download](#DownloadAll) that customized view in CSV format.

**Note**: Customized sort results aren't included in the downloaded data.

By default, the View Data window displays up to 10,000 rows of data in Tableau Desktop and up to 200 rows of data in Tableau Cloud and Tableau Server.

**Note**: Columns might be displayed differently in the View Data window, and the column order might be different when you export it to CSV format. In Tableau version 2022.1 and later, you can manually customize the column order before you export the data.  
  
This change in how column order is handled in the View Data window is required to support relationships and logical tables. If you use scripts that depend on a customized column order, we recommend using the Tableau Extensions API for View Data to download underlying data to CSV format.

## Where you can open the View Data window

The data you see in the View Data window varies depending on the context of where you open it.

<table class="table--plain">
                    <colgroup><col style="width: 33%;">
                    <col style="width: 33%;">
                    <col style="width: 280px;">
                    </colgroup><thead>
                        <tr>
                            <th>Context</th>
                            <th>Scope</th>
                            <th>How</th>
                        </tr>
                    </thead>
                    <tbody>
                        <tr>
                            <td>
                                <p><b>Worksheet: Selected Mark or Marks</b>
                                </p>
                                <p>Tableau Cloud, Tableau Server, <span class="mc-variable Variables.TabsProductDesktop variable">Tableau Desktop</span></p>
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <p>In a worksheet, selecting one or more marks and then selecting View Data from the tooltip menu displays underlying data scoped to the individual mark or a group of marks. </p>
                                <p><b>Note</b>: The <span class="uicontrol">Include command buttons</span> option must be selected for tooltips for the View Data button to be available.</p>
                                <p>This view can be customized and downloaded.</p>
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <p>Select one or more marks in the view, and then select <span class="uicontrol">View Data</span> from the tooltip menu.</p>
                                <p>
                                    <img src="https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/public/desktop/en-us/Img/viewdata_commandbutton.png" alt="A mark is selected on a viz, opening a menu. The icon for View Data (a table) is highlighted.">
                                </p>
                            </td>
                        </tr>
                        <tr>
                            <td>
                                <p><b>Data Source page: Per Table</b>
                                </p>
                                <p>Tableau Cloud, Tableau Server, <span class="mc-variable Variables.TabsProductDesktop variable">Tableau Desktop</span></p>
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <p>In the Data Source page, you can open View Data for each table listed in the data source (left pane).</p>
                                <p>You can move and sort columns in this view, but you can't download the data.</p>
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <p>Select View Data next to a table in the left pane of the Data Source page.</p>
                                <p>
                                    <img src="https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/public/desktop/en-us/Img/viewdata_datasource.png" alt="Book is selected, the View Data icon (a table) is highlighted.">
                                    
                                </p>
                                <p>You can also display the View Data window for custom SQL by clicking <span class="uicontrol">Preview Results</span> in the Custom SQL dialog box.</p>
                            </td>
                        </tr>
                        <tr>
                            <td>
                                <p><b>Worksheet: Download button on toolbar</b>
                                </p>
                                <p>Tableau Cloud and Tableau Server</p>
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <p>In a worksheet (viewing or editing mode), selecting Data from the Download button menu displays all underlying data used in a viz.</p>
                                <p>In a dashboard, underlying data can be viewed based on the selected worksheet. Select a sheet in the dashboard before you click the Download button to make the Data option available. </p>
                                <p>This view can be customized and downloaded.</p>
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <p>From the Download button menu, select <span class="uicontrol">Data</span>.</p>
                                <p>
                                    <img src="https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/public/desktop/en-us/Img/viewdata_open_web.png" alt="A cursor selects &quot;Data&quot; from the Download drop-down menu.">
                                </p>
                            </td>
                        </tr>
                        <tr>
                            <td>
                                <p><b>Worksheet: Data pane</b>
                                </p>
                                <p> <span class="mc-variable Variables.TabsProductDesktop variable">Tableau Desktop</span> only</p>
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <p>In a worksheet, selecting View Data at the top of the Data pane displays tabular data for each field in the data source, listed by table.</p>
                                <p>This view can be customized and downloaded.</p>
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <p>In the Data pane, click the View Data button next to the Search field.</p>
                                <p>
                                    <img src="https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/public/desktop/en-us/Img/viewdata_datapane_open.png" alt="The View Data icon (a table) next to the search bar and filter icon.">
                                </p>
                            </td>
                        </tr>
                        <tr>
                            <td>
                                <p><b>Worksheet: Analysis menu</b>
                                </p>
                                <p><span class="mc-variable Variables.TabsProductDesktop variable">Tableau Desktop</span> only</p>
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <p>In a worksheet, selecting View Data from the Analysis menu displays all underlying data used in a viz. The corresponding table or tables for measures used in the viz are listed in the Tabs pane.</p>
                                <p>This view can be customized and downloaded.</p>
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <p>From the Analysis menu, select <span class="uicontrol">View Data</span>.</p>
                                <p>In vizzes that aren't text tables, you also can right click the view, and then select <span class="uicontrol">View Data</span>.</p>
                                <p>
                                    <img src="https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/public/desktop/en-us/Img/viewdata_rtclk.png" alt="From the Analysis menu, View Data is highlighted.">
                                </p>
                            </td>
                        </tr>
                        <tr>
                            <td><b>Dashboard: Analysis menu</b>
                                <p><span class="mc-variable Variables.TabsProductDesktop variable">Tableau Desktop</span> only</p>
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <p>On a dashboard, selecting View Data from the Analysis menu displays all underlying data used the currently selected sheet. If no sheet is currently active, the default sheet's data is shown. The corresponding table or tables for measures used in the viz are listed in the Tabs pane.</p>
                                <p>This view can be customized and downloaded.</p>
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <p>From the Analysis menu, select <span class="uicontrol">View Data</span>.</p>
                                <p>
                                    <img src="https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/public/desktop/en-us/Img/viewdata_dashboard.png" alt="the view data dialog overlaying a dashboard, the selected sheet is what data is shown in the dialog">
                                </p>
                                <p>Note the darker border around the sheet <b>Order details</b>, indicating it was selected in the dashboard, and the view data dialog shows its for <b>Order details</b>. </p>
                            </td>
                        </tr>
                    </tbody>
                </table>

