Choosing the Mind

DataMind Oda reaches your company's data through the Minds of your DataMind OS. The Asking: chip above the message box shows which Mind Oda asks, and lets you pick another one. See Oda in Excel for the pane itself.

Pick the Mind that answers

1. Click the Asking: chip above the message box. It shows the current choice: a Mind's name, or Auto (Oda picks the Mind).
2. Pick the Mind Oda should ask, or pick Auto (Oda picks the Mind) to let Oda choose the right Mind for each question.

The list shows Auto (Oda picks the Mind) and each Mind's name; point at a name to read its description.

Search the Mind list

• Type in Search Minds… to narrow the list. The search matches Mind names and ignores letter case.
• Press Enter to pick the first match, or click a Mind in the list.
• Picking a Mind closes the list and clears the search. Escape closes the list without changing the Mind.
• If nothing matches, the list shows No Mind matches.
• The list shows at most 50 Minds at once; type in Search Minds… to find the rest.

How your choice is kept

• Your choice is kept in the workbook, so each workbook keeps its own, and the pane uses it again when it loads with that workbook.
• Changing the chip changes who Oda asks from then on.
• When a workbook has no choice yet, or the Mind you picked is no longer available, the chip starts on the first Mind in the list.
• Follow-up questions continue with the same Mind; see Ask about data and pull it into Excel.

When you can change the Mind

• The chip appears only when you can use more than one Mind. With a single Mind, Oda always asks it and the chip stays hidden.
• While Oda is answering, the chip is disabled; change the Mind after the run finishes. See Chats and history in Excel.
• If the pane cannot load your Minds when it starts, the chip stays hidden; Oda can still look up your Minds when a question needs one.

Who can use Minds from Excel

• Asking Minds needs the Use DataMind Oda and Use Minds from DataMind Oda permissions. View Minds, which opens the Minds area of DataMind OS, is not needed.
• The list holds the Minds your roles can reach in DataMind OS. Builder Minds, such as the Warehouse and Lake builders, are never offered.
• Without Use Minds from DataMind Oda, the chip stays hidden and Oda works with the workbook only. Ask your administrator; see Manage DataMind Oda for your company.

Questions, answered

How do I choose the Mind Oda asks?

Click the Asking: chip above the message box and pick a Mind from the list, or Auto (Oda picks the Mind). The chip always shows the current choice.

Do I need to pick a Mind before asking?

No. The chip already shows a choice: the one you made earlier in this workbook, or else the first Mind in the list. You can type your question right away, or pick Auto (Oda picks the Mind) to let Oda choose the right Mind for each question.

Why can't I see the "Asking:" chip?

The chip appears only when you can use more than one Mind. With a single Mind, Oda always asks it and the chip stays hidden. It is also hidden when your account lacks Use Minds from DataMind Oda, or when the pane could not load your Minds as it started.

Should I leave the Mind on Auto?

Auto (Oda picks the Mind) lets Oda choose the right Mind for each question and say which Mind it asked. To have one Mind answer your questions in this workbook, pick that Mind from the list.

Does the pane remember the Mind I pick?

Yes. Your choice is kept in the workbook, and the pane uses it again when it loads with that workbook.

Does my choice apply to other workbooks?

No. The choice is kept in the workbook you are in, so each workbook keeps its own.

Can I change the Mind while Oda is answering?

No. The chip is disabled while a run is in progress; change the Mind after the run finishes.

How do I find a particular Mind?

Open the chip and type in Search Minds…. The search matches Mind names and ignores letter case. Press Enter to pick the first match, and Escape to close the list without changing the Mind. Point at a Mind's name to read its description.

Why is a Mind missing from the list?

The list shows at most 50 Minds at once; type in Search Minds… to find the rest. It holds only the Minds your roles can reach, and builder Minds are never offered. If you cannot use any Minds at all, ask your administrator.

Do I need View Minds to ask Minds from Excel?

No. Use DataMind Oda and Use Minds from DataMind Oda are enough. View Minds opens the Minds area of DataMind OS and is not needed for Oda.

What happens if the Mind I picked is no longer available?

The chip starts on the first Mind in the list instead.