What does the ‘Query too large to display’ message mean?

When running queries in Discover or Explore, you may see a message indicating that the query is too large, and suggesting that it be refined or exported to view all results.

When do I see this message?

This message appears when the amount of data returned exceeds the display limit, which is typically set to 1,000 data intersections. 

When you run a query in Explore, multiple SQL queries are executed in the background. The results from these queries are then joined together, creating intersections. These intersections can occur when you query multiple metrics, or when you query multiple levels within the same dimension.

What happens to my results when I get this message?

When the intersection threshold is exceeded, the query cannot always return all results. This can appear as metrics showing 0 or null where values are expected, blank or null entries in populated columns, or missing columns altogether.

What can I do when I get this message?

It’s important for end users to understand that when this message appears, the results displayed may be incomplete or unreliable. 

To ensure accuracy, one option is to export the results, which will provide a comprehensive list of all metrics, fields, and dimensions included in the query.

Alternatively, users can refine or filter the query to reduce its complexity. For example, if you’re querying termination events by year, location, and Worker ID, the query may exceed the display threshold and trigger the ‘Query too large to display - refine the query or save it to a Storyboard to use 'Export CSV' for full results.’ message displaying:

You can refine this query by narrowing the time frame:

Or filtering to specific locations:

Or eliminating the Worker IDs additional column (and encouraging end users to use Drill-Through to identify the specific workers):

The “Query too large to display” message serves as an important indicator that your current query exceeds the system’s display threshold. While the message does not mean your data is lost, it does indicate that some results may be incomplete, missing, or inaccurately displayed. 

To ensure the integrity and completeness of your analysis, consider exporting the data or refining the query by applying filters, narrowing time frames, or minimizing dimensions and fields. Understanding and responding to this message appropriately allows users to make more accurate, efficient use of the data and maintain confidence in their reporting outcomes.