ELT Insert-Select

In this article

An account for the Snap

You must define an account for this Snap to communicate with your target CDW. Click the account specific to your target CDW below for more information:

Overview

Use this Snap to perform the INSERT INTO SELECT operation on the specified table. The Snap creates a table and inserts the data if the target table does not exist. After successfully running a Pipeline that contains this Snap, you can check for the data updates made to the target table in one of the following ways: 

  • Validate the Pipeline and review the Snap's output preview data.
  • Query the target table using ELT Select Snap for the latest data available.
  • Open the target database and check for the new data in the target table.

Prerequisites

  • A valid SnapLogic account to connect to the database in which you want to perform the INSERT INTO SELECT operation.
  • Your database account must have the following permissions:
    • SELECT privileges for the source table whose data you want to insert into the target table.
    • CREATE TABLE privileges for the database in which you want to create the table.
    • INSERT privileges to insert data into the target table.

Limitations

  • The input data must correspond to the specified table's schema. You can use the ELT Transform Snap to ensure this.

  • ELT Snap Pack does not support Legacy SQL dialect of Google BigQuery. We recommend that you use only the BigQuery's Standard SQL dialect in this Snap.

Known Issues

  • If the last Snap in the Pipeline takes 2 to 5 seconds to update the runtime, the ELT Pipeline statistics are not displayed even after the Pipeline is completed. The UI does not auto-refresh to display the statistics after the runtime.
    Workaround: Close the Pipeline statistics window and reopen it to see the ELT Pipeline statistics.

  • When you return to the Snap Statistics tab from the Extra Details tab in the Pipeline Execution Statistics pane, it contains the status bar (Pipeline execution status) instead of the Download Query Details hyperlink and the individual counts of Records Added, Records Updated, and Records Deleted.

  • When your Databricks Lakehouse Platform instance uses Databricks Runtime Version 8.4 or lower, ELT operations involving large amounts of data might fail due to the smaller memory capacity of 536870912 bytes (512MB) allocated by default. This issue does not occur if you are using Databricks Runtime Version 9.0.
  • Suggestions displayed for the Schema Name field in this Snap are from all databases that the Snap account user can access, instead of the specific database selected in the Snap's account or Settings.

In any of the supported target databases, this Snap does not appropriately identify nor render column references beginning with an _ (underscore) inside SQL queries/statements that use the following constructs and contexts (the Snap works as expected in all other scenarios):

  • WHERE clause (ELT Filter Snap)
  • WHEN clause
  • ON condition (ELT Join, ELT Merge Into Snaps)
  • HAVING clause
  • QUALIFY clause
  • Insert expressions (column names and values in ELT Insert Select, ELT Load, and ELT Merge Into Snaps)
  • Update expressions list (column names and values in ELT Merge Into Snap)
  • Secondary AND condition
  • Inside SQL query editor (ELT Select and ELT Execute Snaps)

Workaround

As a workaround while using these SQL query constructs, you can:

  • Precede this Snap with an ELT Transform Snap to re-map the '_' column references to suitable column names (that do not begin with an _ ) and reference the new column names in the next Snap, as needed.
  • In case of Databricks Lakehouse Platform where CSV files do not have a header (column names), a simple query like SELECT * FROM CSV.`/mnt/csv1.csv` returns default names such as _c0, _c1, _c2 for the columns which this Snap cannot interpret. To avoid this scenario, you can:
    • Write the data in the CSV file to a DLP table beforehand, as in: CREATE TABLE csvdatatable (a1 int, b1 int,…) USING CSV `/mnt/csv1.csv` where a1, b1, and so on are the new column names.
    • Then, read the data from this new table (with column names a1, b1, and so on) using a simple SELECT statement.
  • In case of Databricks Lakehouse Platform, all ELT Snaps' preview data (during validation) contains a value with precision higher than that of the actual floating point value (float data type) stored in the Delta. For example, 24.123404659344 instead of 24.1234. However, the Snap reflects the exact values during Pipeline executions.

Snap Input and Output

Input/OutputType of ViewNumber of ViewsExamples of Upstream and Downstream SnapsDescription
Input 

Document

  • Min: 1
  • Max: 1
  • ELT Select
  • ELT Transform
The data to be inserted into the target table. Ensure that the data corresponds to the target table's schema. 
Output

Document

  • Min: 0
  • Max: 1
  • ELT Select
  • ELT Transform

A document containing the SQL SELECT query executed on the target database.

Snap Settings

SQL Functions and Expressions for ELT

You can use the SQL Expressions and Functions supported for ELT to define your Snap or Account settings with the Expression symbol = enabled, where available. This list is common to all target CDWs supported. You can also use other expressions/functions that your target CDW supports.

Parameter NameData TypeDescriptionDefault ValueExample 
LabelString
Specify a name for the Snap. You can modify this to be more specific, especially if you have more than one of the same Snap in your pipeline.
ELT Insert-SelectInsert Employee Records
Get preview dataCheckbox

Select this checkbox to include a preview of the query's output. The Snap performs limited execution and generates a data preview during Pipeline validation.

In the case of ELT Pipelines, only the SQL query flows through the Snaps but not the actual source data. Hence, the preview data for a Snap is the result of executing the SQL query that the Snap has generated in the Pipeline.

The number of records displayed in the preview (upon validation) is the smaller of the following:

  • Number of records available upon execution of the SQL query generated by the Snap.

  • The value set in the Preview Data Count setting (default is 50 records).

Rendering Complex Data Types in Databricks Lakehouse Platform

Based on the data types of the fields in the input schema, the Snap renders the complex data types like map and struct as object data type and array as an array data type. It renders all other incoming data types as-is except for the values in binary fields are displayed as a base64 encoded string and as string data type.

Not selectedSelected
Database NameString

Required. Enter the name of the database in which the target table is located. Leave it blank to use the database name specified in the account settings.

If your target database is Databricks Lakehouse Platform (DLP), you can, alternatively, mention the file format type for your table path in this field. For example, DELTA, CSV, JSON, ORC, AVRO. See Table Path Management for DLP section below to understand the Snap's behavior towards table paths.

N/A TESTDB
Schema Name (Not applicable to Databricks Lakehouse Platform)String

RequiredEnter the name of the database schema. In case it is not defined, then the suggestion for the schema name retrieves all schema names in the specified database when you click .

