Creating a new virtual database

In order to create views and materializations, you must first create a virtual database. A virtual database acts like a physical database but only stores the information required to access the data that is physically stored across other data sources.

To create a virtual database:

1. You must navigate to the Add resources section in the sidebar.

2. Under resource type, select Virtual.

3. Fill out your chosen name, description and whether or not you want to make the data source visible to other team members by toggling Visible in catalog?.

4. Finally, select Add a data source.

Creating a view

A view acts like a saved query. You can store a query in a virtual database that can then be easily shared with other users of the Contiamo platform or consumed in an external data platform, like Tableau.

To create a view from a query:

1. click on the Save as... button above the query interface and select View from the dropdown menu.

2. Set a name for your view and choose which virtual database you would like to store your view inside.

Creating a materialized view

For any number of reasons, you may want to materialize your view so that the data is persisted.

Create a materialized view from a query

1. You can directly create a materialized view from a query by clicking the Save as... button above the query interface and selecting Materialized view from the dropdown menu.

2. Set a name for your materialized view, choose which virtual database you would like to store it inside.

3. Choose whether you would like the materialization to refresh or expire after any time period.

Create a materialized view from a view

You can also turn any view into a materialized view:

1. click on the three-dots icon that is visible when you hover over the view name in the data source list.

2. Select Turn into materialization.

3. Choose whether you would like the materialization to refresh or expire after any time period.