A data source is the set of Canopy information an Insights report draws from. This article helps you pick the right one, check which one you're in and switch between them, including the Canopy Data Hub.
Insights splits your firm's data by topic, and the data source you pick decides which fields you can use. Start in the right one and you get to the answer faster: who still owes you before year-end, where your team's hours went during tax season, or which clients have open balances alongside open work.
Table of Contents
Pick a Data Source by Your Question
Start with the question you want answered, then pick the data source that holds it.
Who owes us what? Start with Billing.
What's on our plate? Start with Workflow.
How are we spending our hours? Start with Time.
Who are our clients? Start with Clients.
What have we collected? Start with Canopy Data Hub.
What does our work cost us? Start with Billing (Admin) or Time (Admin).
Compare the Seven Data Sources
Data source | Use it to see | Example fields | Good to know |
Workflow | Tasks and subtasks: status, assignees, due dates, budgeted vs. logged hours | Task Status, Task Due Date, Task Assignee, Subtask Logged Hours, Task Completion Date | Also includes client details and custom fields. |
Billing | Invoices and line items: what was billed, what's still owed, discounts and tax | Invoice Total, Invoice Balance, Line Item Billed Amount, Invoice Date, Service Item Name | Invoice Total includes fees and taxes. Line Item Billed Amount doesn't. |
Billing (Admin) | Everything in Billing, plus what your team's time costs | Time Entry Cost of Labor | Needs the Team Member Salary permission. |
Time | Hours worked: billable vs. non-billable, billed vs. unbilled, by staff member or client | Time Entry Hours, Billable %, Unbilled Time Entry Hours, Time Entry User Name | Rates such as User Billing Rate and Service Item Rate are attributes, not measures. |
Time (Admin) | Everything in Time, plus cost of labor | Time Entry Cost of Labor | Needs the Team Member Salary permission. |
Clients | Your client roster: owners, types, industries and contact details | Client Name, Client Owner Name, Client Type, Client Industry, Client Count | Has no invoice, workflow or time data. |
Canopy Data Hub | Clients, work, billing, time and payments in one source | Payment Amount, Payment Method, Payment Status, Transaction Amount, Credit Status | The only source with payment and credit fields. |
For every field in each data source, see What Data Points Are Available for Building Insights Reports?
Check Which Data Source a Report Uses
To check the data source:
Open the report or Answer.
Look at the top-left corner, above the Find columns search. The name shown there, such as Time, is the data source the report uses.
Change the Data Source
To change the data source:
Click the down arrow next to the current data source name.
In the Select data model window, select a different data source.
Click Select.
Search Several Data Sources at Once
Skip this section if you already know which data source holds the fields you need.
To search several data sources:
Click the down arrow next to the current data source name.
At the bottom of the Select data model window, turn on Enable multiple sources.
Select each data source you want to search, such as Billing and Time, then click Select.
Search for fields with Find columns in the left panel. Measures, Attributes and Dates each list fields under every data source you selected.
⚠️ Heads up! Enable multiple sources only widens your search. Once you add a field to the report, the other data sources are greyed out. For example, after you add Invoice Balance from Billing, you can't add fields from Time. To mix billing and time in one report, use the Canopy Data Hub.
Use the Canopy Data Hub
The Canopy Data Hub is Insights' combined data source. It brings clients, work, billing, time and payments together, so one report can compare hours worked with amounts billed for each client, or show clients with outstanding balances alongside their open tasks.
The Data Hub is in beta, so it shows as Canopy Data Hub (Beta) in the Select data model window. If you don't see it there, an Admin can turn it on.
To turn on the Canopy Data Hub:
Click your Profile icon, then select Settings.
Select Experimental Features from the menu.
Turn on the toggle for the Canopy Data Hub.
👉 Canopy Tip: If your question spans more than one area of your practice, such as billing and time, start in the Data Hub.
For more on beta features, see Experimental Features.
Troubleshooting
I can't find a field I need:
You're probably in a data source that doesn't hold it. Check the table above, or turn on Enable multiple sources to search several at once.
A data source is greyed out in the left panel:
Once a report has a field from one data source, it can only use that source. Start a new report in the Canopy Data Hub to combine areas.
A team member doesn't see Billing (Admin) or Time (Admin):
They need the Team Member Salary permission. See How Do Permissions Work in Insights?
I don't see the Canopy Data Hub:
It's a beta feature. Turn it on in Settings > Experimental Features.
Summary
Each Insights report draws from one data source, so start with your question and pick the source that holds it, or use the Canopy Data Hub when the question spans billing, time, work and payments. You can check and change a report's data source from the top-left corner, and turn on Enable multiple sources to search several sources at once.
Need Help?
Need help? Contact Support or ask Penny, our AI Support Bot, for assistance.