  • Ensure that you include the exactly same schema name including the double quotes, if used, when you repeat the schema name in the Target Table Name field.
  • Leave this field blank if your target database is Databricks Lakehouse Platform.

N/A"TEST_DATA"
Target Table NameString

Required. The name of the table or view into which you want to insert the data. 

Only views that can be updated (have new rows) are listed as suggestions. So, Join views are not included. This also implies that the Snap account user has the Insert privileges on the views listed as suggestions.

If your target database is Databricks Lakehouse Platform (DLP), you can, alternatively, mention the target table path in this field. Enclose the DBFS table path between two `(backtick/backquote) characters. For example, `/mnt/elt/mytabletarget`Learn more about the Snap’s behavior toward paths in the Table Path Management for DLP section.

If you choose to include the schema name as part of the target table name, ensure that it is the same as specified in the Schema Name field, including the double quotes. For example, if the schema name specified is "table_schema_1", then the table name should be "table_schema_1"."tablename".

If the target table or view does not exist during run-time, the Snap creates one with the name that you specify in this field and writes the data into it. During Pipeline validation, the Snap creates the new table or view but does not write any records into it.

  • The new table or view will not be dropped if a subsequent/downstream Snap failure occurs during validation.

  • Use double quotes (““) to specify the table or view name if you want to include special characters such as hyphens (-) in the table or view name.

  • A table or view name must always start with a letter.

  • Integers and underscores (_) can also be a part of the name.

  • All characters are automatically converted to uppercase at the backend. Use double-quotes to retain lowercase.


  • Ensure that you include the exactly same schema name, if at all, including the double quotes as specified in the Schema Name field.

N/A

"TEST_DATA"."DIRECT"

EMPLOYEE_DATA

EMPLOYEE_123_DATA

REVENUE"-"OUTLET

"net_revenue"

Advanced OptionsCheckbox Select this checkbox to define the mapping of your source and target table columns scenario with or without the Insert Expressions list. When selected, it activates the Operation Types field.DeselectedSelected
Operation TypesDropdown list

Choose one of the following options that best describes your source data and the INSERT preference:

  • Source Columns Order. Use this operation type to fill the target table columns with the source table data in the same order of columns as in the source table.
  • Some Source and Target Column names are identical. Use this operation type when you want only a subset of the target table columns that are identical to the source to be filled with the source data and optionally define the Insert Expression List to fill the remaining columns in the target table.
  • All Source and Target Column names are identical. Use this operation type when your source and target table have the same set of column names. You cannot specify any Insert Expressions with this operation type.
Source Columns OrderSome Source and Target Column names are identical
Table Option List

This field set enables you to specify the table options you want to use on the target table. These options are populated based on the Snap Account (target CDW) selected. You must specify each table option in a separate row. Click  to add rows. 

This field set contains one field:

  • Table Option
Table OptionString/Suggestion

Click the Suggestions icon (  ) to view and select the table option you want to apply for loading data into the target table.

N/ADISTRIBUTION = HASH ( cust_name )
Insert Expression List

This field set enables you to specify the values for a subset of the columns in the target table. The remaining columns are assigned null values automatically. You must specify each column in a separate row. Click  to add rows. 

This field set is disabled if you select All Source and Target Column names are identical in the Operation Types field.

This field set consists of the following fields:

  • Insert Column
  • Insert Value

You can use this field set to insert data only into an existing table. 

Insert ColumnStringEnter the name of the column in the target table to assign values.N/AORD_AMOUNT
Insert ValueStringEnter the value to assign in the specified column. Repeat the column name if you want to use the values in the source table. You can also use expressions to transform the values.N/A

ORD_AMOUNT

ORD_AMOUNT+20

OverwriteCheckboxSelect to overwrite the data in the target table. If not selected, the incoming data is appended. Not selectedSelected

Snap behavior in different source and target table column scenarios

Data match (operation) type 
Number of source
table columns 
Number of target
table columns 
Insert expression
list specified? 
Snap behavior
Not specified (Advanced Options checkbox is not selected)LessMoreYes
  • Ignores data in the source table columns.
  • Inserts values from the Expression list in the target table columns.
  • Inserts nulls in the remaining target columns.
  • Returns an error if the target table does not exist.
Not specified (Advanced Options checkbox is not selected)SameSameYes
  • Ignores data in the source table columns.
  • Inserts values from the Expression list in the target table columns.
  • Inserts nulls in the remaining target columns.
  • Returns an error if the target table does not exist.
Not specified (Advanced Options checkbox is not selected)MoreLessYes
  • Ignores data in the source table columns.
  • Inserts values from the Expression list in the target table columns.
  • Inserts nulls in the remaining target columns.
  • Returns an error if the target table does not exist.
Not specified (Advanced Options checkbox is not selected)LessMoreNo
  • Inserts values into the target table columns that match the source columns.
  • Inserts nulls in the remaining target columns.
Not specified (Advanced Options checkbox is not selected)SameSameNo
  • Inserts values into the target table columns that match the source columns.
  • Replicates the source table as a new target table, if the target table does not exist.
Not specified (Advanced Options checkbox is not selected)MoreLessNo
  • Inserts values into the target table columns that match the source columns.
  • Inserts nulls in the remaining target table columns.
  • Replicates the source table as a new target table, if the target table does not exist.
Source Columns OrderLessMoreNo
  • Inserts values from the source in the matching target columns.
  • Inserts nulls in the remaining target columns.
Source Columns OrderLessMoreYes
  • Inserts values from the source in the matching target columns.
  • Inserts values from the Insert expression list in the specified target columns.
  • Inserts nulls in the remaining target columns.
  • Returns an error if any specified column name is not found in the target table.
Source Columns OrderSameSameNo
  • Inserts values from the source in the matching target columns.
Source Columns OrderSameSameYes
  • Returns an error that the source table (combined with Insert Expression list) has more columns than the target table.
All Source and Target Column names are identicalLessMoreNot displayed
  • Inserts values from the source in the matching target columns.
  • Inserts nulls in the remaining target columns.
All Source and Target Column names are identicalSameSameNot displayed
  • Inserts values from the source in the matching target columns.
  • Inserts nulls in the remaining target columns.
Some Source and Target Column names are identicalLessMoreNo
  • Inserts values from the source in the matching target columns.
  • Inserts nulls in the remaining target columns.
Some Source and Target Column names are identicalLessMoreYes
  • Assumes that there is no column name in common between the source table and Insert expression list. Returns an error if a common column is found.
  • Inserts values from the source in the matching target columns.
  • Inserts values from the Insert Expression list in the specified target columns.
  • Inserts nulls in the remaining target columns.
  • Returns an error if any specified column name is not found in the target table.
Some Source and Target Column names are identicalSameSameNo
  • Inserts values from the source in the matching target columns.
  • Inserts nulls in the remaining target columns.
Some Source and Target Column names are identicalSameSameYes
  • Assumes that the sum of the source table columns count and the Insert Expression list is not more than the target table columns count. Returns an error if this condition is not satisfied.
  • Inserts values from the source in the matching target columns.
  • Inserts values from the Insert expression list in the specified target columns.
  • Inserts nulls in the remaining target columns.
  • Returns an error if any specified column name is not found in the target table.
Any of the three optionsMore LessYes or No
  • Returns an error that the source table (plus Insert expressions) has more columns than the target table and the Insert Select operation cannot be performed.

