What is the primary function of an extended metadata file in analytics?

The primary function of an extended metadata file in analytics is to describe the structure of an external file. Extended metadata serves to provide detailed information about the components within a dataset, outlining data types, relationships, and hierarchies crucial for effective data analysis and utilization. This level of detail helps analysts understand how to interact with the data properly and ensures that the data can be interpreted consistently across various tools and platforms.

In contrast, the other functions listed do not accurately reflect the primary purpose of extended metadata. While controlling formatting for dashboard elements pertains more to design and UI specifics, visualizations focus on how data is represented graphically rather than describing the underlying structure. Storing raw data from queries is a different function altogether, related to data storage rather than metadata, which deals with providing contextual information about data. Thus, the correct answer emphasizes the structural description aspect of data management through extended metadata.