---
title: "Create and Use a Workbench (Jupyter Notebook)"
url: "https://docs.noreja.com/en/article/create-and-use-a-workbench-jupyter-notebook"
language: "en"
last_updated: "2026-10-23T08:55:19.186Z"
---

# Create and Use a Workbench (Jupyter Notebook)

Open your personal JupyterLab workbench in Noreja, use the example notebooks, read process data with the Noreja library, and keep your work when the session ends.

The workbench is a JupyterLab environment inside Noreja for data scientists, programmers and technical analysts who know Python. You can query the process data of your perspectives directly, compute your own statistics and try out models, with Python libraries for data analysis preinstalled. Each user has one personal workbench.

> **Permissions:** feature **Workbench**: **Create** to use the workbench (without it, the top menu shows no **Workbench** entry), **Delete** to end your session yourself from the session dialog. With the workbench, users can read the process data of all perspectives, also those not shared with them. See [Create and Edit Roles](https://docs.noreja.com/en/article/create-and-edit-roles).

### Open Your Workbench

Click **Workbench** in the top menu. Noreja starts your workbench and opens JupyterLab below the top bar. The first start can take up to two minutes (*Starting the workbench for the first time can take up to 2 minutes*); later starts are faster.

![JupyterLab inside Noreja below the top bar: the file browser on the left in the folder templates with machine-learning, case_complexity, data_exploration, node_counter and process_stats, and the Launcher with Notebook, Console and Other](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/d91cf479-9ce3-4a8e-8ec0-4bdbc26cda19)

On the left is the file browser with your files. The folder **templates** contains example notebooks: counting nodes, process statistics such as activities per case and case durations, data exploration with violations, case complexity, and machine-learning examples. Open one to see how it works, then save a copy for your own work. For JupyterLab itself, see the [JupyterLab documentation](https://jupyterlab.readthedocs.io/en/stable/user/interface.html).

### Read Process Data

The workbench comes with a small Noreja library. It runs Cypher queries against the process graph and returns the results. The query below is split into several strings, which Python joins into one:

```
from noreja.noreja import Noreja

noreja = Noreja()
query = (
    "MATCH (d😀imension {id: '<perspective ID>', isLive: true})"
    "<-[:PART_OF_DIMENSION_CASE_INSTANCE]-(c:CaseInstance) "
    "RETURN count(c) AS cases"
)
result = noreja.run_token(query)
```

-   `run_token` sends the query through Noreja with your login. It only reads; queries that would change data are rejected.
-   Queries aren't limited to the perspectives shared with you: in the workbench you can read the data of every perspective, including earlier imports.
-   In the graph, a perspective is called *Dimension*. Scope every query to one perspective and to its live version (`isLive: true`); otherwise you count data of all perspectives, including earlier imports.
-   How cases, variants and the process model relate is explained in [Process Models and Levels: Case, Variant, Process Model](https://docs.noreja.com/en/article/process-models-and-levels-case-variant-process-model).

To use further Python packages, install them in a cell with `%pip install <package>`. They're lost when your workbench is removed, for example after it's stopped or about twelve minutes after you leave the Workbench page. Then install them again.

### Save Your Work

-   Only files saved in the file browser are kept. Unsaved changes and running notebooks are lost when the workbench stops or restarts, and packages you installed are lost when it's removed. Save often (**File** → **Save** or Ctrl+S).
-   45 minutes after you opened the workbench, Noreja asks *Extend workbench session?*. Click **Continue** to keep working. **Stop**, or no answer within 100 seconds, ends the workbench.
-   When you leave the Workbench page, your workbench is stopped after about six minutes and removed after about twelve. Your saved files stay; click **Workbench** again to start it.
-   An administrator can restart or stop your workbench, for example after an update; see [Manage Workbench Instances](https://docs.noreja.com/en/article/manage-workbench-instances).

### If the Workbench Doesn't Open

-   **The page keeps loading after two minutes**: check with your administrator that your role has **Workbench** → **Create**. Noreja shows no error message in this case.
-   **The area stays empty**: reload the page.

### Related

-   [Manage Workbench Instances](https://docs.noreja.com/en/article/manage-workbench-instances)
-   [Create and Edit Roles](https://docs.noreja.com/en/article/create-and-edit-roles)