Snowflake Snowsight : A Hype or a real deal ?
By: Rajiv Gupta
Tags: Snowboarding, Guides And Tutorials, Snowflake, Snowsight, Snow

Snowsight, the SQL Worksheets replacement, is designed to support data analyst activities. Snowsight is available in the new Snowflake web interface. This is still in preview.

SQL Worksheets Vs Snowsight

SQL Worksheets is tightly integrated in Snowflake Web UI. It's a text editor and execution environment for Snowflake DML and DDL queries. The screenshot below is Worksheets in the classic console.

Individual worksheets are separated like tabs in a web browser. In the top center, there is the SQL query editor and below is a result's pane. On the left-hand side, there’s an Object viewer. Top right of the text editor contains options for switching context (i.e. Database, Role, Warehouse, Schema).

Snowsight is a visually enhanced version of the Snowflake worksheet classic console with quick charts. To open Snowsight we have to click on “Preview App” from ribbon menu role as shown below.

Snowsight Orientation(Source Snowflake)

Perform actions on the open worksheet:

Move the worksheet to a new or existing folder or dashboard.

Duplicate the worksheet.

Apply standard SQL formatting to the query in the worksheet.

Delete the worksheet.

In addition, you can open a dialog that shows supported keyboard shortcuts.

2. Choose the session context (i.e. the current role, warehouse, and database for the user session).

3. Write and edit queries in the query editor.

4. Switch between activities: explore query results, create charts, and browse the schema.

5. Create a new worksheet, share the current worksheet, or execute queries in the current worksheet.

6. Open a previous version of the worksheet.

Demo

Snowsight Vs BI Tools (Source: Snowflake)

When to use Snowsight?

Data Validation while in course of loading Explorative queries for those comfortable with SQL. Quick charts to share and explore as a team.

When to use BI Tool?

Institutional reporting, Business user exploration, Complex Dashboard, Embedded BI application.

Snowsight Schema Metadata Refresh

Schema metadata in Snowsight is refreshed automatically every 24 hours. If you create a new table or insert data into a table or create any object in a database, the schema browser does not get metadata refresh immediately. To manually refresh the metadata of a schema, click … (options) » Refresh schema in the schema browser. Snowsight quickly refreshes the metadata so that the new object is listed and searchable.

Resizing or Suspending Virtual Warehouses

In Snowsight, we have the ability to directly resize, suspend and modify the scaling policy for warehouse right from Snowsight UI.

SQL Smart Auto-Completion

One of the most attractive features of Snowsight compared to the classic Worksheet is that it supports context-sensitive auto-completion.

Custom Filters

An account administrator (i.e. a user with the ACCOUNTADMIN role) must grant each role, including the ACCOUNTADMIN role itself, the ability to create custom filters.

How to add new custom filter?

Admin » Settings » Filter.

How to use filter in query?

Data Visualization via Charts

Snowsight support quick charts that help create dashboard. You can also share the dashboard with your peers.

Conclusion

I think that the dashboards are pretty handy and cool. In combination with a strong knowledge of SQL and domain expertise, a user can get a lot of insight without having to involve external BI visualization tools.

Additionally, you can share your dashboards with colleagues. Warehouse resizing, Smart auto complete, Custom filter are some of very nice enhancement on top of custom worksheet make Snowsight a good deal.

Hope this blog help you to get insight on Snow Sight. Feel free to ask a question in the comment section if you have any doubts regarding this. Give a clap if you like the blog. Stay connected to see many more such cool stuff. Thanks for your support.

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