Table Path Management for DLP

A table path in Databricks Lakehouse Platform is the folder in the DBFS where the files corresponding to the target table are stored. You need to enclose the DBFS table path between two `(backtick/backquote) characters.

#

File Format Type
(Database Name field)

Table Path exists?#All other requirements
are valid?
Snap Operation Result
1DELTAYesYesSuccess
2DELTANoYesFailure. Snap displays error message.
3DELTAYesNoFailure. Snap displays error message.
4AVRO/CSV/JSON/ORC/otherYesYesSuccess. Snap creates a DELTA table.

# We recommend that you specify a target table path that resolves to a valid data file. Create the required target file, if need be, before running your Pipeline.

Pipeline Execution Statistics

As a Pipeline executes, the Snap shows the following statistics updating periodically. You can monitor the progress of the Pipeline as each Snap performs executes.

  • Records Added

  • Records Updated

  • Records Deleted

You can view more information when clicking the Download Query Details link.

Note: The statistics are also available in the output view of the child ELT Pipeline.

Troubleshooting

ErrorReasonResolution

Invalid placement of ELT Insert-Select Snap

You cannot use the ELT Insert-Select Snap at the beginning of a Pipeline.Move the ELT Insert-Select Snap to the middle or to the end of the Pipeline.

Snap configuration invalid

The specified target table does not exist in the database for the Snap to insert the provided subset values.Ensure that the target table exists as specified for the ELT Insert-Select Snap to insert the provided subset values.
Database encountered an error during Insert-Select processing.

Database cannot be blank.

(when seeking the suggested list for Schema Name field)

Suggestions in the Schema Name and Target Table Name fields do not work when you have not specified a valid value for the Database Name field in this Snap.

Specify the target Database Name in this Snap to view and choose from a suggested list in the Schema Name and Target Table Name fields respectively.

SQL exception from Snowflake: Syntax error in one or more positions in the SQL query.
Column names in Snowflake tables are case-sensitive. It stores all columns in uppercase unless they are surrounded by quotes during the time of creation in which case, the exact case is preserved. See, Identifier Requirements — Snowflake Documentation.Ensure that you follow the same casing for the column table names across the Pipeline.

[Simba][SparkJDBCDriver](500051) ERROR processing query/statement. Error Code: 0

Cannot create table ('<schema name>`.`<table name>`'). The associated location (`…<table name>`) is not empty but it's not a Delta table

(Target CDW: Databricks Lakehouse Platform)

The specified location contains one of the following:

  • A non-Delta table (such as CSV, ORC, JSON, PARQUET)

  • A corrupted table

  • A Delta table with a different table schema

So, the Snap/Pipeline cannot overwrite this table with the target table as needed.

Ensure that you take appropriate action (mentioned below) on the existing table before running your Pipeline again (to create another Delta table at this location).

Move or drop the existing table from the schema manually using one of the following commands:

Access the DBFS through a terminal and run:

  • dbfs mv dbfs:/<current_table_path> dbfs:/<new_table_path> to move the table or

  • dbfs rm -r dbfs:/<table_path> to drop the table.

OR

Use a Python notebook and run:

  • dbutils.fs.mv(from: String, to: String, recurse: boolean = false): boolean to move the table/file/directory or

  • dbutils.fs.rm(dir: String, recurse: boolean = false): boolean to drop the table/file/directory.

Syntax error when database/schema/table name contains a hyphen (-) such as in default.schema-1.order-details.

(CDW: Azure Synapse)

Azure Synapse expects any object name containing hyphens to be enclosed between double quotes as in "<object-name>".Ensure that you use double quotes for every object name that contains a hyphen when your target database is Azure Synapse. For example: default."schema-1"."order-details".

Examples

Merging Two Tables and Creating a New Table

We need a query with the UNION clause to merge two tables. To write these merged records into a new table, we need to perform the INSERT INTO SELECT operation. This example demonstrates how we can do both of these tasks.

First, we build SELECT queries to read the target tables. To do so, we can use two ELT Select Snaps, in this example: Read Part A and Read Part B. Each of these Snaps is configured to output a SELECT * query to read the target table in the database. Additionally, these Snaps are also configured to show a preview of the SELECT query's execution as shown:

Read Part A ConfigurationRead Part B Configuration

A preview of the outputs from the ELT Select Snaps is shown below:

Read Part A OutputRead Part B Output

Then, we connect the ELT Union Snap to the output view of the ELT Select Snaps. The SELECT * queries in both of these Snaps form the inputs for the ELT Union Snap. The ELT Union Snap is also configured to eliminate duplicates, so it adds a UNION DISTINCT clause.

Upon execution, the ELT Union Snap combines both incoming SELECT * queries and adds the UNION DISTINCT clause.

To perform the INSERT INTO SELECT operation, add the ELT Insert-Select Snap. We can perform this operation on an existing table. Alternatively, we can also use this Snap to write the records into a new table. To do so, we configure the Target Table Name field with the name of the new table.


The result is a table with the specified table name in the database after executing this Pipeline. 

Download this Pipeline.

Downloads

Important Steps to Successfully Reuse Pipelines

  1. Download and import the Pipeline into SnapLogic.
  2. Configure Snap accounts as applicable.
  3. Provide Pipeline parameters as applicable.

