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Metabase

Metabase is an open source business intelligence tool for visualizing and exploring data.

Connection Methods

You can connect Metabase to Altertable using two methods:

Arrow Flight SQL is the preferred connection method for Altertable because it provides native columnar transport. Metabase does not support Arrow Flight SQL by default, so you need a community driver.

Installation

Install the metabase-flightsql-driver to add Arrow Flight SQL support to Metabase:

  1. Download the driver JAR file from the GitHub repository
  2. Place it in your Metabase plugins directory
  3. Restart Metabase

Configuration

  1. In Metabase, navigate to Admin settings → Databases
  2. Click Add database
  3. Select Arrow Flight SQL as the database type
  4. Configure the connection with the following details:
Field
Value
Display name
Altertable (or your preferred name)
Host
flight.altertable.ai
Port
443
Database name
Your Altertable catalog name
Username
Your lakehouse username
Password
Your lakehouse password
Use TLS/SSL
✓ Enabled
  1. Click Save

Method 2: Postgres Adapter (Alternative)

If you prefer not to install the Arrow Flight SQL driver, you can connect Metabase to Altertable through our Postgres adapter, which works with Metabase's built-in PostgreSQL database support.

Configuration

  1. In Metabase, navigate to Admin settings → Databases
  2. Click Add database
  3. Select PostgreSQL as the database type
  4. Configure the connection with the following details:
Field
Value
Display name
Altertable (or your preferred name)
Host
postgres.altertable.ai
Port
443
Database name
Your Altertable catalog name
Username
Your lakehouse username
Password
Your lakehouse password
Use a secure connection (SSL)
✓ Enabled
  1. Click Save

Notes

  • SQL Dialect: While the connection uses the Postgres protocol, queries are executed using DuckDB SQL dialect. PostgreSQL-specific functions may not be available.
  • SSL/TLS Required: Make sure to enable SSL/TLS in the connection settings
  • Catalog Name: Enter your Altertable catalog name in the Database name field