Table types

Table types define how tables behave in AnalyticsCreator and what role they play in the generated data warehouse structure.

Use this section to understand the available table types and choose the appropriate one for staging, historization, persistence, dimensional modeling, or Data Vault modeling.

Available table types

Import Table

Used to receive source data during import into the staging layer.

  • Entry point for source loading
  • Filled by generated workflows
  • Basis for downstream processing

Open Import table

Historized Table

Used to store historized data with validity periods and change tracking.

  • Supports history over time
  • Typical basis for persistent staging
  • Common for SCD2-style processing

Open Historized table

Persisting Table

Used to materialize transformation results physically instead of keeping them only as views.

  • Improves performance for complex logic
  • Stores generated output physically
  • Maintained by generated procedures

Open Persisting table

Dimension Table

Used to store descriptive business entities for dimensional modeling.

  • Typical star schema component
  • Contains descriptive attributes
  • Referenced by fact tables

Open Dimension table

Externally Filled Table

Used when table content is populated outside the standard AnalyticsCreator-generated loading process.

  • Externally maintained data
  • Not filled by standard generated import logic
  • Useful for integration scenarios

Open Externally filled table

Fact Table

Used to store measurable business events and transactions in dimensional models.

  • Contains measures and foreign keys
  • Central table in star schemas
  • Supports analytical aggregation

Open Fact table

DataVault Hub

Used to store stable business keys in Data Vault models.

  • Represents core business entities
  • Key-centric structure
  • Foundation of hub-based modeling

Open DataVault Hub

DataVault Link

Used to store relationships between business entities in Data Vault models.

  • Connects hubs
  • Represents business relationships
  • Supports scalable model design

Open DataVault Link

DataVault Satellite

Used to store descriptive and changing attributes in Data Vault models.

  • Contains contextual attributes
  • Often historized by design
  • Separated from business keys

Open DataVault Satellite

Historized table

Historized table identifies a table that stores historical versions of another table in AnalyticsCreator. Use this table type when changes in a business object must be preserved instead of overwritten.

Open Historized table

How to choose a table type

  • Use Import Table for source ingestion into staging
  • Use Historized Table when changes over time must be tracked
  • Use Persisting Table when transformation results should be materialized physically
  • Use Dimension Table and Fact Table for dimensional modeling
  • Use Externally Filled Table when data is maintained outside the generated loading process
  • Use DataVault Hub, DataVault Link, and DataVault Satellite for Data Vault models

Key takeaway

Table types define how data is stored and modeled in AnalyticsCreator, from source ingestion and historization to dimensional and Data Vault structures.