## Open View Data in a worksheet

When you open View Data in a worksheet, you can customize the display of the View Data window and download that customized view.

The View Data window displays multiple tabs on the left side of the window. The number of tabs and types of tabs vary depending on the current scope.

- The Summary tab displays the dimensions that define the view and the aggregated measure or measures that make up the mark.  
    When more than one continuous date field is used in a view, the rows for field values won't be merged in the summary data. This behavior applies to continuous dimensions in general, but most commonly will occur with date fields.
- A tab for each table that has a measure present in the view, showing all fields from that table. The Full Data tab is displayed for single table data sources.  
    To show all fields, select (All) under Show Fields. When (All) is selected, each tab shows all dimensions that define the view, regardless of which table they’re from.
- Field names are shown as column headers. Hover near the top of a column to display the drop-down menu and Sort button. You can also click anywhere in a column header to display its drop-down menu.
- Some calculations used in the view might be displayed on tabs as well:
    - Calculations that don't belong with a table in the Data pane, such aggregate calculations or calculations that span tables.
    - LOD calculations (`FIXED` or `INCLUDE` only), even if they reside in a table in the Data pane. Ad hoc LOD calculations aren't shown in View Data.
    - All relevant fields used in the calculation are displayed, regardless of their original table, as well as the value of the calculation itself.

### Open View Data in a viz for one or more marks

Click a mark to display its tooltip. In the tooltip menu, click the View Data icon ![The View Data icon (a simplified illustration of a table).](/tableau/next/en-us/public/desktop/en-us/Img/viewdata_icon_solo.png). You can also select multiple marks simultaneously and then click View Data in the tooltip menu see the combined View Data results.

![A mark is selected on a viz, opening a menu. The icon for View Data (a table) is highlighted.](/tableau/next/en-us/public/desktop/en-us/Img/viewdata_commandbutton.png)

**Note**: The Include command buttons option must be selected for tooltips in the viz for the View Data button to be available.

### Open View Data for the entire view

#### Tableau Cloud and Tableau Server

To see the underlying data for the entire view, in viewing or editing mode, click the Download button on the toolbar and then select Data. Make sure no marks are selected in the view, otherwise, the data is scoped to your selection.

In a dashboard, underlying data can be viewed based on the selected worksheet. Select a sheet in the dashboard before you click the Download button to make the Data option available.

![A cursor selects "Data" from the Download drop-down menu.](/tableau/next/en-us/public/desktop/en-us/Img/viewdata_open_web.png)

#### Tableau Desktop

To see the underlying data for the entire view, from the Analysis menu, select View Data. The View Data window is displayed with similar results for viewing data for a mark, but instead it displays all of the data in use in the view.