  File Modified

File ELT_Union_Insert-Select_Example.slp

Aug 20, 2020 by Mohammed Iqbal


Snap Pack History

 Click here to expand...

Release

Snap Pack Version 

Date

Type

Updates

February 2024main25112 StableUpdated and certified against the current SnapLogic Platform release.
November 2023435patches24461 LatestFixed an issue with the ELT Merge Into Snap that caused inaccurate aliases and table identifiers in its generated SQL statement.
November 2023435patches23671 Latest and Stable
  • Enhanced the ELT Merge Into Snap to support defining the update expressions for updating tables in your target Databricks Lakehouse Platform instance using the WHEN NOT MATCHED BY SOURCE clause, besides other supported clauses and expression lists.

November 2023main23721 Stable
  • Enhanced the ELT Merge Into and ELT SCD2 Snaps to display detailed pipeline execution statistics about the data loaded to target tables on a Databricks Lakehouse Platform instance.

    • In addition to the individual counts of rows inserted, updated, and deleted that the ELT Merge Into Snap covers, the ELT SCD2 Snap also reports the count of source rows rejected.

August 2023main22460 Stable
  • Upgraded the JDBC driver support for Snowflake to snowflake-jdbc-3.13.33.jar.

  • Updated the ELT Snowflake Account to append the connection parameter application in its JDBC URL with the value SnapLogic_iPaaS.

May 2023N/A Stable

Fixed a null pointer exception so no 5XX errors can occur if you download non-existent query details from the Pipeline Execution Statistics of an ELT (write-type) Snap.

May 2023main21015 StableUpgraded with the latest SnapLogic Platform release.
February 2023432patches20978 LatestFixed an issue with the ELT SCD2 Snap where the COLLATE column constraint (used in the new target table definition for Snowflake) resulted in an incorrect syntax internally, causing the pipeline to fail. The load operation succeeds with this fix.
February 2023main19844 StableUpgraded with the latest SnapLogic Platform release.
November 2022431patches19240

 

Latest
  • SnapLogic upgraded the default JDBC Driver versions used to connect the ELT Snaps with the supported CDWs.
  • The ELT Merge Into Snap displays the individual record counts inserted, updated, and deleted for Snowflake targets in the respective Records Inserted, Records Updated, and Records Deleted parameters of the Snap Statistics tab (on Pipeline execution).
  • With Google deprecating the OAuth out-of-band (OOB) flow, the Refresh Token Accounts defined for connecting your ELT Snaps to the BigQuery instances start failing in a phased manner. We recommend that you immediately modify these Snap account configurations to switch to an Access Token Account or a Service Account from the Refresh Token Account.
November 2022main18944 Stable

ELT Insert-Select, ELT Merge Into, and ELT SCD2 Snaps show the following statistics on execution.

  • Records Added

  • Records Updated

  • Records Deleted

September 2022 430patches18196 Latest

New Snap

The ELT Create View Snap enables you to create a new view when the view does not exist in the target database and/or schema or if the view already exists in the database and/or schema, and you choose to drop the existing view and re-create it.

Enhancements

  • The ELT Insert-Select Snap is more flexible and easier to use, especially if the number of columns in your source data set is very large. You can choose to update values only in a subset of columns in the target table.

  • The ELT Execute Snap can retrieve and execute SQL queries from the upstream Snap's output when referenced in the SQL Statement Editor using the Expression language (with the Expression button enabled).

  • The ELT Load Snap can infer the schema from the source files in Amazon S3, ADLS Gen2, Microsoft Azure Blob Storage, or Google Cloud Storage location and use it to create, overwrite, and append the target table in your Snowflake instance with the source data. The source files can be in the AVRO, CSV, JSON, ORC, or PARQUET format. Learn more at Automatic Schema Inference with ELT Load Snap.

  • Target Table Name in the following Snaps supports retrieving editable views with the table names from the selected target schema:

  • The pivot values in the ELT PivotSnap turns dynamic when you select Enable dynamic pivot values. The following field settings are added as part of this dynamic pivot values feature:

    • Filter Predicate List: A field set to filter the predicate list of the pivot values.

      • Pivot Values Filter: Condition required to filter the pivot values.

      • Boolean Operator: Predicate condition type through AND or OR Boolean operators

    • Sort Order: Sorting order of the pivot values.

  • You can specify the type of Microsoft Azure external storage location (source)—an Azure Data Lake Gen2 or a Blob Storage—to access your source data using the Storage Integration type of authentication and load it to your target Snowflake instance.

August 2022main17386 StableUpgraded with the latest SnapLogic Platform release.
4.29-Patch429patches16665 Latest
  • Enhanced the ELT Snap Pack to support the latest JDBC drivers across CDWs—Azure Synapse, BigQuery, DLP, Redshift, and Snowflake. See Configuring ELT Database Accounts or the respective Account page for the exact versions.

  • Enhanced the ELT Pivot Snap to make the Value List field dynamic.

  • Enhanced the ELT DLP Account to configure S3 Bucket, Azure Storage, and DataLake Storage Gen2 Mounts.
  • Enhanced the ELT Snowflake Account with support for Key Pair Authentication.

  • Enhanced the ELT SCD2 Snap:

    • To include a new option Overwrite existing table in the Target Table action field.

    • To display the final SQL query in its output preview upon Pipeline validation.

  • Enhanced the end Snap SQL query in the ELT Insert Select Snap’s preview output to display the CREATE TABLE... or the DELETE/DROP TABLE statements to be run before the query that inserts/loads data into a new table in the Snowflake target CDW.

  • Fixed an issue with ELT Insert Select and ELT Merge Into Snaps where they cause the Pipeline to fail when the specified target table does not exist. After this fix, the Snaps create a new target table if it does not exist during Pipeline validation.

    The new table that is created will not be dropped in the event of a subsequent/downstream Snap failing during validation.

  • Fixed the issue with ELT Load Snap where the Snap caused an SQL exception—[Simba][SparkJDBCDriver](500051) ERROR processing query/statement when reading from a CSV file in S3 mount point on DBFS in the case of a DLP target instance.

  • The ELT Insert Select, ELT Merge Into, ELT Load, and the ELT SCD2 Snaps now run successfully even when the specified target table does not exist. These Snaps now create a new target table if it does not exist during Pipeline validation.

    The new table thus created will not be dropped in the event of a subsequent/downstream Snap failure during validation.

