Lineage Visualization

FlowScope visualizes SQL lineage as an interactive graph. This guide explains how to read the graph, understand different node types, and navigate complex lineage structures.

Graph Overview

The lineage graph shows data flow from left to right:

• Source tables appear on the left
• Intermediate transformations (CTEs, subqueries) in the middle
• Target tables or output on the right
• Edges connect nodes showing data flow direction

View Modes

FlowScope offers multiple view modes for different analysis needs:

Table-Level View

Shows relationships between tables without column details. Best for:

• Understanding high-level data flow
• Viewing large queries with many tables
• Quick impact analysis

Column-Level View

Shows how individual columns flow through transformations. Best for:

• Tracing specific column origins
• Understanding aggregations and calculations
• Detailed impact analysis

Hybrid View

Combines table and column views—tables shown with expandable column sections. Best for:

• Exploring lineage at both levels
• Starting high-level then drilling down

Script View

Groups lineage by SQL statement or file. Best for:

• Multi-file project analysis
• Understanding execution order
• File-level impact analysis

Node Types

Table Nodes

Represent database tables:

• Blue - Source tables (read from)
• Green - Target tables (written to)
• Gray - External/unknown tables

Table nodes display:

• Table name
• Column list (in column-level view)
• Row count (if available from schema)

CTE Nodes

Represent Common Table Expressions:

• Shown as intermediate nodes
• Can be hidden with “Hide CTEs” toggle
• Edges bypass hidden CTEs to show direct lineage

Output Nodes

Represent query results:

• Appear for SELECT statements without target table
• Show final column list
• Named as “Query Result” or custom alias

Column Node Details

In column-level view, each column shows:

Element	Description
Name	Column name or alias
Type	Data type (if schema provided)
Origin	Direct, Derived, or Aggregated
Expression	Transformation applied (for derived columns)

Column Origins

• Direct - Column passes through unchanged
• Derived - Column computed from one or more sources
• Aggregated - Column involves aggregation (SUM, COUNT, etc.)
• Unknown - Cannot determine origin (missing schema)

Edge Types

Edges (arrows) represent data flow:

Edge Type	Description
Solid	Direct column mapping
Dashed	Indirect relationship (JOIN condition)
Thick	Multiple columns flow along this path
Colored	Grouped by source table

Edge Confidence

FlowScope assigns confidence levels to lineage:

• High - Explicit column reference
• Medium - Inferred from context
• Low - Best guess (e.g., SELECT *)

Navigation Controls

Zoom and Pan

• Mouse wheel - Zoom in/out
• Click and drag - Pan the canvas
• Double-click - Zoom to fit

Control Panel

Control	Action
Fit	Zoom to show entire graph
Zoom In/Out	Adjust zoom level
Reset	Return to default view
Minimap	Toggle overview minimap

Node Interaction

• Click node - Select and show details
• Double-click node - Focus on connected nodes
• Right-click node - Context menu with options
• Hover edge - Show lineage details

Focus Mode

Focus mode highlights lineage for a specific node:

1. Select a node
2. Click “Focus” or press F
3. Only connected nodes and edges remain visible
4. Press Escape or click “Clear” to exit

Focus Directions

• Upstream - Show where data comes from
• Downstream - Show where data flows to
• Both - Show full lineage chain

Search

Find nodes by name:

1. Press / or click the search icon
2. Type table or column name
3. Matching nodes highlight
4. Press Enter to focus first match

Search supports:

• Partial matching
• Case-insensitive search
• Regular expressions (prefix with /)

Filtering

Hide CTEs

Toggle “Hide CTEs” to simplify the graph. CTE lineage is preserved through bypass edges connecting original sources to final outputs.

Filter by Table

Select tables to include or exclude from the view. Useful for focusing on specific data flows in large graphs.

Filter by Statement

In multi-statement analysis, filter to show lineage for specific statements only.

Layout Algorithms

FlowScope offers multiple layout algorithms:

Algorithm	Best For
Dagre	Hierarchical layouts (default)
Elk	Complex graphs with many crossings
Manual	User-positioned nodes

Switch layouts in the settings panel. Manual positioning is preserved when switching back.

Exporting Visualizations

Screenshot

Export the current view as a PNG image:

1. Adjust zoom and pan to frame your view
2. Click “Export” → “Screenshot”
3. Image downloads at current resolution

Mermaid Diagram

Export as Mermaid diagram syntax for documentation:

graph LR
    orders --> monthly_sales
    monthly_sales --> output
    customers --> output

Interactive HTML

Export a self-contained HTML file with full interactivity for sharing.