# Create/Edit mappings tab
Most HBase data is stored as raw bytes. PDI uses mapping to decode values and execute meaningful comparisons for column-based result set filtering. Use the **Create/Edit mapping** tab to define metadata about the values that are stored in an HBase table.
Perform the following tasks before writing a value to HBase:
* Configure a connection by using the Hadoop cluster properties.
* Define which column family the value belongs to and its type.
* Specify type information about the key of the table.
Select the name of an existing mapping to load the fields defined in that mapping into the key field table. Alternatively, you can create a new HBase table and mapping simultaneously by configuring the fields of the mapping and naming the table in the **HBase table name** list.
This tab includes the following options:
| Option | Description |
| ---------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Hadoop Cluster** | Select an existing Hadoop cluster configuration from the drop-down box.
If you do not have an existing connection, click New. If you need to modify an existing connection, click Edit. See Connect to a Hadoop cluster with the PDI client for instructions.
|
| **HBase table name** | Select the source HBase table name that has a defined mapping from the drop-down list of displayed names. Connection information must be valid and complete for this list to populate. Select a table to populate the **Mapping name** drop-down box with the names of available mappings for that table. |
| **Get table names** (button) | Click to retrieve a list of all existing table names for the **HBase table name** field. The table names display the namespace, followed by a colon, then the table name. See [Namespaces](/pdia-data-integration/10.2-data-integration/pdi-transformation-steps-reference-overview/hbase-input-cp-main-page/namespaces.md). |
| **Mapping name** | Select the name of an existing map for the source table. The drop-down list is empty when no mappings are defined for the selected table. You can define multiple mappings on the same HBase table using different subsets of columns. |
---
# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.
Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:
```
GET https://docs.pentaho.com/pdia-data-integration/10.2-data-integration/pdi-transformation-steps-reference-overview/hbase-row-decoder-pdi/options-hbase-row-decoder-step/createedit-mappings-tab-hbase-row-decoder-step.md?ask=
```
The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.
Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.