---
title: "Sample Data"
description: "Install a roster of fictional employees to try Pyn with realistic data, and reload it to put everything back the way it was."
sidebar:
  label: Overview
  order: 0
area: integrations
feature: sample-data
appPath: /settings/integrations/available
lastVerified: 2026-10-22
version: "2026-10-16"
audience: admin
related:
  - integrations
  - integrations/employee-file
  - directory/employees
  - getting-started
---

Sample Data fills the Directory with a bundled roster of a fictional company so you can build groups, test flows and read Activity before connecting your HRIS. Reloading it puts the sample employees back the way they were, so experiments are cheap.

## Before you start

- You are an admin or owner, and Sample Data is enabled for your workspace; the tile appears under **Available** only then. It is on for playground and trial workspaces.
- Sample employees live alongside anything else in the Directory. Use it in a trial or sandbox workspace rather than one that already has a real roster.

![Install Sample Data adds a roster of fictional employees to try Pyn with.](https://support.pynhq.com/media/integrations/sample-data/integrations-sample-data-install.png)

## Connect

1. In Pyn, open **Settings** in the left navigation, then **Available** under **Integrations**.

2. Select the **Sample Data** tile. The **Install Sample Data** dialog explains "This adds a roster of fictional employees to your directory so you can try Pyn with realistic data."

3. Select **Install**.

4. The panel opens and reads "Loading the sample roster. The fields and History fill in here as it lands."

## What syncs

A fixed roster of fictional employees with names, emails, start dates, departments, locations, time zones and reporting lines, enough to populate demographics, lifecycle groups and a journey map. There is no scheduled refresh. The **Advanced** tab lists **Fields in Sample Data** and **History** records each load.

## Test it

Open [Employees](https://support.pynhq.com/directory/employees/) a minute or two after installing. Then follow [Getting started](https://support.pynhq.com/getting-started/) to build a first automation and enrol a sample employee.

## Reconnect or disconnect

- **Reload Sample Data** in the panel resets the roster: "Reloading n sample employees. The History tab will show the result in a minute or two, after which the Directory reflects the reload." If a reload is already running the button is disabled; a refused reload shows "The sample roster could not be reloaded. Please try again."
- **Deactivate** keeps the employees but stops reloads; **Archive** removes the integration.

## Troubleshooting

| What you see | What it means |
| --- | --- |
| The tile is not under Available | Sample Data is not enabled for this workspace. Ask Pyn support, or use [Employee File](https://support.pynhq.com/integrations/employee-file/). |
| Sample employees appear next to real ones | Both sources are installed. Archive Sample Data before going live. |

## Related

- [Integrations](https://support.pynhq.com/integrations/) for the catalogue.
- [Employee File](https://support.pynhq.com/integrations/employee-file/) to load your own spreadsheet instead.
- [Employees](https://support.pynhq.com/directory/employees/) to see the roster.
- [Getting started](https://support.pynhq.com/getting-started/) for what to try first.