# SQL Scripts & Charts

ChartSQL visualizes plain SQL. Your SQL scripts live in folders on your file system (or in ChartSQL Studio Cloud) in what we call a **Folder**. Typically, you will have your SQL scripts in source control like git.

Each chart is a self contained SQL file and set of `@directives` (we say 'at directives' or 'directives'). Directives define how you want your chart to display. Any SQL file can be a visualization if it has appropriate columns that can be used for categories and series.

```sql
-- @chart: column
-- @category: product
-- @series: units_sold
SELECT 'Shoes' AS product, 120 AS units_sold
UNION ALL
SELECT 'T-Shirts', 200
UNION ALL
SELECT 'Jeans', 80
UNION ALL
SELECT 'Sunglasses', 150
UNION ALL
SELECT 'Hats', 90;
```

You can manage your charts for the currently open Folder from the file list

<div align="left"><figure><img src="/files/jYN6IpnxEeenAYh5S0kT" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

## Filtering

Typing into the “Filtering Folder Charts…” input will begin searching from your package files. You can also begin filtering with ctrl + f. You can exit filtering by hitting ESC.

{% hint style="info" %}
If you are already filtering, hitting ctrl + f again will bring up the browser’s default find.
{% endhint %}

You can filter on the following content:

* The name of the physical sql file
* The [@title](/reference/directives/title.md) directive of the SQL script&#x20;
* Tags defined in the script using [@tags](/reference/directives/overlay-series-1.md) directive

## Previewing & Opening

Clicking on any file in the list will open it in your editor. Only one file is open in Preview at a time, if you click a different file it will take the first file’s place. When you start editing the file it will convert to being an open file.

<figure><img src="/files/8y2D0MmecnPwNtLkqYtB" alt=""><figcaption><p>An open SQL script and chart preview</p></figcaption></figure>


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