How to Use the Editor Tool

Learn how to use the editor tool in Metabase to filter, summarize, sort, and visualize your data. This tutorial covers all the essential features, including data selection, filtering, summarizing, sorting, row limits, and viewing SQL statements.

December 9, 2025 By Jason Block

In this guide, we'll learn how to use the editor tool in Metabase to explore and analyze your data. We'll cover how to select and filter columns, summarize information, sort results, and limit the number of rows you see. You'll also learn how to preview your data and view the SQL behind your queries.

Let's get started

In this tutorial, we'll cover everything you need to know about the editor tool in Metabase.

To find the editor tool, go to your database and open a table. For example, select "All Attributes by Building." Then, click the editor in the top right corner.

Go to Metabase and select the "All Attributes by Building" table.

Step #2: Click on the Editor. — Click on the Editor.

The editor tool offers you several options. First is the Data subheading. The data comes from the selected table. In this case, "All Attributes by Building."

Step #3: Select the dropdown. Here you can choose which columns to keep. — Select the dropdown. Here you can choose which columns to keep.

Step #4: Click on the preview button. With the preview button you can view a subset of the visualization. — Click on the preview button. With the preview button you can view a subset of the visualization.

Exit the preview.

Step #5: Click the Filter button. This lets you filter through the table. — Click the Filter button. This lets you filter through the table.

In this example, we'll filter by the number of dwelling units.

Step #6: Click on "Num Dwelling Units" — Click on "Num Dwelling Units"

Let's focus on buildings that have 500 or fewer dwelling units.

Step #7: Click the dropdown. — Click the dropdown.

Step #8: Click on "Less than." — Click on "Less than."

Step #9: Input 500 and click on "Add filter." — Input 500 and click on "Add filter."

The table will now show only the buildings with fewer than 500 dwelling units. You can click on preview to view the changes.

Now, let's look at the summarize function.

Step #10: Remove the filter. — Remove the filter.

Step #11: Click on the "Summarize" button — Click on the "Summarize" button

The summarize function lets you create a summary of the data in your table. Let's summarize the total number of dwelling units.

Step #12: Click on "Sum Of," then select "Sum of Num Dwelling Units." — Click on "Sum Of," then select "Sum of Num Dwelling Units."

Step #13: Click on "Preview." You now see the total Num Dwelling Units - over 10 million! — Click on "Preview." You now see the total Num Dwelling Units - over 10 million!

You can also group the data by columns.

Step #14: Click "Pick a column to group by" and select "County Name." Now the dwelling units will be grouped by county. — Click "Pick a column to group by" and select "County Name." Now the dwelling units will be grouped by county.

Let's move on to the sort function. With the sort function, you can sort by the attribute you are interested in.

Step #15: Click "Sort" and select "County Name." — Click "Sort" and select "County Name."

It is sorted by county name.

Step #16: Preview the data. It is now sorted by county name. — Preview the data. It is now sorted by county name.

You can also limit the number of rows shown in the visualization.

Step #17: Click on "Row limit." — Click on "Row limit."

Step #18: Input a number. In this case, I put 5. — Input a number. In this case, I put 5.

Step #19: Now, we can preview it. You'll see there are only five counties total. — Now, we can preview it. You'll see there are only five counties total.

In Metabase, you can also view any relevant SQL code for the question you're asking. We'll do that next.

Step #20: Click on "View SQL." This will provide the SQL statement for your question. — Click on "View SQL." This will provide the SQL statement for your question.

And that's it! Those are the basic functions of using the Metabase Editor tool!