  • Updated the field names in ELT Aggregate, ELT Cast Function, ELT String Function, and ELT Transform Snaps to maintain consistency.
4.29-Patch

4.29patches16287

 Latest

Fixed an issue with the ELT SCD2 Snap where the Snap was rounding off decimal values to the nearest integer—the value 57.601000000000 in the source table was written to the target table as 58.000000000.

4.29main15993 Stable
  • Introduced the following new ELT Snaps:
    • ELT Cast Function: Snap to convert a data type of a column in the input SQL string into other supported data types.
    • ELT String Function: Snap to support the various string functions supported by the different databases.
    • ELT Router: Snap to enable routing input SQL queries into multiple output views based on the given conditional expressions.
  • Enhanced the following Snaps to display the final SQL query in their output preview upon Pipeline validation.
  • Enhanced the ELT Database Account to support OAuth2-based authentication on the target Snowflake database.

  • Enhanced the ELT Select, ELT Insert Select, ELT SCD2, ELT Merge Into, and ELT Load Snaps to display suggestions on the Schema Name field based on the Default Database Name provided in the Snap Account configuration when the Database Name is not specified in the respective Snap.

    • Improved usability of the suggestions features for these Snaps by making them case-insensitive. For example, typing default in the Schema Name field displays both default and DEFAULT, if they co-exist. You do not need to type DEFAULT to invoke and select the schema name DEFAULT from the suggestions list.

  • Enhanced the ELT SCD2 Snap to address different feature requests and issues raised by multiple customers. These changes provide more flexibility in configuring your SCD2 operations using this Snap.

  • Removed Check for nulls and duplicates in the source field and added two dropdown lists - Null Value Behavior and Invalid Row Handling.

  • Made the following items in the Meaning field of the Target Table Temporal Fields fieldset mandatory while making the Invalid historical rows flag optional.

    • Current row 

    • Historical row

  • Enhanced the ELT Aggregate and ELT Window Functions Snaps to support the following functions across all supported CDWs:

    • KURTOSIS

    • MODE

    • SKEW

  • Enhanced the ELT Aggregate Snap to support the following GROUP BY features across all supported CDWs:

    • Group by Cube

    • Group by Grouping Sets

    • Group by Rollup

    • Automatic GROUP BY for all input columns.

  • Fixed an issue with ELT Merge Into Snap where the Snap erroneously modified the target table column name when the column name contained the target table name.

  • Fixed an issue in ELT SCD2 Snap where the Snap causes incorrect results with Snowflake targets, when:

    • The Historical Row End Date value is provided.

    • Nulls and Invalid rows are recognized, but one or more start dates in the source are null.

  • Fixed the issue in ELT Transform Snap where the Output Schema of the Snap does not populate all the column names from its Input Schema.

4.28-Patch428patches15638 Latest

Fixed the issue with ELT Merge Into Snap where the Snap erroneously modified the target table column name when it contained the target table name, due to a misinterpretation of the target table name aliases.

4.28-Patch428patches15290 Latest
  • Updated ELT SCD2 Snap to address different feature requests and issues raised by multiple customers. These changes provide more flexibility in configuring your SCD2 operations using this Snap.

    • Removed Check for nulls and duplicates in source field and added two dropdown lists - Null Value Behavior and Invalid Row Handling.

    • Refer to the ELT SCD2 scenarios to learn more.

  • Introduced a new Snap ELT Router to enable routing input SQL queries into multiple output views based on the given conditional expressions.

4.28main14627 Stable
  • Subquery Pushdown Optimization: SnapLogic now optimizes SQL queries before they are passed to the CDW to ensure the queries are performant and cost-efficient in the respective CDW. An SQL subquery means a query inside a query. Pushdown optimization refers to rewriting these incremental (nested) SQL queries produced in your ELT Pipeline to form a more optimal/performant version.

  • Introduced the following new ELT Snaps:

    • ELT Case Expression: Snap to return the action to perform on an event based on a list of events and respective expected actions.

    • ELT Coalesce: Snap to return the first non-NULL value from a list of arguments.

    • ELT Conditional Functions: Snap to perform unary and binary conditional operations on data.

    • ELT Math Functions: Snap to perform mathematical—arithmetic, logarithmic, trigonometric, exponent, root, rounding, and truncation—operations on data.

  • Enhanced all the expression-enabled fields in ELT Snaps to display suggestions from the Input Schema (emanating from the upstream Snaps) in addition to the existing standard SQL expressions and functions list.

  • Enhanced the ELT Aggregate Snap to support:

    • HAVING clause within GROUP BY clause, when the WHERE clause cannot be used.

    • GROUP BY ROLLUP.

    • New aggregate functions for DLP: ANY, SOME, KURTOSIS, and STDDEV.

  • Enhanced the ELT Load Snap to support loading data into BigQuery targets from S3 buckets and Redshift CDW. These load operations use the BigQuery Data Transfer Service (DTS) client libraries and are carried out in asynchronous mode.

  • Enhanced the ELT Load and ELT Insert Select Snaps with a new fieldset Table Options List to support defining the Table Options for creating a new table in your target CDW.

  • Enhanced the ELT Select Snap to support Common Table Expression (CTE)-based SQL queries that contain a WITH clause inside the SQL Query Editor field, when your target CDW is Azure Synapse.

4.27-Patch

427patches13923

 Latest
  • Fixed the issue with ELT SCD2 Snap where the Snap did not equate null values in the corresponding cause-historization rows of both the source and target tables (with no other changes to data in the remaining fields) as the same and produced duplicate rows in the target table, as a result. After this fix, the Snap does not cause any new duplicate rows in the target table.

  • Fixed the issue with ELT Load Snap where the Snap fails with the error Database encountered an error during Bulk Load process when you specify a CSV file to load data from, with the Load Action as Alter Table. The Snap now performs the specified ALTER TABLE actions—ADD/DROP columns—and loads the data into the target table accordingly (without the need to manually modify the source or target tables beforehand).

4.27-Patch427patches13539 Latest
  • Fixed the issue with ELT SCD2 Snap where the Snap failed when you define more than one TargetTable Natural Key in the Snap configuration to load SCD2 data into the target CDW instance.

  • Fixed an issue with the ELT SCD2 Snap where the Snap failed to update the previous current rows in the target SCD2 table to historical rows when you define an End Date of Historical Row in Target Table Temporal Fields.

