---
title: "How to ask a question in Octane: Basic"
description: This guide will cover basic querying operations and walk you through 5 example questions.
---
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# How to ask a question in Octane: Basic
## This guide will cover basic querying operations and walk you through 5 example questions.
**Questions** in Octane are how you explore your data. A **"question"** is a query that allows you to filter, sort, summarize and visualize data from your tables.
In this guide, we'll show you how to build five foundational questions using simple queries. We will answer:
1. How many fans are in my FanCRM?
2. How many new fans joined in the last 30 days?
3. Where do my fans live?
4. How many fans entered a campaign?
5. When was my Octane database last synced?
### **🪜 Step-by-Step for Fan Metrics (Questions 1-3)**
We'll use the ***Crm Fans*** table for these questions.
#### **Step 1: Start a New Question**
- Click **+ New → Question**
- Select the **Tables** tab
- Choose your **Database → *Crm Fans***
#### **Step 2: Preview the data**
- Click the ▶️ **Play** button in the top-right of the data section
- This lets you preview results at each stage of building your question, and inspect the fields you're pulling in as you build your query.
> **🔢 Question 1: How many fans do I have in my FanCRM?**
>
> This first question doesn't need any filtering at all. You want to know the total number of **unique** fans within your FanCRM. This means you have to sum the total number of unique FanID's in the table.
>
> - Click **Summarize**
> - Choose: ***Numer of disctinct values of** **→ Fan ID***
> - Click **Play** to preview results
> - Click **Visualize** to see the total number of fans in your FanCRM
> - **Save** the question with a clear name, e.g. "Total number of Unique Fans in FanCRM"
>
> 
>
> 🆕 **Question 2: How many new fans have I earned in the last 30 days?**
>
> For this question, you need to filter by the date a new fan "entered" or was "created" in your FanCRM. And, like the last question, you want to look at *unique* fans, which means you will have to sum the total number of unique FanID's that fit your filter.
>
> - Filter by: ***Creation Timestamp → Last 30 days***
> - Summarize: ***Number of distinct values of → Fan ID***
> - Click **Play** to preview results
> - Click **Visualize** to see the total number of new fans in the last 30 days
> - **Save** the question with a clear name, e.g. "New fans in last 30 days"
>
> 
>
> 🌍 **Question 3: Where do my fans live (by state/province)?**
>
> In this question you want to sum the number of fans you have by province/state.
>
> - Summarize: ***Number of distinct values of → Fan ID***
> - Group by: ***Province***
> - Click **Play** to preview results
> - Click **Visualize** and choose a **Map** as a visualization option
> - In **Map Settings,** switch region to **Canada** or **Australia** if needed. (The Map defaults to the USA).
>
> 🧠 *Optional Tip: Use Filters to isolate specific regions or time periods if desired.*
>
> **
### **🎯 Step-by-Step for Question 4: How many fans entered a campaign**
To answer this question, we need to join two tables: ***Crm Campaigns*** and ***App Page Tab Metrics***
***Crm Campaigns:** contains information on engagement campaigns, but does not include fan entries*
***App Page Tab Metrics:** contains "activity" information for each engagement campaign, including entries.*
#### **Step 1: Join Tables**
- Start a new question from ***Crm Campaigns***
- Click the **Join** (🟢🟢 **icon)** beneath the data section
- Select ***App Page Tab Metrics*** as the table to join
- Join on **Page Tab ID** (*to join two tables, you need one common field)*
**
#### **Step 2: Build the Query**
- Summarize ***Number of distinct values of→ Entry Count*** (from App Page Tab Metrics)
- Group by: ***Crm Campaign*** ***→ Title***
- *(Optional) Add columns: **Business Name, App Type***
***.png?width=688&height=387&name=Octane%20Get%20Started%20Guide%20(1).png)***
#### **Step 3: Visualize + Customize**
- Visualize: Use **Table** or try **Bar/Column Charts**
- Pro Tip: The most relevant chart types appear *above* the "Other Charts" section
- Rename Headers: Click green column names and update (e.g. change "Distinct values of Entry count" ***→*** "Fan Entries")
### **🕙 Bonus: When was the last database sync?**
Octane works on a columnar database structure to make your data easier to query, faster. We sync your Octane database with your core Tradable Bits database **daily.** Use this question to see the last time your data synced.
Start a new question and choose the table ***Build Time.*** Then click visualize.
### **✅ Wrap up**
You've just built five key questions to unlock your first insights in Octane. Each one helps you understand:
- Your fanbase size and recency
- Geographic distribution
- Campaign engagement
- Data freshness
If you're keen to explore even more insights, reach out to your **Octane team** to explore intermediate and advanced queries.
**Still need assistance? Please reach out to your Customer Success Team or contact [support@tradablebits.com](mailto:support@tradablebits.com)**
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