### Open View Data for the Data pane

To see the underlying data for each field in the data source, listed by table, click the View Data icon ![The View Data icon (a simplified illustration of a table).](/tableau/next/en-us/public/desktop/en-us/Img/viewdata_icon_solo.png) in the top of the Data pane, next to the Search field.

![The View Data icon (a table) next to the search bar and filter icon.](/tableau/next/en-us/public/desktop/en-us/Img/viewdata_datapane_open.png)

You can open the View Data for the Data pane in Tableau Desktop only.

## Open View Data in the Data Source page

The View Data window can be opened per table for the data source. Viewing data for the data source before or during analysis can be useful to give you a sense of the scope of each table, its fields and their values, and general impressions about the data.

When you open View Data in the Data Source page, you can move and sort the field columns in the View Data window, but you can't download the data.

In the Data Source page, hover over a table or sheet in the left pane to display the View Data icon ![The View Data icon (a simplified illustration of a table).](/tableau/next/en-us/public/desktop/en-us/Img/viewdata_icon_solo.png), and then click the icon.

![Book is selected, the View Data icon (a table) is highlighted.](/tableau/next/en-us/public/desktop/en-us/Img/viewdata_datasource.png)

The View Data window displays the data for that table.

## Customize the View Data window

All customization options are available when you open View Data in a worksheet and are used for downloaded data.

The customizations you make remain until you close the View Data window. Closing the View Data window discards all customizations.

**Note**: For the Data Source page, sorting and moving fields are the only options available for View Data.

<table class="table--plain">
                    <colgroup><col style="width: 20%;">
                    <col style="width: 40%;">
                    <col style="width: 40%;">
                    </colgroup><thead>
                        <tr>
                            <th>Option</th>
                            <th>How</th>
                            <th>Where</th>
                        </tr>
                    </thead>
                    <tbody>
                        <tr>
                            <td>
                                <p><b>Show or hide field columns</b>
                                </p>
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <p>Click <span class="uicontrol">Show Fields</span> and check or uncheck a field name. To show all fields, select <span class="uicontrol">(All)</span>.</p>
                                <p>Fields are added to the right of the currently displayed fields.</p>
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <p>
                                    <img src="https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/public/desktop/en-us/Img/viewdata_showfields.png" alt="The Show Fields button is selected, and values are listed. Some fields are checked.">
                                </p>
                            </td>
                        </tr>
                        <tr>
                            <td>
                                <p><b>Move field columns</b>
                                </p>
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <p>Select one or more field columns and then click the right or left arrows at the top of the window. Or, select the drop-down menu and click <span class="uicontrol">Move Right</span> and <span class="uicontrol">Move Left</span>.</p>
                                <p class="note"><b>Tip</b>:&nbsp;To group nonadjacent columns together, press Ctrl while selecting the columns, and then move the selected columns to the left or right.</p>
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <p>
                                    <img src="https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/public/desktop/en-us/Img/viewdata_move.png" alt="A table column is selected. A drop-down menu arrow is highlighted, and icons for moving columns are highlighted. There is also a text menu with options for moving columns.">
                                </p>
                            </td>
                        </tr>
                        <tr>
                            <td>
                                <p><b>Remove field columns</b>
                                </p>
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <p>Select a field column and then select <span class="uicontrol">Remove</span> from the drop-down menu. Or, click <span class="uicontrol">Show Fields</span> and uncheck the field to remove its column.</p>
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <p>
                                    <img src="https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/public/desktop/en-us/Img/viewdata_remove.png" alt="A column is selected, and the drop-down menu is highlighted. The option to Remove is highlighted.">
                                </p>
                            </td>
                        </tr>
                        <tr>
                            <td>
                                <p><b>Sort data</b>
                                </p>
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <p>Hover near the top of a column to display the Sort button. Click the Sort button to change the sort.</p>
                                <p>Optionally, click the drop-down menu and select <span class="uicontrol">Sort Ascending</span> or <span class="uicontrol">Sort Descending</span></p>
                                <p class="note"><b>Note</b>: Customized sort results aren't included in downloaded data.</p>
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <p>
                                    <img src="https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/public/desktop/en-us/Img/viewdata_sort.png" alt="A table is shown with author data. At the top of the Author Birthday column, the sort icon is highlighted.">
                                </p>
                            </td>
                        </tr>
                        <tr>
                            <td>
                                <p><b>Edit the maximum number of rows displayed</b>
                                </p>
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <p>By default, the View Data window displays up to the first 10,000 rows of data in <span class="mc-variable Variables.TabsProductDesktop variable">Tableau Desktop</span> and up to the first 200 rows of data in Tableau Cloud and Tableau Server. </p>
                                <p>You can increase or decrease the maximum number of rows displayed in the View Data window. This setting has no effect on the number of rows exported when you click the <span class="uicontrol">Download</span> button.</p>
                                <p>Click in the number of rows field to edit it. Click the arrow button or press Enter on your keyboard to apply the change.</p>
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <p>
                                    <img src="https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/public/desktop/en-us/Img/viewdata_numrows.png" alt="The field for editing the maximum number of rows shows a value of 12,000.">
                                </p>
                            </td>
                        </tr>
                        <tr>
                            <td>
                                <p><b>Show aliases</b>
                                </p>
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <p>Click the <span class="uicontrol">Settings</span> button to show or hide aliases for all field names.</p>
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <p>
                                    <img src="https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/public/desktop/en-us/Img/viewdata_aliases.png" alt="A cursor hovers over a settings gear icon. Show Aliases is checked.">
                                </p>
                            </td>
                        </tr>
                    </tbody>
                </table>

