**Source URL:** https://general.veevavault.dev/vault-toolbox/browser-extension/guides/data-navigator.md

# Using the Data Navigator

Vault Toolbox includes a Data Navigator that allows you to thoroughly examine an object record's metadata.

This guide explains how to use Data Navigator to retrieve object record metadata from your Vault.

<ThemeImage srcLight="/images/toolbox/browser-extension/vault_toolbox_data_navigator_light.png" srcDark="/images/toolbox/browser-extension/vault_toolbox_data_navigator_dark.png" alt="Vault Toolbox Data Navigator"></ThemeImage>

## Viewing Object Record Metadata {#viewing-object-record-metadata}

You can use Data Navigator to view information about an object record, including the field names, their API names, and values. You can only view metadata for object records your user account has access to in the Vault UI.

To view an object record's metadata:

<Steps>
1. In the search bar, enter a record's ID, the URL of the record in Vault, or the record ID in the format `{object_name}:{record_id}`. Click the <Icon name="ph:info"></Icon> icon next to the search bar to view examples of the supported input formats.

2. Click **Get Data**.

3. Optional: Repeat Steps 1-2 for each record you'd like to retrieve metadata for. Data Navigator can display up to 10 object record tabs.

</Steps>
Data Navigator displays each object record's metadata in its own tab, including the *Label*, *Name*, *Data Type*, and *Value* columns.

### Viewing Records in Vault {#viewing-records-in-vault}

Hover over a record tab to view the *Object* name and the *Record* name. Click **Open in Vault** (<Icon name="ph:arrow-square-out"></Icon>) to open the record in a new tab.

<ThemeImage srcLight="/images/toolbox/browser-extension/vault_toolbox_open_in_vault_light.png" srcDark="/images/toolbox/browser-extension/vault_toolbox_open_in_vault_dark.png" alt="Vault Toolbox Data Navigator Open in Vault"></ThemeImage>
Within the *Value* column, object reference fields are distinguished by an orange hyperlink next to the referenced record's ID in parentheses within the. Click the hyperlink to open the referenced record in a new tab.

### Viewing Fields in Vault {#viewing-fields-in-vault}

When hovering over any field in the record view, an **Actions** menu (<Icon name="ph:dots-three"></Icon>) appears. From the **Actions** menu (<Icon name="ph:dots-three"></Icon>), select **Open Field in Vault Admin UI** (<Icon name="ph:gear"></Icon>) to view the field's configuration in your Vault.

### Viewing Component MDL {#viewing-component-mdl}

When hovering over object lifecycle or picklist fields in the record view, an **Actions** menu (<Icon name="ph:dots-three"></Icon>) appears. From the **Actions** menu (<Icon name="ph:dots-three"></Icon>), select **View Component MDL** (<Icon name="ph:codesandbox-logo"></Icon>) to see that component's MDL. Within the dialog, click **Edit in Component Editor** (<Icon name="ph:pencil"></Icon>) to navigate to the [Component Editor](/vault-toolbox/browser-extension/guides/component-editor) in Vault Toolbox, or click <Icon name="ph:x"></Icon> to close the dialog.

<Aside type="tip">If the **Actions** menu (<Icon name="ph:dots-three"></Icon>) is absent, you can enable the **Show Admin UI Links** setting from **Settings > Tools > Data Navigator**.</Aside>

## Searching, Sorting, & Filtering Fields {#searching-sorting--filtering-fields}

From the *Label*, *Name*, and *Value* columns, you can search for specific words. If you type within the search bar, Data Navigator updates the record view to only show fields that match. As shown in the screenshot below, if you search for "Abana" within the *Value* column, the record view shows the *Product Name* field that has the same value. Click <Icon name="ph:x"></Icon> to clear the search bar.

<ThemeImage srcLight="/images/toolbox/browser-extension/vault_toolbox_data_navigator_search_light.png" srcDark="/images/toolbox/browser-extension/vault_toolbox_data_navigator_search_dark.png" alt="Vault Toolbox Data Navigator Search"></ThemeImage>
Click on the *Label* or *Name* column to toggle between sorting fields by ascending (<Icon name="ph:arrow-circle-up"></Icon>) or descending (<Icon name="ph:arrow-circle-down"></Icon>) alphabetical order. Click the filter (<Icon name="ph:funnel"></Icon>) icon within the *Data Type* column to filter by data type.



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