  • Fixed an issue with the ELT SCD2 Snap where the Snap failed to insert new rows when you define the values that exist in the most recent historical rows of the target SCD2 table as the cause-historization values.

  • Fixed the issue with ELT Transform Snap where the Snap does not omit the source columns marked for removal from the output view—using an empty Target Path for one or more columns selected in the Expression field of the Snap’s Mapping Table. See Using Empty Target Paths to Omit Rows from the Snap Output to understand how to perform this operation.

4.27-Patch

427patches13030

 Latest
  • Fixed the following issues with the ELT SCD2 Snap:

    • Where the Snap failed to get the right data type due to column name case mismatches between what is used in the Snap and what is actually used in the Azure Synapse tables (returned by the JDBC driver). You no longer need to type the column names in the exact case that Azure Synapse expects.

    • The Snap failed with the error—start_date does not exist—while writing SCD2 data to a Redshift table column start_date that is specified as the Start Date of Current Row in the Target Table Temporal Field(s) field set.

    • The Snap failed with the error—Reference 'END_DATE' is ambiguous—while merging SCD2 updates into DLP tables.

    • Where the Snap failed due to lack of required access privileges on the target database (for example, create table rights to create temporary tables as needed). The Snap now runs the input SQL statement and the elaborate sub-queries instead of attempting to create a temporary table in such scenarios.

  • Fixed the issue with the ELT SCD2 and ELT Load Snaps that fail to perform an add/drop operation involving multiple columns on a Redshift target table.

4.27main12833 Stable
  • Enhanced the ELT Aggregate Snap to support COUNT_IF aggregate function for Redshift and Azure Synapse target databases.
    Eliminating duplicates with COUNT_IF aggregate function
    Note: Selecting the Eliminate Duplicates checkbox while using COUNT_IF aggregate function does not eliminate duplicate records in case of Snowflake and BigQuery databases, as there is no native support for this feature. However, for Redshift, Azure Synapse and Databricks Lakehouse Platform (DLP), the duplicates are eliminated from the list of records when you select this checkbox for COUNT_IF function.

  • Enhanced the ELT Database Account connecting to a Databricks Lakehouse Platform (DLP) to support two new options - Optimize Write and Auto Compact for creating/replacing a table using any of the ELT Insert SelectELT Merge IntoELT Load, and ELT SCD2 Snaps.

  • Updated the Expressions and Functions Supported for ELT in the Snap and Account configuration sections. This list is common to all target CDWs supported. You can use these expressions to define your Snap or Account settings with the Expression symbol = enabled, where available.

  • Enhanced the ELT Load Snap to ensure that the Snap uses the default S3 Folder name specified in the Snap's account to accurately resolve the defined File Name Pattern.

  • Enhanced the ELT Select and ELT Execute Snaps to allow SQL comments inside the SQL Query Editor and SQL Statement Editor fields respectively.

  • Enhanced the ELT Transform Snap to display the exact data types of fields listed in the Input Schema and Target Schema in case of Azure Synapse.

  • Enhanced the ELT Merge Into Snap to to support MERGE INTO ALL option and automatic source table aliasing.

  • Enhanced the ELT Load Snap by adding the Source File to Target Table Columns Map field set to enable mapping of columns between the source file and the target table. In case of Databricks Lakehouse Platform (DLP) the Snap is enhanced further to support delimiters other than the comma in the source CSV files.

  • Enhanced the ELT Join Snap to support Left Anti and Left Semi join types in BigQuery though it does not natively support these join types.

  • Enhanced the underlying load mechanism for ELT SCD2 Snap from Insert-and-Update mode to Merge-into mode to substantially improve the Snap's performance while working with large and very large volumes of data (upwards of 500M rows or 50GB size).

4.26-Patch426patches12534 Latest
  • Fixed an issue with ELT Transform Snap where it may display incorrect schema only in the previews (during Pipeline validation). This occurs especially when the incoming SQL statement (defined in the SQL Statement Editor of the upstream Snap) contains one or more of the WHERE, GROUP BY, HAVING , ORDER BY, LIMIT, LIMIT followed by OFFSET, and SAMPLE clauses. Here are a few Pipeline scenarios where this issue might surface:

4.26-Patch426patches12021 Latest
  • Fixed an issue where the ELT Load Snap connecting to a Databricks Lakehouse Platform (DLP) instance failed to perform the load operation. Ensure that you provide a valid DBFS Folder path in the Snap's account settings as the Snap requires this folder path.

4.26-Patch426patches11646 Latest
  • Enhanced the ELT Database Account to support token-based authentication (Source Location Session Credentials) to S3 locations for Snowflake and Redshift target databases.
  • Enhanced the ELT Aggregate Snap with the following changes:
    • Revised the field labels from:
      • GROUP BY Fields List field set > Output Field to GROUP BY Field.
      • ORDER-By Fields to ORDER-BY Fields (Aggregate Concatenation Functions Only).
    • Removed the Suggestion option for Field Name field under General Aggregate Functions List field.
    • Made the Alias Name fields in the Aggregate Concatenation Functions List and the Percentile Distribution Functions List field sets mandatory.
  • If your target database is a Databricks Lakehouse Platform (DLP) instance, then the ELT Load Snap supports loading data from source CSV files that contain only comma as the separator between values.
4.26-Patch426patches11323 

Latest

  • Enhanced the ELT Database Account to allow parameterization of field values using Pipeline Parameters. You can define and use these parameters in expression-enabled fields to pass values during runtime.
4.26-Patch426patches11262Latest
  • Fixed the following Known Issues recorded in the 4.26 GA version:
    • For a Snowflake target instance, the ELT Insert Select Snap does not suggest column names to select for the Insert Column field in the Insert Expression List.
    • The Snaps—ELT Merge Into, ELT Select, ELT Join, and ELT Filter—do not prevent the risk of SQL injection when your target database is Databricks Lakehouse Platform (DLP).
    • Intermittent null-pointer exceptions in the ELT Load Snap on Databricks Lakehouse Platform (DLP).

