Automatic Updates

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Time series are all about change. dataZoa's automatic updates recognize changes and propagate them wherever appropriate.


Data

From the Web

  • When you drag-and-drop data series into dataZoa from other sites around the Web, we monitor for changes and make updates accordingly.
  • For sites with important and closely watched data release schedules, we sync up as quickly as the sites allow.
  • There are many nuances and details in the updating process, but generally speaking we check for changes everywhere at least once a day.

Uploaded

  • Despite all appearances, we do not have magic powers. When you have uploaded your own data you will need to keep it up to date by updating it or re-loading.
  • If you are officially responsible for some particular data, encourage your colleagues to follow it in dataZoa rather than making copies. No copies means no confusion.
  • Don't forget to preserve your series keys if you re-load your data. That's how your displays and calculations stay up to date.

Updated

  • When you update existing series in your account manually, the changes are fully propagated.
  • Series keys are naturally preserved.

Shared from other dataZoa accounts

  • Changes to series in your account that are shared with you, rather than owned by you, are fully propagated.

Displays

  • dataZoa displays are not static snapshots. If you embed a dataZoa display into a presentation, the presentation will show the up-to-the-moment state of things.
  • Whenever you view a dataZoa display, you are seeing the current state of the data, not a copy of how things were at the time it was created.
  • That said, dataZoa does not refresh displays that are currently on screen; the on-screen display stays put until you refresh it.
  • Make that presentation just once. As data changes, last month's presentation then automatically becomes this month's.
  • To archive a display at a particular point in time, hit the PDF button and store a snapshot.

Calculations

  • dataZoa calculations work kind of like a world-scale spreadsheet. Change a number anywhere and everything that depends on it changes downstream, automatically.
  • Dependencies can get complicated and that's AOK. dataZoa keeps track of the multiple parent/child relations for you (yes, even non-traditional situations).
  • Whenever you view a calculated series, by itself or in a dataZoa display, you are seeing the current state of the data, not a copy of how things were at the time it was created.
  • When you change a calculation that other calculations depend on, that change flows right through as well.