Help:Drilldown
Cargo is an extension for MediaWiki that allows for structured storage and querying of data from wiki pages. One of its powerful features is the Drilldown page, which provides an interactive way for users to filter and browse through the data stored in Cargo tables.
Cargo's Special:Drilldown provides a powerful, user-friendly way to interact with data stored within MediaWiki. Whether for simple data browsing or complex data analysis, it's an invaluable tool for wikis managing structured data.
What is Special:Drilldown?
Special:Drilldown is a special page in MediaWiki that leverages Cargo data to offer a user-friendly interface for data exploration. It allows users to:
- Filter data by various parameters or attributes stored in Cargo tables.
- Drill down through data categories to find specific information.
- Combine multiple filters to narrow down results.
Features of Cargo Drilldown
Interactive Filtering
Users can select from dropdown menus, checkboxes, or even type in text to filter data. The filters correspond to the fields defined in Cargo tables. For instance:
- Date Range Filters: If a field is of type 'Date', users can filter by a date range.
- Numeric Range: For numerical data, sliders or input boxes might allow for range selection.
- Text Search: Autocomplete or substring matching for text fields.
Cargo can manage hierarchical or relational data, allowing for:
- Drilling down through categories or related subcategories.
- Linking between tables, where one table's data can influence filters in another.
Customization
- User Permissions: By default, everyone can access Special:Drilldown, but permissions can be configured to limit access.
- Custom Filters: Admins can define custom filters or modify existing ones to fit specific needs.
- Integration with Other Extensions: Cargo drilldown can work alongside other extensions like Semantic MediaWiki or CategoryTree for enhanced functionality.
Using Special:Drilldown
To use Special:Drilldown:
- Navigate to the Special:Drilldown page.
- Select a table you're interested in from the list provided.
- Use the available filters to narrow down the data according to your needs.
- Results will update dynamically as filters are applied or changed.
Setup and Configuration
- Installation: Cargo needs to be installed and configured. Installation Instructions are available on MediaWiki.org.
- Defining Tables: You must define your data structure using Cargo templates or directly in page content. Storing Data with Cargo explains how.
- Permissions: Adjust the `runcargoqueries` permission if you need to control who can use drilldown features.
Limitations
- Performance can be an issue with very large datasets or complex queries.
- The UI might not be as customizable as some users would like without additional CSS/JavaScript.
- Drilldown capabilities depend on how well data is structured in Cargo tables.
Further Reading
- Other Features of Cargo * Explore more capabilities of the Cargo extension.
- Semantic Drilldown * For those interested in semantic web approaches.