Parquet files are highly efficient but not human-readable. This guide shows you various methods to view and analyze Parquet data directly.

Quick Peek - View First Rows

Quickly inspect the structure and first few rows of your dataset

Detailed Analysis - Explore All Features

Comprehensive analysis of all 200+ features in the dataset

Filter & Search - View Specific Columns

Load only the columns you need for faster performance

Save Script to File

Create a Python file to run the viewing script

Pro Tips

  • Missing Values: The first ~200 rows may have nulls for indicators requiring lookback periods (e.g., SMA_200 needs 200 candles). This is normal and expected.
  • Memory Efficiency: Use columns parameter when reading Parquet to load only what you need.
  • Compression: Parquet with 'snappy' compression offers the best balance of speed and size.
  • Data Types: Parquet preserves exact data types (float32, int64, etc.), unlike JSON which may require conversion.
  • Tools: Use pandas, polars, or duckdb for working with Parquet files in Python.
  • Windows Users: Use python command. Linux/Mac users: use python3.
  • File Paths: Windows uses backslashes \ (or forward slashes /), Linux/Mac uses forward slashes /.

Check Python Installation

Verify Python is installed and check version