    • The ELT Insert Select Snap attempts to create the target table even when it exists in the Snowflake database.
    • When loading data from a JSON file into a target Databricks Lakehouse Platform (DLP) instance using an ELT Load Snap, if you choose the Drop and Create Table option as the Load Action and specify an additional column (that is not available in the JSON file) for the new table, it results in one more column null added to the new target table.
    • When you use the SQL editor in the ELT Select Snap configuration to define your SQL query, the Pipeline validation fails due to a syntax error in the following scenarios. However, the Pipeline execution works as expected. The only workaround is to drop the LIMIT clause and the optional OFFSET clause from the SQL query during Pipeline validation.
      • The query contains a LIMIT clause on a Snowflake, Redshift or Databricks Lakehouse Platform target instance: The SQL query created during Pipeline validation includes an additional LIMIT clause, for example: SELECT * FROM "STORE_DATA"."ORDERS" LIMIT 10 LIMIT 990

      • The query contains an OFFSET clause (supported in case of Snowflake and Redshift): The SQL query created during Pipeline validation looks like SELECT * FROM "STORE_DATA"."ORDERS" LIMIT 10 OFFSET 4 LIMIT 990
4.26main11181 Stable
  • Enhanced the ELT Snap preview to support the following Snowflake data types: array, object, variant, and timestamp.

    • The Snaps convert the values to hexadecimal (HEX) equivalents—the default setting for the session parameter BINARY_OUTPUT_FORMAT in Snowflake. See Session Parameters for Binary Values for more information.

    • If this setting is different from hexadecimal (such as base64) in the Snowflake table, the Snaps still convert the values to hexadecimal equivalents for rendering them in the Snap preview.

  • Enhanced all ELT Snaps to display the Get preview data checkbox below the Snap's Label field.
  • The ELT Database account is now mandatory for all Snaps in the ELT Snap Pack.

    Breaking change

    Starting with the 4.26 release, all Snaps in the ELT Snap Pack (except the ELT Copy Snap) require an account to connect to the respective target database. Your existing Pipelines that do not use an account may fail. We recommend you to associate an ELT Database Account to each of the ELT Snaps (except ELT Copy Snap) for your Pipelines.

  • Enhanced the ELT Aggregate Snap to support Linear Regression functions on Redshift and Azure Synapse. The Snap also supports these functions on Databricks Lakehouse Platform.
  • Enhanced the ELT Execute Snap to enable running multiple DML, DDL, and DCL SQL statements from the same Snap instance.
  • Enhanced the ELT Join Snap to:
    • Support LEFT ANTI JOIN and LEFT SEMI JOIN types on all supported databases.
    • Display or hide the Resultant Column Names Prefix Type field based on the target database selected in the Snap's account.
  • Enhanced the ELT Load and ELT SCD2 Snaps to provide a list of suggested data types, while adding columns to or creating a table.
4.25-Patch425patches10017 Latest
  • Updated the ELT SCD2 Snap to replace End date of historical row option in the Meaning field of Target Table SCD2 Fields field set with End Date of Current Row.

    Breaking change

    This may cause the existing Pipelines to fail as the End date of historical row option no longer exists.

    You need to make the following update in the ELT SCD2 Snap's settings across your Pipelines after upgrading your Snap Pack to this patch:

    • Select End Date of Current Row from the Meaning drop-down list in the second entry (highlighted in the image).
  • Fixed the issue with the ELT Insert-Select Snap containing an open output preview that fails to retrieve output preview data in case of Redshift and Azure Synapse databases, though the Pipeline runs work as expected.
  • Fixed an issue where the ELT Execute Snap does not error out (Snap turns Green) even when running an SQL query to drop a non-existent table from a Snowflake or Azure Synapse database.
  • [Update on ]: Enhanced the ELT Snap previews to support the following data types: array, object, variant, and timestamp.
    • The Snaps convert the values to hexadecimal (HEX) equivalents—the default setting for the session parameter BINARY_OUTPUT_FORMAT in Snowflake. See Session Parameters for Binary Values for more information.
    • If this setting is different from hexadecimal (such as base64) in the Snowflake table, the Snaps still convert the values to hexadecimal equivalents for rendering them in the Snap previews.
4.25-Patch425patches9725 Latest
  • Enhanced the ELT Snap preview to display the exact binary and varbinary values from Snowflake database during Pipeline validation, by converting the values to hexadecimal equivalents—the default setting in SnowflakeIf the setting is different from hexadecimal in the Snowflake table, then the Snaps still convert the values to hexadecimal for rendering the Snap preview.
  • Enhanced the ELT Transform Snap to display the appropriate data type (binary or varbinary) for the column names populated in the output schema.
  • Enhanced the ELT Window Functions Snap to address potential issues due to an incorrect definition for MINUS function in case of Redshift and Azure Synapse databases.
4.25main9554 Stable
  • Starting with the 4.25 release, SnapLogic has now certified the ELT Snap Pack to work with Snowflake hosted on Google Cloud Platform (GCP) as the target database, in addition to the other flavors of Snowflake hosted on AWS and Microsoft Azure
  • Introduced the ELT Execute Snap to enable you to run DML, DDL, and DCL SQL queries in Snowflake in Snowflake, Redshift, and Azure Synapse.
  • Introduced the ELT SCD2 Snap to support Type 2 Slowly Changing Dimensions (SCD2) updates to the target databases—Snowflake, Redshift, and Azure Synapse.
  • Enhanced the ELT Database Account to introduce:
    • Support for Google Cloud Storage as a storage location (source) in addition to AWS S3 and Azure Data Lake Storage (ADLS) when your target database is Snowflake.
    • Automatic download of the JDBC driver required for the selected Database Type using the new Download JDBC Driver Automatically check box.
  • Enhanced the ELT Load Snap to prevent changes to existing tables during Pipeline validation. If you set the Load Action as Drop and Create table, and the target table does not exist, the Snap creates a new (empty) target table based on the schema specified in its settings.
  • Enhanced the ELT Window Functions Snap to support Covariance, Correlation, and Linear Regression Functions on Snowflake, Redshift, and Azure Synapse databases. The Snap uses function-specific query re-writes to support these functions on Redshift and Azure Synapse databases.
  • Enhanced the ELT Merge Into and ELT Insert Select Snaps to support up to one output view, and added the Get Preview Data check box to these Snaps. You can now connect downstream ELT Snaps to these Snaps.
4.24-Patch424patches8793 Latest
  • Fixes the issue of production job failures due to ELT Insert Select Snap after upgrading to 4.24 GA by updating the ELT Transform Snap to continue allowing duplication of fields in the Expression list for the Pipeline to complete successfully.

