The dataset schema defines how your Actor's output data is structured, transformed, and displayed in the Output tab in the Apify Console. Consider an example Ac
The Dataset Schema skill defines how your Actor’s output data is organized, transformed, and visually presented in the Apify Console’s Output tab. It controls which fields appear, their order, and how each is formatted—such as images, links, or dates—allowing marketers to quickly interpret scraped or processed data. By configuring transformations like flattening nested objects or limiting results, it ensures data is tailored to reporting or integration needs without additional post-processing.
This skill bridges raw Actor output and actionable insights, making datasets easier to consume for SEO audits, CRO analysis, or PPC campaign targeting. It standardizes output presentation, which improves efficiency when reviewing large datasets or sharing results with stakeholders.
This skill is essential for performance marketers who manage data-intensive campaigns and need consistent, clean datasets from web scraping or automation workflows. Growth leads leveraging Apify Actors to track competitor prices or analyze SERP features will benefit from structured output tailored to their KPIs. Agency strategists who deliver client reports based on web data can use this skill to format results clearly, reducing manual cleanup time and speeding decision-making.
It suits scenarios where multiple team members access the same Actor output or where datasets feed dashboards, requiring standardized, reliable data formatting.
First, define the dataset schema JSON file to specify fields, their data types, and how each should display in the Output tab—this includes labels and formats like text, number, or image. Next, configure views within the schema to control data transformations such as selecting specific fields, flattening nested objects, or limiting the number of results shown. Then, link this schema file in the Actor’s configuration (`actor.json`) to activate the formatting in the Apify Console. Finally, after the Actor runs and pushes data, review the structured output in the Output tab, ensuring it matches your reporting or integration needs and iterate on the schema for improvements.
How do I control which fields appear in the output? Define the `fields` array in the view’s transformation section to specify and order visible fields. Can I flatten nested objects in the dataset? Yes, the schema supports a `flatten` property to transform nested objects into a flat structure. Does the schema affect the raw data stored? No, it only affects how data is displayed and transformed in the Console, not the underlying dataset.
Attach the Dataset Schema skill to your Metaflow agent task to standardize how your Actor’s output data appears in the Apify Console’s Output tab. Once configured, expect your scraped or processed data to be neatly formatted, with fields clearly labeled and visualized according to your schema settings. This streamlines data review and accelerates insights across SEO, CRO, or PPC workflows. You can then adjust your schema iteratively based on what data your team needs to see most clearly.
For broader context, see our roundup of claude skills for marketing, and read Claude skills for SEO for related setup guidance.