# Paraview: Obtain information on the pipeline, etc. from within a PythonAnnotation filter

**URL:** https://discourse.paraview.org/t/paraview-obtain-information-on-the-pipeline-etc-from-within-a-pythonannotation-filter/9999
**Category:** ParaView Support
**Created:** [July 13, 2022, 11:16am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/paraview-obtain-information-on-the-pipeline-etc-from-within-a-pythonannotation-filter/9999 "2022-07-13T11:16:06Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![sancho\_s](https://discourse.paraview.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@sancho\_s](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/sancho_s)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2022, 11:16am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/paraview-obtain-information-on-the-pipeline-etc-from-within-a-pythonannotation-filter/9999/1 "2022-07-13T11:16:06Z")

</div>

1. Within the python shell window, I can learn a lot about what I can do via a combination of `dir`, `type`, `help`, tab-completion, copy-paste input and output, etc… all usual capabilities of a good python shell.

2. Within an expression of a PythonAnnotation filter, I don’t know how to learn about what I can do. I have almost none of the capabilities above. I started with the expression `dir()`, but I can often not see the whole output since it overflows the view, and there is no word wrap. I cannot copy the output to paste and view it elsewhere.

What are suitable capabilities to accomplish #2?  
I know I can read documentation, but hands-on work is usually most helpful.  
Plus, it looks to me somewhat brief.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![Francois\_Mazen](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/francois_mazen/32/6483_2.png) [@Francois\_Mazen](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/Francois_Mazen)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2022, 6:47am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/paraview-obtain-information-on-the-pipeline-etc-from-within-a-pythonannotation-filter/9999/2 "2022-07-15T06:47:54Z")

</div>

hello @sancho_s

you can use the SpreadSheet View to see the whole content of your annotation:

 ![image](https://discourse.paraview.org/uploads/default/original/2X/6/60684fb27f54dff16d36b23767b5e7acb6b44f2e.png)

Hope this helps  
Best,  
François