The Validatar AI Chat Interface allows you to interact with your data environment using natural language. You can ask questions, generate documentation, and receive recommendations directly within the Validatar UI—without leaving your current workflow.
This guide walks through how to access the AI Chat, start conversations, and use inline AI actions across the platform.
Prerequisites
Before using Validatar AI, ensure that:
- Your Validatar instance includes the AI feature and it is enabled.
- Your user account is licensed and within its monthly token usage limits.
- You are working in a cloud-based Validatar instance (AI is not currently supported for on-prem/server instances).
If AI is not available, contact your Validatar administrator.
Opening the AI Chat Panel
After logging in to Validatar:
- Locate the AI Chat icon in the upper-right corner of the application header.
- Click the icon to open the AI Chat panel.
The chat panel opens as a resizable side panel and can be closed at any time using the X icon in the top-right corner.
Chat Panel Views
The AI Chat panel includes three primary views:
Home View
The Home view appears when you open the chat panel or start a new conversation.
From here, you can:
- Click a predefined prompt to quickly start a conversation.
- Enter your own free-form prompt to begin a new chat.
- Navigate to All Chats to view your conversation history.
Chat View
The Chat view is where active conversations take place.
Key capabilities include:
-
Submitting prompts
Type your question or instruction in the input box and click Send. -
Automatic context awareness
The AI automatically receives context about:- Your current page
- The active data object (data source, schema, table, or column)
-
Chat subject editing
Hover over the chat subject in the header and click the pencil icon to rename it. -
Feedback controls
Use the thumbs-up or thumbs-down icons on AI responses to provide feedback. -
Optional diagnostics
If enabled by your admin, token usage details may appear below responses.
Chat History View
The Chat History view shows your past conversations.
From this view, you can:
- Click a conversation to reopen it.
- Archive a conversation using the trash icon.
Archived chats are removed from the active list but retained for audit and analysis purposes.
Using Inline AI Actions
In addition to the chat panel, Validatar AI is integrated directly into many areas of the UI through Inline Actions.
These actions automatically open the chat panel and pre-populate a prompt based on the current object.
Common Inline AI Locations
Inline AI actions are available in the following locations:
-
Data Source Metadata
Catalog → Data Source → Info tab
→ Auto-Document -
Schema Metadata
Catalog → Data Source → Schema → Info tab
→ Auto-Document -
Table Metadata
Catalog → Data Source → Schema → Table → Info tab
→ Auto-Document -
Column Metadata
Catalog → Data Source → Schema → Table → Column → Info tab
→ Auto-Document -
Test Recommendations
- Table-level: Table → Tests tab
- Column-level: Column → Tests tab
If the chat panel is already open, using an inline action will automatically start a new conversation with the relevant context applied.
How the AI Uses Context
Each time you submit a prompt, Validatar AI automatically includes:
- Your selected AI agent and model
- The current page and object context
- A configurable window of recent chat history
This allows the AI to provide more accurate, relevant, and actionable responses without requiring you to restate details manually.
Best Practices
- Be specific in your prompts (e.g., “Generate documentation for this table” vs. “Document this”).
- Use inline actions whenever possible to ensure the AI has full object context.
- Rename chat subjects for easier navigation later.
- Provide feedback on responses to help improve AI quality over time.
Troubleshooting
If you are unable to submit prompts or see AI features:
- Confirm your instance is licensed for AI.
- Verify that your monthly token limit has not been exceeded.
- Refresh the page to reload AI configuration.
- Contact your Validatar administrator if issues persist.