Enriching existing data with linked input tables
1. Enriching existing data with linked input tables
Welcome back. Now that you’ve had a chance to explore a finished app, let’s start building one from the ground up.2. Linked input table
We’ll start by discussing a core feature of many apps, called a linked input table. Linked input tables display existing information from a warehouse table, and allow users to add new columns to capture user inputs.3. Scenario
The loan officers at Oakmark Bank already have a table of customer loan application details; but they need to review individual applications, or rows in the table, and add a note for whether they approve or reject that application. In other words, they need to see the existing data from the loan applications table on the screen and be able to enrich each row with a decision to accept or reject the loan.4. How linked input tables can help
Linked input tables are a great solution, because they allow new columns that can accept customized row-by-row input. Regular table elements in Sigma only allow adding columns that are based on a single function or hard-coded value for every row in the table. We cannot add custom input on a row-by-row basis. One row in the table is based on the same logic as all other rows. Linked input tables don’t have these same limitations, they let us enter custom inputs for each individual row, without depending on calculations or hard-coded values.5. Creating linked input tables
Linked input tables are created as child elements of existing table elements and display data from their parent table alongside user inputs. You can add new columns to the linked input table to expand existing records, but cannot edit any existing data from the parent table.6. Key considerations
It’s very important to understand that input tables in Sigma never overwrite data in your data platform. Linked input tables are stored in a dedicated schema in your data platform and do not duplicate or copy data from existing tables. Columns added with a linked input table are stored separately from the input table’s parent data and will not interfere with it or overwrite it in any way. In summary, linked input tables allow us to manipulate and expand existing tables without worrying about them being overwritten or modified.7. Let's practice!
In the next video we’ll build a linked input table as the first step of our app to approve and reject loan applications at Oakmark bank.Create Your Free Account
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