Key Terms¶

Here’s a list of key terms used in the Modelshop Platform.

Data¶

Import Wizard¶

The import wizard is how you import data into Modelshop. You can import data using a file, database, or web service. Once you import data, it becomes a datalist.

Data Connectors¶

Data connectors are your data sources. Data and calculations are separate, but together in Modelshop. You can refresh or reset your data without impacting your calculations. This also gives you the capability to add new data (say, you have new data from this quarter that you’d like to analyze) without having to rebuild your calculations.

Datalist¶

Datalists are tabular data structures that consists of rows (records) and columns (fields). Datalist fields can be raw data, calculated values, or links to other Datalist records. Additionally, Datalist fields can be arrays.

Data Types¶

Text: A string of characters not meant to represent a numerical value. Common examples are words, sentences, and phrases. The text data type can include alphabetic, numeric and special characters.

Integer: A whole number, including 0 and negative numbers. Integers cannot include fractions or decimals. Integers are often used to represent numbers that cannot have fractional values, like counts.

Floats and Decimals: A number that can have fractional values. Floats can also contain 0 and negative numbers.

Boolean: A value containing only true or false.

Date: A calendar date values. Hypothetically, dates could be stored as strings, however, the Date data type is preferable because it allows programmatic access to dates, including the day of the week, year, and to perform calculations between dates easily and efficiently. See more about handling dates, here.

Datetime: Similar with the Date Data Type, with the addition of a timestamp including hour, minute and second information.

Currency: Similar to a float, made to properly manage the specifics of currencies.

Datalist View¶

Views are persistent filters that can be applied to Datalists. Options include hiding certain fields, filtering records, grouping records, field formatting and masking. Additionally, permissions can be granted on a per view basis, for fine tuned security controls. Finally, each view becomes an independent API endpoint, which adheres to any options that have been applied for highly customized APIs.

CSV¶

Stands for Comma Separated Values and is a type of datafile where the values are delimited by commas

TSV¶

Stands for Tab Separated Values and is a type of datafile where the values are delimited by tabs

TXT¶

A standard text file containing data that can be delimited by a variety of characters. In order to import data from a TXT file, the delimiter must be provided.

XLS¶

An Excel spreadsheet file. Excel files can also come as XLSM, XLSX, and XLSB.

Library¶

A collection of functions and methods that help manipulate or perform calculations on your data

Method¶

A function that performs a manipulation or calculation on your data.

Record¶

An individual data point in a datalist with all of the fields that correspond to it. In practice, these are the rows of your datalist

Source File¶

The file that is imported into modelshop that contains all of the raw data for your model

Data Detail¶

The tab on the right side of every view that provides information on the type and status of the data in the view

Delimiter Token¶

A character in a datafile that separates the fields of the data. In practice, it signifies where columns are separated in files that don’t have columns built into them.

Calculations¶

Field¶

Each column header in a datalist represents a field. Fields are where you place your calculations. Calculations can reference any other fields, from any datalists, and can use standard algebra or any of our preset expressions.

Field Editor¶

The field editor is where you add calculations. You can open the field editor by editing an existing field or by creating a new field. There are preset expressions in the field editor. You can choose from the dropdown menu for fields, methods, queries, functions, logic, and operators. You can also start typing and recommendations will pop up. Alternatively, you can use Java syntax in the field editor if that’s your preference.

Link¶

Links join data that have common fields. Similar to a “vlookup”, links help define relationships and query data that meets a specific criteria. Unlike a standard query though, you can link fields from all data sources and formats. Linking data automatically produces a new field that you can build calculations on top of. Using a link in a calculation gives you the power to reference an entire data set in a single cell. In each datalist, all linked data becomes a hyperlink. If you click on the hyperlink, you’re brought to the canvas where the two fields are highlighted. This helps you quickly identify which fields are connected. Unlike spreadsheets, there’s no limit on how many links or dimensions you can create in a model.

Link Wizard¶

The link wizard is where you join data together. The link wizard suggests links. You can also manually pick which datalists and fields you would like to link. The link wizard can be found in the top navigation or canvas.

