Data Explorer performs basic statistical analysis on a set of tables, or on selected columns from tables, in one or more databases. It stores results from simplified versions of these types of Descriptive Statistics analysis:
| Analysis Type | Allowed Input Table Column Type |
|---|---|
| Values | Any supported data type. Displayed values vary with column data type. |
| Statistics | Any numeric type, including date types. |
| Histogram | Any numeric type, including date types. |
| Frequency | Single BYTE column or one or more columns or any other data type. |
You specify the types of analysis for which you want Data Explorer to create output tables, by specifying names for the output tables. These rules apply:
- With Frequency, you must also specify Values.
- With Histogram, you must also specify Values and Statistics (which includes Count, Minimum, Maximum, Mean, and Standard Deviation).
Each output table includes the specified database, table, and column names. Results from multiple tables appear in each output table.
Data Explorer includes intelligence about which functions to perform on which columns, basing decisions on column type and obtained results. Performance enhancements in the generated SQL help minimize passes through the data.
Data Explorer creates the specified output tables and then applies the steps described in the following topics.