## Download data from the View Data window

To export all of the data for the selected tab, click the Download button in the upper right corner of the window.

The data is exported to a CSV file using the current configuration as the View Data window and isn't limited to the number of rows currently displayed in the View Data window.

Null values are downloaded as empty strings. Customized sort results aren't included in downloaded data.

![View Data for Bookshop is displayed. The Download button is highlighted.](/tableau/next/en-us/public/desktop/en-us/Img/viewdata_download_all.png)

> [!TIP]
> 
> If you are a workbook author and want to ensure your audience can’t copy or download the underlying data, consider [turning off the command buttons in the tooltips](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/view_parts.htm#disable-tooltip-commands) or denying workbook [permissions](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/permissions.htm#capabilities) to download the summary or full data.

### Configure download settings

If you need to configure the settings in the downloaded data, click the gear icon next to the download button. In the drop-down menu, you can choose whether or not to show aliases, what the list separator should be, and what encoding to use.

![the download settings menu with sections for aliases, list separators, and encoding](/tableau/next/en-us/public/desktop/en-us/Img/viewdata_download_settings.png)

**Aliases**

Checking Show Aliases will download the values from the viz rather than the underlying data. Clearing this option will retain the values in the original data and the results may differ from what is seen in the viz.

For more information, see [Create Aliases to Rename Members in the View](https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/public/desktop/en-us/datafields_fieldproperties_aliases_ex1editing.htm).

**List Separator for Download**

The list separator, also known as a delimiter, separates values belonging to different fields. If the data contains the list separator character, that string is put in quotation marks. For example,

TH143, "Elephant House, The", nonfiction, Palimpsest Printing, "Spanogle, John W.", hardcover

Options for list separators for the download include comma (`,`) , semicolon (`;`) , space ( ), tab (`⇥`), and vertical bar or pipe(`|`) .

What list separator is the default depends on the locale and computer settings. While commas are the most common, some operating systems use tab as the default list separator. And in German, for example, commas are used as the decimal separator so the download uses a semi-colon as the list separator.

For information on language and locale settings, see the resources below:

- Tableau Desktop: [Language and Locale](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/workbook_language.htm#set-a-locale)
- Tableau Cloud: [Change language and locale](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/useracct.htm#change-language-and-locale)
- Tableau Server: [Language and Locale](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/lang_intro.htm)

**Encoding**

The unicode encoding defines how characters are written to the file. Tableau exports to UTF-8 and UTF-16LE (little endian).

### Copy data from the View Data window

You can copy portions of the data from the View Data window for use in a spreadsheet or another Tableau workbook (really, anywhere you can paste text). Null values are copied as empty strings.

- Select cells of interest and press Ctrl+C (Windows) or Command+C (Mac), and then paste the data into a spreadsheet, another Tableau workbook, or another destination of your choice.

**Note**: If you want to download all of the values in the underlying data, click the Download button. Selecting and copying a column copies only values that are currently loaded in the View Data window and might not include all of the values in the underlying data.

## Why can’t I see the View Data icon? 

If you can't find the View Data icon for a mark, check that tooltips and tooltip menu command buttons are turned on. Specifically, the Show tooltips and Include command buttons options must be selected for tooltips in the viz for the View Data button to be available in a tooltip. Alternatively, right click a mark and select View Data from the drop-down menu. This method works when tooltips or command buttons aren’t enabled.

There are several reasons why the View Data icon for a mark might not be displayed in a published viz:

- Tooltips aren't enabled.
- Tooltip command buttons have been turned off.
- You might not have the necessary permissions to view data.