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Dataset Renaming Best Practises (Advanced)

This article helps a moderator understand the implications around renaming in regards to Datasets, Dataset Templates and Data Tables

Please note: modifying Dataset Template or Data Table names may affect existing Insights that were created using the previous naming. While underlying data remains intact, some Insights may no longer behave as expected when edited.

Because of this, renaming should be approached carefully.

Renaming Datasets

The ability to do this is not currently available in the moderator view. If you need to rename a Dataset, please get in touch.

Renaming a Dataset:

  • Does not affect your data

  • Does not affect Insights

This is because Datasets are queried using a unique, system-assigned key, not the Dataset name itself. That key is created when the Dataset is first set up and cannot be changed.

 

The following sections are only applicable to Aggregate datasets.

Best Practice for Template and Table Renaming

The renaming operations and resulting behaviour described below are current limitations of Data Collection and should be considered when renaming Dataset Templates and Data Tables.

Best practise: 

Finalise Dataset Template and Data Table names before making a Dataset available for users to query.

Renaming Dataset Templates

It is possible to modify a Dataset Template name by opening the template in moderator view and clicking on the pencil icon next to the current Template name.

When a Dataset Template is renamed:

  • The change affects all Data Tables within the Template

  • The category name for the Template Variable used in querying is updated to the new name

Impact on existing Insights

  • Insights created using the old Template name will:

    • Continue to display correctly when viewed

    • May not function as expected when edited

  • This is because the query structure for that Insight still references the old Template category name

Renaming Data Tables

Data Tables can be renamed directly by moderators.

To rename a Data Table:

  1. Navigate to the relevant Dataset Template

  2. Click Edit Schema

  3. Update the Data Table name

When a Data Table is renamed:

  • Only the renamed table’s structure is affected

  • The category name for the Table Variable used in querying is updated

Impact on existing Insights

  • Insights created using the old Table name will:

    • Continue to display correctly in their existing view

    • Not function as expected when edited, due to the updated Table category name

Why this matters

Template and Table names form part of the query structure behind Insights. Renaming them changes how data is referenced, which can break editability even though the underlying data remains safe.

Clear naming decisions made early help ensure stability, reduce rework, and protect confidence in reporting over time.