Understanding the Data Model

Hydrant separates your data into two layers: Datasets and Selections.

Datasets (Root Data)

A Dataset is the raw, immutable source data. It is the original table of rows and columns -- imported from a CSV, API, or created manually. A dataset contains all your data as-is, without any filtering, coloring, or mapping applied. Think of it as the single source of truth.

Key characteristics:

• Contains the full, unmodified data (all rows, all columns)
• Has a detected schema (column names, types, sample values)
• Can be public (curated, available to all users) or private (workspace-specific)
• Can be reused across many selections and scenes
• Editing a dataset does not affect scenes directly -- scenes consume selections, not datasets

Selections (Prepared Data)

A Selection is a prepared view of a dataset, configured for use in a specific visualization. It takes the root dataset and applies slicing, filtering, column mapping, row selection, coloring, sorting, and geo mapping to produce the exact data a scene needs.

Key characteristics:

• Always references a parent dataset (the root data source)
• Defines which rows are included (row selection, slicing, regional filtering)
• Defines which columns map to which visualization roles (category, value, group, label, geo ID)
• Defines how rows are colored (categorical scheme, color range, or manual per-row colors)
• Defines sorting and grouping order
• Defines geo mapping (country column, admin level, focus region) for geographic scenes
• Multiple selections can be created from the same dataset, each with different configurations
• A scene can link to one or more selections (multi-dataset support)

Example Workflow

1. Import a dataset containing GDP data for 200 countries across 10 years
2. Create Selection A: Slice by year = 2024, select top 20 countries, map "Country" to category and "GDP" to value, apply a blue color gradient
3. Create Selection B: Slice by year = 2020, same 20 countries, red color gradient
4. Link both selections to a scene for a side-by-side comparison

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Datasets Page

The Datasets page lists all available datasets in your workspace and provides access to public datasets.

What You See

• Search and Filters - Search datasets by name and filter by data type (paid plans only)
• Workspace Datasets - Your private datasets uploaded or created within the workspace (paid plans only)
• Public Datasets - Curated public datasets available to all users
• Intro Hint - An information box explaining the relationship between datasets and selections

Actions

Note: Free plan users can browse and use public datasets but cannot create custom datasets.

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Dataset Detail Page

The Dataset Detail page shows comprehensive information about a single dataset, whether public or private.

Header

• Dataset name with data type and public/private badge
• Back button to return to the datasets list
• Action buttons: Edit, Download, Delete (availability depends on permissions)

Statistics Cards

• Rows - Total number of data rows
• Columns - Number of columns in the schema
• Credibility - Data credibility rating
• File Size - Size of the dataset

Tabs

Permissions

• Dataset owner, workspace owner, and admins can edit dataset name and metadata, configure default mappings, and delete the dataset
• All workspace members can view and download datasets

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Selection Editor

The Selection Editor is where you configure how a dataset's root data is prepared for a visualization scene. Every setting here creates the bridge between raw data and the 3D scene.

Selection Name

The selection name is editable via an inline edit button. Click Save in the breadcrumb header to persist all changes.

Data Slicer

Filter the root dataset down to the rows you need:

Regional Filter

For geographic datasets, configure region-level filtering:

Color Scheme

Define how each data point is colored in the visualization:

• Categorical - Automatically assigns distinct colors to each category
• Color Range - Creates a gradient between two colors based on data values (low to high)
• Manual - Set colors for individual data points one by one

Mapping Table

The unified mapping table connects dataset columns to visualization roles and lets you control which rows appear:

• Category (X-axis) - The label/name for each data point (e.g., country name)
• Value (Y-axis) - The numeric value to visualize (e.g., GDP)
• Group (Z-axis) - Optional grouping column for multi-series data
• Label - Column used for custom label text
• Geo ID - Column containing geographic identifiers (geo scenes only)