Skip to main content

Notebooks

Notebooks are the core workspace in 42Cells where you build data analyses. Each notebook contains cells that can be SQL queries, charts, or documentation.

What Makes 42Cells Notebooks Special​

Unlike traditional notebooks, 42Cells notebooks are DAG-powered — cells have explicit dependencies, so you always know how your data flows.

Canvas-Based Editing​

Work on an infinite canvas that shows your analysis as a visual DAG:

  • Drag to pan — Navigate around your notebook
  • Zoom in/out — Focus on details or see the big picture
  • Visual dependencies — See exactly how cells connect

Creating a Notebook​

  1. Navigate to Notebooks in the sidebar
  2. Click New Notebook
  3. Give it a name and choose visibility (public/private)

Cell Types​

SQL Cells​

Execute queries against your connected databases. Results appear inline with options to:

  • View as table or chart
  • Run downstream cells
  • Attach visualizations

Chart Cells​

Visualize data from SQL cell results. Charts are automatically linked to their source cells.

Markdown Cells​

Add documentation, notes, and context to your analysis.

Running Your Analysis​

  • Run Cell — Execute a single cell
  • Run All — Execute the entire notebook in dependency order
  • Run Downstream — Run a cell and all cells that depend on it

Cell Dependencies​

Cells can reference other cells, creating a dependency graph. When you update an upstream cell, downstream cells know they need to re-run.

On the canvas, you can visually see and edit these connections by dragging edges between cells.

Real-Time Collaboration​

Notebooks update in real-time via Server-Sent Events (SSE). You'll see:

  • When cells start executing
  • Progress updates during long runs
  • Results as they complete
  • Changes from the AI agent

Next Steps​