# Create a database table source

When you create a **Database Table** data source, you are presented with two options: **Reporting Only** or **Reporting and Analysis**. The choice you make depends on the structure of the database tables you are accessing and the User Console tools being used.

Before you begin working with **Database Table** data sources, there are a few key terms that you should know.

* **Fact table**

  Records measurements or metrics for a specific event, and usually consists of numbers.
* **Star schema**

  Has one or more fact tables that reference any number of dimension tables. Star schemas are good for simpler queries.
* **Snowflake schema**

  Has centralized fact tables that are connected to multiple dimensions. Snowflake schemas are good for more complex queries.

| Explore Considerations | Choose Options                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Reporting Only         | Reporting and Analysis                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| Summary                | <p>Choose the <strong>Reporting Only</strong>option if you are accessing data in a relational database that is operational or transactional in nature, or if you need to show detailed rows and then sort and filter the details.When you choose the <strong>Reporting Only</strong> option, a relational model is automatically generated and can be refined in the Data Source Model Editor or further extended using <strong>Pentaho Metadata Editor</strong>.</p><p>Relational models on large databases are sometimes slow and benefit from a powerful database.</p> | <p>Choose the <strong>Reporting and Analysis</strong> option if you are accessing a multidimensional database that contains tables arranged in a star schema (tables are separated into dimensions related to a single fact table, such as a data warehouse), or if you need summaries and details.</p><p>When you choose the <strong>Reporting and Analysis</strong> option, a multidimensional model is automatically generated and can be refined in the Data Source Model Editor or further extended using <strong>Pentaho Schema Workbench</strong>.</p><p>Additionally, you can create a <strong>Reporting and Analysis</strong> data source using a single table where the table acts as the single fact table and also contains dimensional data.</p> |
| Expertise              | Knowledge of relational database structures.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | Knowledge of multidimensional database structures.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| Time                   | Approximately 15 minutes.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | Approximately 30 minutes.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| Recommendation         | Select this if you want to use for Report Designer, Interactive Reports, and Metadata Editor.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | Select this if you want to use for Report Designer, Analyzer (PUC), Dashboard Designer, Schema Workbench, and Aggregation Designer.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |


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