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What are Metadata Tags in Decode?

In Decode, Metadata Tags refers to descriptive information about your data that helps you organize, filter, and enrich the information you upload. Think of it as adding smart labels or tags to your files and the data rows generated from them.

This metadata doesn't necessarily exist as columns within your original spreadsheets, but it's crucial context that Decode allows you to associate with your data during the upload process.

The Building Blocks: Categories, Values, and Tags​

Decode's metadata system is built on three core concepts:

  1. Metadata Tag Categories:

    • What they are: Broad classifications or types of information you want to track. You define these first.
    • Examples: Wholesaler, Contract ID, Region, Underwriter, Data Source Type.
    • Think of them as: The type of label you want to apply.

  2. Values:

    • What they are: The specific options available within a Metadata Category. You define these within each Category.
    • Examples: Within the Wholesaler Category, Values might be Wholesaler A, Wholesaler B, Wholesaler C. Within Region, Values might be North America, Europe, Asia.
    • Think of them as: The specific label you can choose from.

  3. Tags:

    • What they are: The actual application of a Category and a specific Value to a data upload (and subsequently, to the rows created by that upload).
    • How they're used: When you upload files, you select a Category (e.g., Wholesaler) and then choose a specific Value (e.g., Wholesaler A). This creates a "Tag" (Wholesaler = Wholesaler A) that gets associated with that upload.
    • Think of them as: The applied label, like Wholesaler: Wholesaler A or Contract ID: C12345.

Why Use Metadata?​

Using metadata in Decode provides significant benefits:

  • Organization: Easily group and separate data from different sources, contracts, regions, etc., even if that information isn't explicitly in the spreadsheets.
  • Filtering: Powerful filtering capabilities on the Data Page and within Data Functions. You can instantly view data tagged with specific metadata (e.g., show all data for Contract ID: C12345).
  • Calculations: Numeric metadata tag values can be used during upload to calculate column values. For example you may define a category Brokerage Percentage, then map a column like Premium minus brokerage as Gross Premium x (1 - Brokerage Percentage). More on this later.
  • Enrichment: Add crucial business context to your data that might be missing from the source files (e.g., tagging which underwriter is responsible for a set of policies).
  • Streamlining Uploads: By defining Data Profiles, you can automatically apply a set of default tags to uploads, saving time and ensuring consistency.
  • Semantic Clarity: Makes your data more understandable by associating it with meaningful business labels.

Metadata Columns in Tables​

When you define a Table, you specify which Metadata Categories should be treated as Metadata Columns. When you upload a file and assign tags, the values of those tags are automatically inserted into the corresponding Metadata Columns for every row generated from that file.

This seamlessly integrates your organizational tags directly into your structured data, making filtering and analysis straightforward.

Next, learn how to set up your organizational structure by Managing Metadata Categories.