Backlink¶

A link from target to source datalist.

Target Datalist¶

The datalist in a link which is the endpoint of the link and where the source datalist is linked to.

Source Datalist¶

The datalist in a link from which the link originates and is linked to the target datalist.

Dependencies¶

Dependencies are how calculations relate to each other. They can be viewed on the canvas.

Pivot¶

Pivots are summary tables. Select fields to represent your facts (x axis) and dimensions (y axis). You can also filter your pivot by specific variables. Unlike spreadsheets, once you build a Pivot, each field on the Pivot table becomes a new variable that can be used in new calculations. It also empowers you to

Rule¶

A rule is a custom expression, that when triggered perform a defined action, such as prompting an alert or making a change to the model.

Rulebase¶

A Rulebase is a collection of rules.

Rule Code¶

The short name for a rule that allows it to be easily located, monitored and used.

Rule Class¶

The classification of a rule that allows rules to be grouped together and collectively analysed.

Trigger¶

The part of a rule that signifies when the rule will fire. Usually a boolean value.

Action¶

The action that a rule will take when triggered.

Analytic¶

An analytic is how you train and optimize your model using an out-of-the-box machine learning algorithms. You can select “add analytic” in the navigation or canvas. You can also reference an analytic in the field editor.

Global variable¶

A variable that is accessible and usable anywhere in the model

Local variable¶

A variable that is only accessible and usable within the scope of the function or datalist in which it is located.

Null¶

A ‘value’ that represents the absence of data or an appropriate result.

Aggregate¶

The process of combining multiple values into a single value through a calculation (sum, average, minimum, etc.)

Array¶

A list of values of a certain type separated by commas and contained between square brackets.

Query¶

A request for information from a database

Operator¶

A character or symbol that performs an action (or operation) on a value or values. These can be mathematical, relational, or logical.

Report¶

Chart¶

Charts are a visual representation of your data and calculations.

Dashboard¶

Dashboards are reports that you can use to help track and measure your business goals. You can create unlimited dashboards with custom charts. You can share dashboards with both internal and external collaborators, even those who do not have a Modelshop account.

Deploy¶

Launch or release the most recent version of your model for use.

Import¶

The process of bringing data from an external source into a program, specifically Modelshop

Export¶

Export your model by downloading it into a zip file or exporting to a specific folder on your computer. You can chose to export the model in full, just the configuration, or the structure.

Histogram¶

A type of chart showing data density across various ranges of the data

Dimension¶

The independent variable or field that you want to draw conclusions about in a cube, pivot table, or chart.

Fact¶

A dependent variable or field that you want to use in order to draw conclusions about another variable in a cube, pivot table, or chart.

Crosstab¶

A table showing the relationship between two or more variables

Cube¶

A summarized version of your data in Modelshop that is used to create graphs and pivot tables.

Manage your Model¶

Canvas¶

The canvas is a live graphical representation of your model. It is a drag and drop interface where you can import data, add calculations, create links, add predictive analytics, create charts, and publish your model. It’s a step-by-step guide of how to build a model.

Administration¶

Invite team members to create their own Modelshop accounts. You can set access to specific models and data sources depending on your business needs.

Modelshop APIs¶

The Modelshop API is a rest API that can be used for both importing data into the Modelshop platform and exporting your results, in real-time, to an external system.

Design Mode¶

A Modelshop mode which allows you to edit the raw data in your model and create new views, charts, and tables.

Technical Terms¶

JSON¶

Stands for JavaScript Object Notation. It is a standard text-based format for representing structured data based on JavaScript object syntax. More information can be found here.

Groovy¶

A scripting language with Java-like syntax for the Java platform. The Groovy scripting language simplifies the authoring of code by employing dot-separated notation, yet still supporting syntax to manipulate collections, Strings, and JavaBeans. (From official Oracle documentation)

H2O¶

An open source machine learning platform that supports dozens of useful machine learning algorithms. More information can be found here.