Query Builder is Catalyst's data extraction tool — letting you sort, filter, aggregate, and export large datasets without writing code. Whether you need transaction-level detail for audits, custom data extracts for analysis, or exports too large for standard Cube files, this article walks you through everything you need.
What is Query Builder?
Query Builder is a visual data extraction tool built into Catalyst's Analysis section. It lets you sort, filter, aggregate, and export large subsets of data — without writing a single line of code. Think of it as a user-friendly alternative to SQL: you get database-level extraction through an intuitive interface that produces clean, spreadsheet-ready output.
It's especially useful when standard Cube files don't give you the granularity or flexibility you need, or when your dataset is too large to work with in other tools.
Good candidates for Query Builder: transaction-level detail for audits, custom data combinations unavailable in standard reports, exports for external analysis tools, and any dataset too large for Cube files.
Key Capabilities
Accessing Query Builder
Query Builder lives in the Analysis section of the Catalyst navigation menu.
Navigate to Analysis
From your Catalyst homepage, click Analysis in the left navigation menu.
Select Query Builder
Click Query Builder from the Analysis section.
View or Create Queries
Click Apply Filter to see all existing queries, use the search filters to find a specific one, or click Create New Query to start fresh.
Managing Existing Queries
The Query Builder landing page shows all queries you have access to. Use the filter options at the top to search by data source, owner, or keyword — or leave them blank and click Apply Filter to see everything.
Available Actions
Each query has action icons on the right. Availability depends on whether you own the report:
See results before opening or exporting
Modify columns or conditions (owner only)
Duplicate as a new starting point
Export results as Excel or CSV
Schedule automated delivery
Remove permanently (owner only)
Building a New Query
Creating a query involves three steps: selecting your data source, choosing columns, and defining filter conditions. The result is spreadsheet-style output you can download or share.
Step 1 — Select Your Data Source
After clicking Create New Query, toggle to the Query Builder tab. Then choose your data source from the dropdown. Available options depend on your Catalyst configuration:
Step 2 — Select Your Columns
The attributes list on the left contains all available data fields. Browse or search for what you need, check the boxes to select fields, then click Add to Columns.
Watch for redundant fields. Many attributes have multiple variants — Scenario ID, Scenario Short Description, Scenario Name. You typically only need one. Adding all three creates unnecessary clutter in your output.
Once columns are added, you can configure each one:
Step 3 — Define Filter Conditions
Click Add Condition, hover over an attribute category to drill into specific filter options, then specify your criteria. You can stack multiple conditions to narrow results precisely.
Match exact values — best for precise filtering
Match partial text — useful when you don't know the exact value
Filter numerics above or below a threshold
Filter dates or numbers within a defined range
To extract 2025 invoices for a specific customer containing items in the 900 series: set Scenario = "2025 Actual", Customer Name = "Acme Corporation", and Item Number contains "900".
Step 4 — Execute and Review
Click Execute to run your query and preview results. Adjust conditions and re-run as needed before exporting.
No results? Your conditions may be too restrictive. Try switching "Contains" to "Is In List" for exact matching, verify filter values are spelled correctly, or remove conditions one at a time to isolate the issue.
Exporting Your Data
Once satisfied with your results, click Share/Download to export to Excel or CSV.
Export Formats & Limits
Enabling Large Dataset Exports
For exports exceeding 1 million rows, the Profitability Actual Data Query Model must be enabled on your account. Contact EBM Support to request this.
Contact EBM Support to enable the Profitability Actual Data Query Model for your organization.
Best Practices
Troubleshooting
Video Tutorial
Watch this overview to see Query Builder in action:
Related Resources
Query Builder gives you powerful data extraction without requiring technical expertise. Start narrow — specific conditions, only the columns you need — then broaden from there. Save queries you run frequently, and for datasets over 1 million rows, contact EBM Support to enable extended export capabilities.
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