Frequently Asked Questions

General

What is the Data Browser App?

The Data Browser App is FlowState's developer-focused tool for browsing and managing RxDB database collections. Inspired by Parse Dashboard, it provides a clean interface for viewing collection schemas, querying documents with advanced filters, inline editing, and performing CRUD operations on database records.

Who should use this app?

The Data Browser App is designed for:

Is this a production tool or development tool?

The Data Browser is primarily a development and debugging tool. While it can be used to manage production data with appropriate caution, its main purpose is to:

• Inspect data during development
• Debug issues by examining database state
• Verify that application code is writing data correctly
• Clean up test data

For production data management, always exercise caution and consider implementing additional safeguards.

How is this different from RxDB DevTools?

The Data Browser App provides:

• Multi-collection browsing: Switch between collections in a sidebar
• Advanced filtering: Parse Dashboard-style filter builder
• Inline editing: Edit values directly in the table
• Schema-aware forms: Auto-generated forms from collection schemas
• Dual connection modes: Local database or REST API access
• Server management: Configure multiple RxDB server connections

RxDB DevTools focuses more on replication state and performance monitoring.

Features

What filter operators are available?

The Data Browser supports these filter operators:

Can I edit any field inline?

Most fields support inline editing, but some are protected:

Read-Only Fields:

• id - Document identifier
• createdAt - Creation timestamp
• updatedAt - Last update timestamp
• _deleted - Soft delete flag
• _rev - RxDB revision

Special Editing:

• Enum fields: Show dropdown selector
• Boolean fields: Show toggle switch
• Object/Array fields: Open content modal for viewing, use form for editing

How do I edit complex nested objects?

For complex objects or arrays:

1. Click the expand icon in the cell to view formatted JSON
2. To edit, use the document form:
   • Click the edit button on the row
   • Or click "Add New" and modify an existing document
3. The form provides proper widgets for nested structures

Can I create documents with relationships?

Yes, the document form supports reference fields:

1. Open the document form (Add New or Edit)
2. Reference fields show a dropdown of available documents from the related collection
3. Select the related document by its display name or ID
4. The reference ID is stored in the document

What page sizes are available?

You can choose from these page sizes:

• 10 (default)
• 25
• 50
• 100
• 250
• 500

For large collections, smaller page sizes improve performance.

Connection Modes

What's the difference between Local and REST mode?

When should I use REST mode?

Use REST mode when:

• Accessing data on a remote server
• Working with large collections (server-side pagination)
• Debugging server-side replication issues
• Your local database differs from the server

How do I configure a REST server?

1. Navigate to the Servers page
2. Click Add Server
3. Enter server details:
   • Name: Friendly identifier
   • URL: Server endpoint (e.g., http://localhost:10102)
   • Token: Authentication token
   • Domain ID: Database domain identifier
4. Save the configuration
5. Click the star icon to set as active
6. Toggle to REST mode in the navbar

Can I have multiple server configurations?

Yes, you can configure multiple servers:

• Each server has its own URL, token, and domain
• Only one server is active at a time (starred)
• Switch between servers by starring a different one
• Useful for dev/staging/production environments

Data Operations

Are deletions permanent?

FlowState uses soft delete by default:

• Deleted documents have _deleted: true
• Data is not immediately removed
• Replication can still sync deletions
• Hard delete requires direct database manipulation (not recommended)

Can I bulk delete documents?

Yes, using batch selection:

1. Check the checkbox on each document you want to delete
2. A floating toolbar appears showing selection count
3. Click the delete button in the toolbar
4. Confirm the batch deletion
5. All selected documents are soft-deleted

How do I export data?

Data export is not currently built into the Data Browser. Alternatives:

• Use the FlowState MCP tools to query and export
• Access RxDB directly via the CLI
• Use the RxDB Server REST API for JSON export
• Query data and copy from the content modal

Can I import data?

Direct import is not currently supported. To add data:

• Use the "Add New" button for individual documents
• Use FlowState MCP tools for bulk creation
• Use RxDB Server REST API for bulk operations
• Create documents programmatically via the CLI

Technical

Which browsers are supported?

We support the latest versions of:

• Chrome (recommended)
• Firefox
• Safari
• Edge

Is the data secure?

Security measures include:

• All data in transit is encrypted (HTTPS)
• Organization and workspace scoping isolates data
• Authentication required for REST mode
• No credentials stored in collection data
• Local mode data follows RxDB security model

Does it work offline?

In Local mode: Yes, fully functional offline

• Collections load from local RxDB
• All operations work offline
• Changes sync when reconnected

In REST mode: No, requires server connectivity

What happens if I edit the same document in two places?

RxDB handles conflict resolution:

• The latest write wins by default
• Replication propagates changes
• Refresh to see the most recent state
• For complex conflicts, check _rev versions

Troubleshooting

The app seems slow with large collections

To improve performance:

1. Use a smaller page size (10 or 25)
2. Apply filters to reduce the data set
3. Switch to REST mode for server-side pagination
4. Close other apps to free browser resources

I can't find a specific collection

If a collection is missing from the sidebar:

1. Verify the collection exists in your schema definitions
2. Check if you're in the correct organization/workspace
3. Ensure the database has been initialized with all schemas
4. In REST mode, verify the server has the collection

My changes aren't syncing

If local changes aren't reaching the server:

1. Check if replication is enabled
2. Verify server connectivity
3. Look for errors in browser console
4. Ensure no validation errors are blocking the sync
5. Check RxDB Server logs for replication issues

Still Have Questions?

If your question isn't answered here:

• Check Troubleshooting for common issues
• Review the Features documentation for detailed capabilities
• Contact support for additional help