Surfaces Troubleshooting

Surfaces are where your warm queries live. They connect to data sources and provide the queryable workspace. This guide covers common surface issues.

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Quick Checks

Verify these first:

1. Can you access the surface? Check permissions
2. Is the surface connected? Verify linked connection
3. Is data flowing? Check the underlying connection

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Common Issues

"Surface Not Found"

Symptoms:

• 404 error when accessing surface
• Surface missing from workspace
• Links to surface don't work

Diagnosis:

1. Check if surface was renamed or deleted
2. Verify you have access permissions
3. Check the workspace you're in

Common causes:

• Surface was deleted
• Looking in wrong workspace
• Surface name changed

Can't Access Surface

Symptoms:

• Permission denied
• Surface visible but can't open
• Can't create queries

Diagnosis:

1. Check your role in the workspace
2. Verify surface permissions
3. Ask workspace admin about access

Surface Shows No Data

Symptoms:

• Surface accessible
• Queries return empty
• No recent timestamps

Diagnosis:

1. Is the linked connection working?
2. Is data being sent to that connection?
3. Is the time window correct?

Steps:

1. Check connection status (should show "Connected")
2. Verify data source is sending data
3. Try a simple query with wide time window: YourTable | where timestamp > ago(7d) | take 10

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Surface Configuration

Linking Connections

To link a connection:

1. Open the surface
2. Use the connection selector or ask Azi
3. Select the connection to link

Common mistakes:

Issue	Symptom	Fix
No connection linked	No data available	Link a connection
Wrong connection	Wrong data appears	Check connection mapping
Multiple connections	Confused about source	Use table names to distinguish

Finding the Surface Panel

If you can't find the surface panel:

1. Look for the surface access button in the workspace
2. Use the workspace navigation menu
3. Ask Azi: "Open the [name] surface"

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Surface Access Issues

Permission Denied

Error: "You don't have permission to access this surface"

Cause: Your workspace role doesn't include surface access

Fix:

1. Contact your workspace admin
2. Request appropriate role (Viewer, Editor, Admin)
3. Verify you're in the correct workspace

Surface Read-Only

Symptoms:

• Can view data
• Can't create or modify queries
• Can't change configuration

Cause: You have Viewer role, not Editor or Admin

Fix:

• Request elevated permissions from workspace admin

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Working with Surfaces

Creating Surfaces

Two ways:

1. Drag-and-drop - Create surface widget in workspace
2. Ask Azi - "Create a surface for production monitoring"

Managing Multiple Surfaces

Best practices:

• Name surfaces clearly (e.g., "Production-Line-1", "Quality-Control")
• Link connections logically (one connection per data source)
• Document surface purpose in description

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Error Reference

"Surface not accessible"

Cause: Permission or configuration issue

Fix:

1. Check workspace membership
2. Verify role includes surface access
3. Contact workspace admin

"No connection linked"

Cause: Surface has no data source

Fix:

1. Link a connection to the surface
2. Create a connection if none exist
3. Ask Azi to help configure

"Invalid surface configuration"

Cause: Configuration issue in surface setup

Fix:

1. Review surface settings
2. Check for unsaved changes
3. Try recreating the surface

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Ask Azi

In chat, try:

• "Why can't I see data in my surface?"
• "Help me configure this surface"
• "Create a new surface for [use case]"

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Related

• Connections Troubleshooting - Issues with data connections
• Warm Queries Troubleshooting - Issues with queries in surfaces
• No Data Showing - General no-data issues