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url: >-
  /statelake/administering-statelake/designer/data-definitions/db-database-definitions/design-db-database-definitions/tables-tab-db-database-definitions.md
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# Tables Tab - DB (Database) Definitions

The first tab opened with a new **DB Definition** is the **Tables** tab.

At least one (**1**) table will need to be selected - regardless of whether a **Source** definition or a **Destination** definition.

The upper pane contains a list of available tables contained within the database defined by the **DB Connection** that was entered on the initial screen, and the lower pane will display tables that have been selected for inclusion in this query. Examples of two (**2**) different databases and their tables follow, illustrating how different they can be.

*DB Dataview showing the tables in the database referenced in the default DB Connection called \_Self.*

*DB Dataview showing tables in the database called Statelake_Demo*

## Columns

| Column Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Available Tables *Table* | Displays the tables (datasets) contained in the database that is referenced by the **DB Connection** that was selected. |
| *Table Name* | Displays the table (dataset) alias for the listed table. If there is no alias, the table name will be repeated. |
| Selected Tables *Table* | Displays the tables (datasets) that have been selected from the list of available tables. |
| *Table Name* | Displays the table (dataset) **Statelake** alias for the selected table. |
| *SQL Alias* | Displays the table (dataset) **SQL** alias for the selected table. If there is no alias, the table name will be repeated. |
| *Join Type* | The type of **SQL** join to be applied. This will only have a value if there is a table join. |

## Buttons

| Button Name | Description |
|---|---|
| OK | Click to save any join changes you have made. All changes will be lost if you do not click the **OK** button. To save, there must be at least one (1) **Field** selected. |
| Cancel | Click to **Cancel** any join changes you have made. |
| Allow Magic Links | This box is ticked by default. It activates **Magic SQL** and allows the generation of SQL behind-the-scenes. However, where only a single dataset table is identified for the definition, and depending on the number of transactions involved, this may slow down processing. Applies only to the parent dataset where multiple have been selected.Please refer to [Introduction to Magic SQL](/statelake/administering-statelake/designer/data-definitions/introduction-to-magic-sql) for further information. |
| Distinct | Tick to activate this SQL feature, which suppresses duplicates and will only return unique values from the query. |
| Row Limit | Enter a value to set the **Row Limit**. See below for more information. |

## Row Limit

This field accepts integer values only, and tells **Statelake** how many records to return from the query, starting at the top of the selected records. Entering a value into this field at table level, limits the search to find and return the number of rows that are specified in this field. The **Row Limit** is to only be applied on the parent table.

This field is also referred to as the **TOP X** field - X being the number of records starting at the top of the retrieved records that meet the selection criteria. **TOP** is an SQL specific keyword.

If a sort sequence has been entered, then the retrieved records are sorted before the selected **TOP X** records are returned. Where no sort has been requested as sin this example, the records are returned in a random order and the **TOP X** records will be taken from this random list.

For instance, entering a **Row Limit** of **1** will cause **Statelake** to find all of the records that met the specified criteria in the parent table as per the SQL script, and after performing any requested sort, will then return the first record only. Where there is no particular sort specified, the results will be random and only the first row in this random order will be returned.

When used in conjunction with the **Execution** settings on an **Action**, setting the **Row Limit** to one (**1**) to process only one (**1**) record at a time, can preserve data integrity by ensuring that previous records have been safely processed before an error may occur to the current record - so it is not part-way through a group of records.

However, by entering a **Row Limit** of **10** on the parent table, **Statelake** would find all of the records that met the specified criteria as per the SQL script, and after performing any requested sort, would then return the first 10 records only. Where there is no particular sort specified, the results will be random and only the first 10 rows in this random order will be returned.

Regardless of the **Row Limit** set on the parent, the child will return all records that met the specified criteria.

For example, the following has no **Row Limit** set.

But now has a **Row Limit** set as twenty (**20**).