No changes are needed to your existing Pipelines.

  • Fixes the column name collision issue in the Snap's output when the two tables being joined have columns with the same/identical names. You can specify the extent of prefix (that is, to prefix all columns, only duplicate columns, or no prefix) using the Resultant Column Names Prefix Type drop-down list. Based on the prefix you choose, a table alias name is prefixed to the identical columns in the output.

Behavior Change

The behavior of ELT Load Snap for Load Action during Pipeline validation across the supported databases is as follows:

Append rows to existing table: Does not append the data from the source files into the target table.

Overwrite existing table: Does not overwrite the data.

Drop and Create table: Does not drop the target table even if it exists, but the Snap creates a new target table if a table does not exist.

Alter table: Does not modify the schema of the target table.

4.24main8556 Stable
  • Adds support for Azure Synapse database. You can now use the ELT Snap Pack to transform tables in the Snowflake, Redshift as well as Azure Synapse databases.

Updates the Snap Pack with the following features:

  • ELT Database Account: Enhances the ELT Database Account to support the Azure Synapse database.
  • ELT Aggregate: Enhances the Snap to:
  • Support Azure Synapse's T-SQL aggregate functions and the aggregate functions in Snowflake and Redshift databases.
    • General Aggregate Function COUNT_IF in Snowflake.
    • General Aggregate Functions in Snowflake.
    • Linear Regression Aggregate Functions in Snowflake.
    • Aggregate Concatenation Functions in Snowflake, Redshift, and Azure Synapse.
    • Percentile Distribution Functions in Snowflake and Redshift.
  • Suggest appropriate column names to select from, in the Snap fields. This applies to Snowflake, Redshift, and Azure Synapse databases.
  • ELT Insert Select: Enhances the Snap to:
    • Suggest appropriate column names to select from, in the Snap fields.
    • Create Hash-distributed tables using the Target Table Hash Distribution Column (Azure Synapse Only) field when the Load Action is selected as Drop and Create table and a condition like WHEN NOT MATCHED BY TARGET.
  • ELT Join
    • Enhances the Snap to support Natural JOINS (NATURAL INNER JOIN, NATURAL LEFT OUTER JOIN, NATURAL RIGHT OUTER JOIN, and NATURAL FULL OUTER JOIN) in addition to the INNER, LEFT OUTER, RIGHT OUTER, FULL OUTER, and CROSS Joins in Azure Synapse Database. This enhancement also makes account configuration mandatory when using this Snap.
    • Fixes the column name collision issue in the Snap's result set when the two tables being joined have columns with the same/identical names.  You can specify the Resultant Column Names Prefix Type drop-down list. Based on the prefix type you choose, a table alias name is prefixed to identical columns in the output.
  • ELT Load: Enhances the Snap to:
    • Support the File Name Pattern option using Key Based Mechanism for Redshift database. 
    • Suggest appropriate column names to select from, in the Snap fields. This applies to Snowflake, Redshift, and Azure Synapse databases.
    • Create Hash-distributed tables using the Target Table Hash Distribution Column (Azure Synapse Only) field when the Load Action is selected as Drop and Create table.
  • ELT Merge Into: Enhances the Snap to:
    • Suggest appropriate column names to select from, in the Snap fields. This applies to Snowflake, Redshift, and Azure Synapse databases.
    • Include the Target Table Hash Distribution Column (Azure Synapse Only) field for the Snap to create hash-distributed tables always.
    • Include the Update Expression List - When Not Matched By Source field set to allow defining one or more Update Expressions for the WHEN clause - WHEN NOT MATCHED BY SOURCE. This applies to Azure Synapse database.
    • Include the Target Table Alias field to specify the alias name required for the target table. The Snap is also equipped with the ability to auto-replace the actual table names (with the alias name), if any, used in the ON clause condition, secondary AND conditions, Update Expression list, or Insert Expression list. This applies to Snowflake, Redshift, and Azure Synapse databases.
  • ELT Transform: Enhances the Snap to:
    • Display input schema and output schema based on the upstream and downstream Snaps connected to this Snap.
    • Delete fields mentioned in the Expression field from the Snap's output when the mappings have an empty Target Path
  • ELT Window Functions: Enhances the Snap to support the following Window Functions in addition to the existing ones:
    • Value Based Analytic Functions
    • LEAD and LAG Analytic Functions
  • Fixes the issue of displaying generic error messages for Triggered Task failures with ELT Pipelines by displaying detailed error messages for ease in debugging.
4.23main7430 StableIntroduces the following Snaps:
  • ELT Load: Loads data from AWS S3 buckets and Azure clusters into the Snowflake and Redshift tables.
  • ELT Sample: Generates a data subset from the source table. 
  • ELT Pivot: Converts row data into column data.
  • ELT Unpivot: Converts column data into row data.
  • ELT Window Functions: Provides support for SQL Window Functions in ELT Pipelines.

4.22

main6403

 

Stable

Introduces the ELT Snap Pack that provides you with the Extract, Load, and Transform (ELT) capabilities. Use the following Snaps to build SQL queries that are executed in the Snowflake database:

  • ELT Aggregate : Builds SQL query to perform aggregate functions such as SUM, COUNT, MIN, and MAX. Also offers the GROUP BY functionality.
  • ELT Copy: Creates copies of the input SQL query. 
  • ELT Filter: Adds a WHERE clause in the input SQL query. Use this capability to create filters/conditions for your data set. 
  • ELT Insert Select: Performs the INSERT INTO SELECT operation on the specified table. 
  • ELT Intersect: Adds an INTERSECT SQL operator in the input queries.
  • ELT Join: Builds SQL query with a JOIN clause.
  • ELT Limit: Adds a LIMIT clause in the incoming SQL query.
  • ELT Merge Into: Performs the MERGE INTO operation on the specified table.
  • ELT Minus: Adds a MINUS SQL operator in the input queries.
  • ELT Select: Builds an SQL SELECT query and provides a built-in SQL query editor that enables you to construct complex queries.
  • ELT Sort: Adds the ORDER BY keyword in the input query. 
  • ELT Transform: Builds transformation-based SQL queries for the specified table.
  • ELT Union: Adds a UNION ALL or UNION DISTINCT operator in the input queries.
  • ELT Unique: Builds a SELECT DISTINCT SQL query. 


See Also