---
description: form-basics_3.3
---

# Viewing Data

The FME Data Inspector provides two methods for viewing data: opening or adding.

**Opening** a dataset opens a new view window for it to be displayed in. **Adding** a dataset displays the data in the existing view window; this way multiple datasets can be viewed simultaneously.

### **Opening a Dataset**

Datasets can be opened in the FME Data Inspector in several ways.

* Select File > Open Dataset from the menu bar
* Select the toolbar button Open Dataset
* Drag and drop a file onto any window (except the View window)
* Open from within Workbench

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://3765209747-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCM1VHDSP1DZXo7JkxunP%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-56496ec26394b4e531d80148b6397dad95ec2230%2F02_03_Data_Inspector_Basics.jpg?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

All of these methods cause a dialog to open in the FME Data Inspector in which to define the dataset to view.

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://3765209747-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCM1VHDSP1DZXo7JkxunP%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-4423afa6c5c0a9a0e3320605eed3a1161f8d6f76%2F02_04_Data_Inspector_Basics.jpg?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

### **Adding a Dataset**

Opening a dataset causes a new View tab to be created and the data displayed. To open a dataset within an existing view tab requires the use of tools to add a dataset.

* Selecting File > Add Dataset from the menu bar
* Selecting the toolbar button Add Dataset
* Dragging and dropping a file onto the view window

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://3765209747-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCM1VHDSP1DZXo7JkxunP%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-c6020a6846345064e12ce63e3a11140d9afb958b%2F02_05_Data_Inspector_Basics.jpg?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

### **Windowing Tools**

Once data has been opened in the FME Data Inspector, there are many tools available for altering the view.

* Pan
* Zoom In
* Zoom Out
* Zoom to a selected feature
* Zoom to the full extent of the data

<figure><img src="https://3765209747-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCM1VHDSP1DZXo7JkxunP%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-2c5cbc48feda036a9422c09fafdc0da4cc7ab6f9%2F02_06_Data_Inspector_Basics.jpg?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="info" %}
**TIP**

_Press the Shift key on the keyboard and it will activate the zoom-in tool in the Inspector. Press the Ctrl key, which will activate the zoom-out tool. Release the key to revert to the previous tool._

_This functionality allows users to quickly move between select and navigation modes at the press of a key, so there's no need to click between select and navigation tools on the menu bar or toolbar._
{% endhint %}
