Saving an analysis

You can save new or updated analyses to the library using any client. Files in the library can also be opened by your colleagues who run the Spotfire web client. When you are using the installed client, you can also save an analysis file as a local DXP file. All visualizations, filter settings, and other work you have done are saved in the analysis.

About this task

If the analysis is intended to be used by a large number of people, you can save it as a library item to allow access and make sure that any linked data sources are available to all users. Review the section Creating analyses for others before you save your analysis to the library. If the analysis will be used by a small number of people, you could instead save it locally as a regular file using the installed client.

You can define all data loading settings in the data canvas before saving the analysis to make the save procedure quicker.

Tip: You might also want to specify key columns that uniquely identify all rows in the data table before saving the analysis. This is important if you want to reapply any specified tags when reopening the analysis file, or if you want to reapply markings in unaggregated visualizations (including markings in bookmarks).

If you want to save updates to the last saved version of an already saved analysis, select File > Save on the menu bar.

To save an analysis for the first time to the library, or with a different name, or at a new location, follow the procedure below.

Note: Files saved in the library cannot be opened if you are working offline (without a connection to a server).

Procedure

Before saving the file, you might want to review the Document Properties (installed client only), in particular the Library tab, to make sure all settings are the way you want them.
On the menu bar, select File > Save as > Library item.
The Files and data flyout is opened.
Navigate to the folder where you want to save the analysis file.

Tip: To review or change the permissions for a folder before saving your analysis, right-click the folder of interest and select View details. Scroll to the section named Folder permissions, and click Edit if you need to change the current permissions.
Specify a Name for the analysis file.
The name can be 256 characters at most, and the following characters are not supported: \ / : * ? " < > |
Optionally, click Edit description and keywords to show two additional input fields, where you can enter a description or add keywords specific to the contents of the analysis. Keywords are used to enhance organization and search capabilities.

The image below shows the name of an analysis together with a description and some keywords.
Read the information in the blue section at the bottom of the flyout.
It is a summary of what the implications will be to other users of the analysis if you save the analysis with the current data loading settings.
If you want to see a detailed view of the current data loading settings or edit them, click Review settings.
Depending on whether you want data to be updated from a linked source each time you open the analysis, or, whether you want to store a fixed version of the data in the analysis, you might want to change the data loading settings for a data table or a part of a data table. See Load methods for more information.
In the Data loading settings dialog, review the settings for all data tables in your analysis, and make changes if needed.
You can click the plus or minus sign for a data table to expand or collapse the data table and show or hide details about the various sources that were used to build the data table. Click on the drop-down list to change the data loading setting for a particular source.
Tip: If you want as much data as possible to be stored in the analysis, use the Change all applicable data sources to drop-down list and select Stored data.

If the final data table is embedded, then you will not be able to change any data loading settings for specific sources.
Click OK.
Click Save.

Results

The analysis file is saved to the library.

See File compatibility for some information about which saved versions you can open in your current version of Spotfire.

Tip: In the web client, it is possible to save your analysis locally by selecting File > Download as DXP file.

Note: An administrator can change the default data loading settings for file data sources, using preference settings. The preference settings are reached from the installed client, in the Administration Manager, Preferences tab, under Application > DataImportPreferences. The administrator can also change the preference default for embedded data or force embedding of data when saving to library, under LibraryPreferences. If the final data table is embedded, then you will not be able to change any data loading settings for specific sources.

It is possible to specify whether or not a preview image for the analysis should be shown when browsing for analyses in the library. This is done from File > Document properties, on the Library tab, or the Edit Properties dialog (installed client only). Specify your choice under Select preview image:

Automatically - sets the preview image to a snapshot of the active page when saving the analysis to the library.
Manually - allows you to manually select a previously saved image.
(No preview) - use this option to prevent any preview image from being shown in the library.

Note that if Select preview image has been set to Automatically and the analysis has not yet been saved to the library, then no preview will be visible under Current preview image. However, once saved to the library the active page when saving will be used as a preview image.