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

# Data Explorer

> Paradime Data Preview: Instantly preview data changes in your dbt™ projects. Validate updates and ensure data accuracy.

export const Arcade = ({src, title}) => <div style={{
  position: 'relative',
  paddingBottom: 'calc(56.2225% + 41px)',
  height: 0,
  width: '100%'
}}>
    <iframe src={src} title={title} frameBorder="0" loading="lazy" allow="clipboard-write" allowFullScreen style={{
  position: 'absolute',
  top: 0,
  left: 0,
  width: '100%',
  height: '100%',
  colorScheme: 'light'
}} />
  </div>;

Paradime IDE's Data Explorer provides real-time data preview capabilities for your dbt™ models and SQL queries, allowing you to validate your transformations without running a full dbt™ compile.

### How It Works

Click the Data Explorer Tab in the [Command Panel](/products/code-ide/command-panel/index). Here you can:

* Preview Data (View model results)
* Download results as CSV
* Preview compiled SQL
* Preview specific SQL segments

<Arcade src="https://demo.arcade.software/hW14LmU2pQ88UZUlJ6Wo?embed&embed_mobile=tab&embed_desktop=inline&show_copy_link=true" title="Data Explorer" />

***

### Compile & preview using production state (Defer to Production)

If you enable **Defer to Production** in the IDE, Data Explorer will compile and preview your models using the **production state** (the latest `manifest.json` from the production schedule you selected).

This is useful when you want to:

* Validate changes to a downstream model **without** rebuilding all upstream models in your dev schema.
* Preview results against production-like upstream relations while still iterating in development.

<Info>
  When Defer to Production is enabled, both Data Explorer actions (**Preview Data** and **Compiled SQL**) will automatically defer to the selected production manifest/state.

  For setup requirements and deeper details on how `--defer` works, see [Using Defer to Production in Paradime](/guides/paradime-fundamentals/dbt-tm-defer-to-production) and ["Defer to Production" configuration](/products/bolt/managing-schedules/schedule-configurations#defer-to-production-configuration).
</Info>

***

### Previewing Data

1. Open any SQL file in the editor
2. Click the Data Explorer icon in the command panel
3. Optional: Change the query row limit to your desired value (anywhere between 1-1000)
4. Click "Preview Data" to see your model's results
5. Review the compiled SQL and data output
6. Optional: Download the data returned in the preview as a .csv, click "Download CSV"

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/paradime-docs/9ZsuN0wtxDqr0yUA/images/image-149.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=9ZsuN0wtxDqr0yUA&q=85&s=af082b1391fe6390f20e4092807af9f0" alt="" width="1200" height="800" data-path="images/image-149.png" />
</Frame>

<Info>
  By default, Paradime automatically adds a `LIMIT 100` to the data preview. You can change this limit anywhere between 1 - 1000 by editing the text box next to "Query Limit"
</Info>

***

### Previewing Compiled SQL

1. Click the Data Explorer icon in the [command panel](/products/code-ide/command-panel/index)
2. Click "Compiled SQL" to see your model's results
3. Review the compiled SQL to understand how your SQL, jinja, and macros unfold

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/paradime-docs/9ZsuN0wtxDqr0yUA/images/image-150.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=9ZsuN0wtxDqr0yUA&q=85&s=c5258cae279578edde1895968713d71b" alt="" width="1200" height="800" data-path="images/image-150.png" />
</Frame>

***

### Preview Specific SQL Segments

To preview only a portion of your model (like a CTE or subquery):

1. Highlight the desired SQL segment in your file
2. Click the Data Explorer icon in the command panel
3. Click "Preview Data" to see results for just that segment

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/paradime-docs/9ZsuN0wtxDqr0yUA/images/image-152.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=9ZsuN0wtxDqr0yUA&q=85&s=654e89fc4748b9ef299f08fd5170768a" alt="" width="1062" height="752" data-path="images/image-152.png" />
</Frame>

<Info>
  This is useful for testing individual CTEs or subqueries before running your entire model.
</Info>

***

### Related Resources

[**Scratchpad**](/products/code-ide/additional-features/scratchpad) - Need a space for SQL experiments? Scratchpad provides a temporary environment for testing SQL and dbt™ queries without affecting your project files. Learn more about writing and testing queries in a dedicated, persistent workspace.


## Related topics

- [Data Exploration in the Code IDE](/guides/paradime-101/getting-started-with-the-paradime-ide/data-exploration-in-the-code-ide.md)
- [Scratchpad](/products/code-ide/additional-features/scratchpad.md)
- [Command Panel](/products/code-ide/command-panel/index.md)
- [Translation of Key Terms](/guides/migrations/dbt-cloud-tm-importer/translation-of-key-terms.md)
- [Getting Started with the Paradime IDE](/guides/paradime-101/getting-started-with-the-paradime-ide/index.md)