The Analytics Data Source and SuiteAnalytics Workbook
For every NetSuite account, all data is stored using a single database. The data sources used to expose this data through Saved Searches and Reports however, are slightly unique. For some record types, these unique data sources have resulted in inconsistent field naming and data exposure between the two tools.
In SuiteAnalytics Workbook, fields and record types are exposed using a new analytics data source that is designed to display consistent data across the Workbook application. Fields created in support of new NetSuite features are exposed to Workbook using the analytics data source, as of 2019.1.
The location, names, and IDs of some fields and record types might be different in the analytics data source. Additionally, some record types and fields have not been ported to the analytics data source. This includes fields that contain calculated values for certain record types. Consequently, you might need to use different record types and fields, or create new joins and custom formula fields to recreate your existing saved searches using Workbook.
To help you learn about the analytics data source, see the following topics:
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You can use the Records Catalog to see the fields and joins available for each record type. The Records Catalog displays also information such as the cardinality, field level help, and so on. Due to Records Catalog's reliance on the NetSuite role-based permissions, you can see only the record types for the data that you can access in the NetSuite user interface. The Records Catalog is supported for the SuiteScript Analytic API and the REST Query API only. Therefore, the record types available in the Records Catalog and the dataset user interface may differ slightly. For more information, see SuiteScript 2.x Analytic APIs.
Note:The Records Catalog is available for all users that have the Records Catalog permission assigned to their role. For more information, see Records Catalog Overview.
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The analytics data source supports hundreds of record types and fields. For more information about the record types and fields that you can find in Workbook, see Available Record Types.
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The location and names of some fields in the analytics data source might be different from their Search and Report counterparts. Additionally, some fields such as fields with calculated values have not yet been ported to the analytics data source. For more information about differences in the new data source, see Analytics Data Source Changes.
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After you select a root record type for a custom dataset or open a saved or shared dataset, all related record types that you have access to are displayed in the Records list. For more information about using the Dataset Builder to select and join related record types, see Defining a Dataset.
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Workbook supports multilevel joins, however there are certain functions and interactions that you should be cautious of when adding specific record types or fields to a dataset. For more information, see Guidelines for Joining Record Types in SuiteAnalytics Workbook.
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You can link datasets in a workbook even if they are based on record types that do have a predefined relationship in the analytics data source. For more information, see <Linking Datasets in a Workbook>.