AI Chatbot FAQ & Troubleshooting

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

Q: What is AI Chatbot and how does it work? A: AI Chatbot is an AI-powered assistant that understands natural language queries about your CKAN datasets. It searches, analyzes, and visualizes data based on your questions.

Q: How accurate is the AI? A: The AI is highly accurate but currently in beta. Always verify critical information independently, especially for important decisions.

Q: Can I save my conversations? A: Yes! Use the Export button (?) in the header to download your conversation as a markdown file.

Q: Is there a limit to how many questions I can ask? A: This depends on your account type. Most users have generous limits for normal usage.

Q: Does the AI remember previous questions in a session? A: Yes, the AI maintains context throughout your conversation. You can reference previous responses.

Data & Privacy

Q: Can the AI access my private datasets? A: The AI can only access datasets you have permission to view in the CKAN portal.

Q: Is my conversation data stored? A: Conversations are stored temporarily for your session. Check your organization's data policy for details.

Q: Can others see my queries? A: No, your conversations are private to your account.

Q: What happens to my data when I clear the conversation? A: Clearing removes the conversation from your current session. Exported conversations remain in your downloads.

Features & Capabilities

Q: What types of charts can the AI create? A: Bar charts, line graphs, pie charts, scatter plots, heatmaps, and more. Just specify what you want!

Q: Can the AI combine data from multiple datasets? A: Yes, the AI can analyze and compare data across multiple datasets when relevant.

Q: What file formats are supported? A: CSV, JSON, Excel (XLSX/XLS), and other formats supported by your CKAN instance.

Q: Can I modify the charts after they're created? A: You can request modifications by asking follow-up questions. For manual editing, download the chart.

Q: Does the AI work with real-time data? A: The AI works with the most recent data available in your CKAN instance. Real-time depends on how often datasets are updated.

Troubleshooting Guide

Common Issues and Solutions

? "AI Not Understanding My Query"

Symptoms:

• Wrong data returned
• Misinterpreted question
• Irrelevant response

Solutions:

1. Rephrase using simpler language
2. Break complex questions into parts
3. Use specific dataset names if known
4. Add more context

Example Fix:

Instead of: "Show the thing from last year" Try: "Show unemployment data from 2023"

? "No Datasets Found"

Symptoms:

• "I couldn't find any relevant datasets"
• Empty results

Solutions:

1. Check spelling of technical terms
2. Try alternative keywords
3. Broaden your search terms
4. Verify the data exists in CKAN

Example Fix:

Instead of: "labour statistics" Try: "employment data" or "job statistics" or "workforce data"

? "Charts Not Displaying"

Symptoms:

• Blank chart area
• "Chart not available" message
• Loading indefinitely

Solutions:

1. Refresh the page (F5)
2. Check browser console for errors (F12)
3. Try a simpler chart type
4. Reduce data points (ask for "top 10" instead of all)
5. Clear browser cache

? "Slow Response Times"

Symptoms:

• Long wait for responses
• Timeout errors
• "Still thinking..." for extended periods

Solutions:

1. Simplify your query
2. Request smaller date ranges
3. Ask for specific datasets rather than broad searches
4. Avoid analyzing very large datasets (>100k records)

Example Fix:

Instead of: "Analyze all historical data" Try: "Analyze data from the last 3 years"

? "Login Required Message"

Symptoms:

• "Please log in to use the AI assistant"
• Session expired warnings

Solutions:

1. Click the login button
2. Check if your session expired (re-login)
3. Verify your account has AI access permissions
4. Clear cookies and login again

? "Incorrect Calculations or Data"

Symptoms:

• Wrong numbers in response
• Calculations don't match source
• Inconsistent results

Solutions:

1. Ask the AI to recalculate
2. Request to see the source data
3. Check the thinking process for errors
4. Verify dataset version/date
5. Report persistent issues

? "Context Lost Mid-Conversation"

Symptoms:

• AI doesn't remember previous questions
• Have to repeat information
• "I don't have that information" for follow-ups

Solutions:

1. Reference the specific previous response
2. Summarize context in your question
3. Check if session timed out
4. Avoid very long conversations (export and start fresh)

Example Fix:

Instead of: "Add population to that" Try: "Add population data to the unemployment chart you just created"

Tips & Tricks

Getting Better Results

1. Use Specific Dates

   • ❌ "recent data"
   • ✅ "data from January 2023 to December 2023"

2. Name Your Outputs

   • ❌ "make a chart"
   • ✅ "create a bar chart"

3. Specify Groupings

   • ❌ "show by location"
   • ✅ "group by state" or "group by city"

4. Set Limits

   • ❌ "show all cities"
   • ✅ "show top 20 cities by population"

Understanding the Thinking Process

The "Thinking Process" shows:

• Search queries used to find data
• Datasets examined
• Analysis steps performed
• Decisions made by the AI

Click to expand and understand how the AI interpreted your question.

Error Messages Explained

Still Need Help?

Quick Checklist

• [ ] Is your query specific enough?
• [ ] Are you logged in?
• [ ] Is the data you want actually available?
• [ ] Have you tried the example queries?
• [ ] Did you check the thinking process?

Contact Support

If issues persist after trying these solutions:

1. Export your conversation for reference
2. Note the exact error message
3. Contact your CKAN administrator
4. Include browser and version info

Report a Bug

Help improve AI Chatbot by reporting:

• Consistent errors
• Incorrect calculations
• UI/display issues
• Feature requests

FAQ & Troubleshooting v2.1 - Beta