Time for action – exploring the sample database

Let's explore the sample database:

1. Open the transformation you just created.

2. Right-click on the connection in the Database connections list and select Explore in the contextual menu. The database explorer shows up.

3. Expand the Tables node of the tree. This is how the explorer looks:

   

4. Right-click on the CUSTOMERS table and select View SQL. The following SQL editor window appears:

   

5. Modify the text in there so you have this:

   SELECT 
     CUSTOMERNUMBER
   , CUSTOMERNAME
   , CITY
   , COUNTRY
    FROM CUSTOMERS

6. Click on Execute. You will see this result:

   

7. Close the Preview window—the one that tells the result of the execution - as well as the Results of the SQL statements window—the window that tells us the SQL statements are executed. Finally, close the SQL editor window.

8. Click on OK to close the database explorer window.

What just happened?

You explored the Pentaho Sample database with the PDI Database Explorer.

A brief word about SQL

Before explaining the details of the...