In a DBT (Data Build Tool) project, the analysis-paths configuration in the dbt_project.yml file is used to specify the directory or directories that contain SQL files used for analysis. The analysis-paths configuration tells DBT where to look for SQL files that define tables or views that are intended for use in data analysis.
When DBT processes your project files, it will look in the directories specified in analysis-paths and compile any SQL files it finds into tables or views that can be used in data analysis. Here are some key points to keep in mind when working with analysis-paths:
- Syntax: In the
dbt_project.ymlfile,analysis-pathsis specified as a list of directories. For example, the following configuration specifies two directories to be used for analysis paths:
analysis-paths:
- "analysis"
- "dashboard"
- Placement: The
analysis-pathsconfiguration should be placed in thedbt_project.ymlfile, which is located in the root directory of your DBT project. - File naming: SQL files that are intended for use in analysis should be named with a
.sqlextension and should follow the same naming conventions as other DBT SQL files. This includes using the same naming convention for models, tests, and seeds. - Purpose: The
analysis-pathsconfiguration is used to separate SQL files that define tables or views intended for data analysis from those used for data transformation. This can be useful for organizing your project files and for ensuring that tables and views used for analysis are not inadvertently modified by data transformation processes. - Dependencies: SQL files in the
analysis-pathsdirectories can have dependencies on models, tests, and seeds defined in other directories. DBT will automatically detect these dependencies and ensure that they are processed in the correct order.
In summary, the analysis-paths configuration in the dbt_project.yml file is an important component of a DBT project. It allows you to specify which directories contain SQL files intended for use in data analysis, and ensures that these files are processed separately from data transformation processes. By following the guidelines for syntax, placement, and file naming, you can ensure that your analysis-paths configuration works as expected and improves your DBT project workflow.
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