# Tour the interface

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The Data Midsouth portal lives at [www.datamidsouth.org](http://www.datamidsouth.org). When you arrive, you'll see a clean interface built on the Huwise platform. Here's what each part of the screen does.

### Navigation bar

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#### Explore Data

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Use the [four options](https://help.datamidsouth.org/data-midsouth-portal/features/data-asset-types) from the dropdown menu to jump directly to a filtered view of the [catalog](https://help.datamidsouth.org/data-midsouth-portal/getting-started/explore-the-catalog).

* **All Data Assets** — the full, published catalog
* **Visualizations —** interactive maps and dashboards&#x20;
* **Raw Data** — structured datasets ready to download and analyze&#x20;
* **Reports** — research, analyses, and findings from local partners available as PDFs
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#### **Requests/Ideas**

Can't find the data you're looking for? Please [request-or-suggest](https://help.datamidsouth.org/data-midsouth-portal/contribute-and-participate/request-or-suggest "mention") through or public feedback board where you can submit suggestions for new datasets, report errors, or vote on existing ideas.

#### **Help Center**

You're here right now! This menu will bring you back to this user guide and is always available if you need support.&#x20;

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### The search bar&#x20;

The search bar at the top of the catalog page lets you search by keyword across all asset titles and descriptions.&#x20;

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Type a topic — 'eviction', 'population', 'income' — and the catalog updates in real time. See [Filter & search](https://help.datamidsouth.org/data-midsouth-portal/features/search-and-filter) for tips on searching effectively.

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**Tip**: Start with everyday words, not technical terms.
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**Examples:**&#x20;

* “code enforcement”
* “childcare”
* “property values”
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* “evictions”
* “bus routes”
* “opioid”
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### The catalog grid

All **data assets** are **represented** in the center of the page **as cards in a catalog**.&#x20;

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Assets are **sorted alphabetically by title** by default. Use the "Sort by" dropdown, located just below the catalog search bar, to change sorting behavior.&#x20;

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### The filter pane

The **sidebar** on the left lets you narrow the catalog before you start browsing.

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Every asset is tagged with **metadata** — including Creator, Theme, Category, Years Available, and Update Frequency — and each **tag is a clickable filter**. The more you scroll down the sidebar, the more filter options appear.

For a full walkthrough, see [search-and-filter](https://help.datamidsouth.org/data-midsouth-portal/features/search-and-filter "mention").

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### Asset cards

Each **card** in the catalog **represents one data asset**. &#x20;

The card shows:

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**Title** — The name of the dataset, visualization, or report.

**Description** — A short summary of what the asset contains and where it comes from.

**Category badge** — A label indicating the [data-asset-types](https://help.datamidsouth.org/data-midsouth-portal/features/data-asset-types "mention"): Visualization, Mega Data, Raw Data, or Report.

**Source** — Where the underlying data comes from (e.g. U.S. Census Bureau).
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### Data Asset Page

When you click an asset card, it takes you to a **landing page with more metadata** (background details) about the data source. &#x20;

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#### Asset Actions

The **top-right corner** of every asset page shows the **actions** available for that asset. These vary depending on the asset type:

* **Visualizations** — Open in tool, Show page, or [Bookmark](https://help.datamidsouth.org/data-midsouth-portal/login-accounts-optional#what-you-can-do-without-an-account)
* **Raw Data** — [Explore data](https://help.datamidsouth.org/data-midsouth-portal/advanced-features/in-app-analysis), [Download](https://help.datamidsouth.org/data-midsouth-portal/features/downloads-and-formats), [api](https://help.datamidsouth.org/data-midsouth-portal/advanced-features/api "mention"), or [Bookmark](https://help.datamidsouth.org/data-midsouth-portal/login-accounts-optional#what-you-can-do-without-an-account)
* **Reports** — Open in tool or [Bookmark](https://help.datamidsouth.org/data-midsouth-portal/login-accounts-optional#what-you-can-do-without-an-account)

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#### Metadata

Includes comprehensive details about the asset like who publishes it, last date updated, and data quality issues & limitations.

For more information, visit the [data-asset-page](https://help.datamidsouth.org/data-midsouth-portal/features/data-asset-page "mention")

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## Getting to the data

Find what you're looking for in three simple steps:

#### 1) Search or filter by keyword, topic, or format

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#### 2) Click on the asset in the catalog you want to explore

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#### 3) Click the navy button in the top right of the data asset page to get to the report, visualization, or raw data you're looking for.

<figure><img src="https://1095412806-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fe1ApIrdBTGqD08Mi8Gpp%2Fuploads%2FsDxwYDqdsXyfWrjAGvl5%2FOpen%20in%20Tool%20Button.png?alt=media&#x26;token=d4ee20be-1b6e-478e-ab00-fa5018886d76" alt="" width="563"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

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