> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.getnovaplan.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Data Explorer

> Build pivot tables over your financial data, or ask Nova to build them for you.

Data Explorer is a pivot-table builder over your planning and actuals data. Drag dimensions into rows and columns, pick measures, filter to the slice you care about, and export with typed numbers that still sum.

<Card title="Watch the demo" icon="circle-play" href="https://getnovaplan.com/demos">
  See Data Explorer in the reporting walkthrough.
</Card>

## Building a Pivot

<Steps>
  <Step title="Choose row and column dimensions">
    Drag any dimension into rows or columns: department, account, entity, product, channel, region, or period.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Pick a measure">
    Choose what to total in each cell (for example ARR, recognized revenue, or actual amount) and the aggregation.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Filter">
    Narrow to the slice you want, by any dimension, so the pivot shows only the rows in scope.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Export">
    Send the pivot to Excel. Numeric cells export as typed numbers with format masks, so a finance user can SUM and PivotTable them.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## The Pieces

| Piece       | What it does                                                                          |
| ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Dimension   | A grouping axis you place in rows or columns (department, account, period, and so on) |
| Measure     | The number summed in each cell (an amount, a count, a metric)                         |
| Aggregation | How a measure rolls up across the rows under a cell                                   |
| Filter      | A scope condition that narrows which rows feed the pivot                              |
| Totals      | Row and column subtotals that roll up their children once                             |

## Ask Nova

Describe the view you want in plain language ("ARR by segment and quarter for the last year") and Nova builds the pivot for you. Refine it conversationally from there ("now split by region" or "filter to enterprise").

## Common Questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="My exported numbers came out as text. Why?">
    Default the export to Excel (xlsx), not CSV. CSV is text only, so Excel imports currency as text and you lose SUM. The xlsx export writes typed numbers with format masks.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="A measure total looks too high. What happened?">
    If the underlying data includes subtotal rows, summing a measure over them can over-count. Confirm the measure aggregates leaf rows, not roll-up rows.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I pivot across both planning and actuals?">
    Yes. Data Explorer covers both universes, so you can build a view that compares planned and actual figures on the same dimensions.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do I save a view I will reuse?">
    Once a pivot is right, carry it into a [Report](/reporting/report-builder) so it refreshes against current data each cycle instead of being rebuilt by hand.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## If the Numbers Look Off

* A dimension that shows blank values usually is not populated on that universe's rows, not a bug in the pivot.
* If a total disagrees with the [Comparison Center](/reporting/comparison-center), check the filter scope first, since a hidden filter is the common cause.

<Tip>
  For a fixed, recurring layout rather than ad-hoc exploration, build it once in [Report Builder](/reporting/report-builder) and regenerate it each period.
</Tip>