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Understanding the New Workbooks Feature in Clay
Can someone explain to me the logic behind the new "Workbooks" in clay. How it opens up this whiteboard and then the workbook itself/
Can someone explain to me the logic behind the new "Workbooks" in clay. How it opens up this whiteboard and then the workbook itself/
A workbook in Clay serves as a centralized space where you can manage and organize your data workflows. Think of a workbook like a spreadsheet - within each workbook, you can create multiple tables, with each table functioning like a sheet within Excel or Google Sheets. The workbook oversees the broader workflow while tables handle detailed datasets, creating an efficient hierarchical data management system. When in doubt, create a workbook - it's your space to bring related tables together into a cohesive view. To create one, go to your home dashboard and click +Create New > Workbook.
What is the point of it though, because I just need the workbook... This additional layer doesn't seem to have any purpose when uploading straight from a CSV?
The workbook layer serves important purposes even for CSV uploads: Organization: Workbooks let you manage multiple related tables together - you might import a CSV of companies, then create additional tables for contacts, enrichment data, or analysis results within the same workbook. Workflow Management: The hierarchical setup enables efficient data management, with workbooks overseeing the broader workflow while tables handle specific datasets. Flexibility: You can add tables to existing workbooks or create new ones during CSV import, giving you control over how your data is organized. Even with a single CSV, the workbook structure prepares you for future expansion and keeps your data organized within our broader workflow system.
So I can upload multiple CSVs at the workbook layer to have multiple tables?
Yes, you can upload multiple CSVs to create multiple tables within a workbook. You have two main options:
Create new tables for each CSV:
1. Click + Add at the bottom of your workbook
2. Select Import from CSV and upload your file
3. Click Complete import to create a new table
Add to existing tables:
1. Open any table in your workbook
2. Click Actions → Import → Import from CSV
3. Select your file and choose Add to current table
This lets you organize related datasets within one workbook - perfect for managing multiple CSVs as separate tables in your workflow.
Lily R. new Workbooks in Clay act more like a project hub the whiteboard is just a visual layer where you can map out data flows, notes, or ideas. The actual workbook (with tables/views) still works the same, just nested inside. It's meant to give you more flexibility and visual structure for complex builds.
That's exactly right! Workbooks serve as centralized project hubs where you can manage and organize your data workflows. The hierarchical setup enables efficient data management - workbooks oversee the broader workflow while tables handle detailed datasets, like a spreadsheet with multiple sheets. The whiteboard layer adds visual organization for mapping data flows and planning complex builds, while the core table functionality remains unchanged underneath.
Understood, I guess sometimes we dont need it but its there as default eh?
Exactly! The workbook structure is our default organizational framework, even for simple single CSV imports. While you might not always need the full project hub functionality, it's designed to accommodate future growth - like when you want to add related tables, enrichment data, or additional CSVs to the same workflow. It's there to provide flexibility and structure when your projects expand beyond that initial CSV upload.