Data Source Types & Databases

Use Data sources to add and manage data sources. Data Sources are the datasets Building BI draws from; every metric, calculation, and column originates from one. The Data Sources interface is opened from the bottom of the left navigation panel.

Global scope Modifications in the Data Sources interface are global — they affect all dashboards across the entire portfolio, not a single building. Never delete a data source unless certain; deletion instantly breaks any dashboard relying on it.

Name clash See Data Sources for the name distinction with Cloud BMS API integrations.

Source types

Type	Description	Editable?
Physical	Direct data pulls from the backend.	Not directly editable as a table.
Virtual	SQL-based views built on top of physical tables.	Editable via the ellipsis (⋮) on the far-right column of the table’s row.

Virtual tables recompute on every query. Use them for light, real-time reshapes. Prefer physical tables when historical trending or heavy aggregation must stay fast.

Database types

The database type determines the SQL syntax required for custom logic. Three databases are used, each suited to a data type:

Database	Best for	Virtual Tables?
ClickHouse	Real-time sensor data	Yes — additional virtual tables can be created
PostgreSQL	High-dimension (most columns) non-sensor data	Yes — additional virtual tables can be created
BigQuery	Near-real-time backup; internal module tables (FTT, FDD, OSS, etc.)	No — virtual tables cannot be created

Calculated columns and metrics do not support window functions or aggregations of aggregations. Virtual table SQL can. See Calculated fields.

Data Sources table columns

The Data Sources list page shows the following per row:

Column	Description
Type	Physical or Virtual.
Database Type	ClickHouse, PostgreSQL, or BigQuery — indicates required SQL syntax.
Management	⭐ favorite frequently used tables; ⋮ menu to edit alias/description or (for virtual) edit SQL.

Adding a new data source

Creating a new data source is uncommon; first try to solve problems with existing sources. Required fields differ by type:

Field	Physical	Virtual
Database Type	Required	Required
Database Name	Required (ask Support/Data Analyst, or copy from another client)	Required
Schema	Required (ask Support/Data Analyst, or copy from another client)	Required
Table Name	Required	Required
Display Name	Required	Required
Description	Required	Required
SQL Expression	—	Required (syntax depends on PostgreSQL vs ClickHouse)

Navigating a single data source

Clicking a data source name opens its Table Schema, exposing four building-block types: Columns (native), Calculated (single-row logic), Metrics (multi-row aggregations), and URLs. See Calculated Fields (Columns, Metrics & URLs).

Action	Description
Sync Datasource	Pulls in the latest columns if the core KODE table changed.
+ Add Column	Creates calculated columns, metrics, or URLs.
Check Usage	(⋮ menu) Identifies which dashboards use a column / whether a column is Unused.
Optimization check	(⋮ menu) Checks whether a virtual table’s SQL is optimized.
Edit Data Source Details	(⋮ menu) Edit basic parameters and the virtual table SQL.
Samples tab	Shows the ~20 most recent rows to verify structure and returned data. An `i` icon in a column header marks a calculated column; select it to open the query.

Optimization (virtual sources)

Virtual sources that are not optimized can load slowly, error on large datasets, and cause similar performance issues. KODE OS offers AI-generated optimization suggestions (filters and the table to apply them to) shown beneath the current SQL Expression when editing details. Sources that are not optimized also surface a “Not Optimized” warning and appear flagged in the Setup-tab Data Source dropdown.

Key sensor data sources

Data Source	Type	Description
Point Time Series Real-Time	Physical	Core sensor table; every reading is a new row; source of truth for building readings. ClickHouse-based.
Point Time Series Last Value	Virtual	Returns only the most recent recorded value per sensor. Values may not share a timestamp. Useful for comparing current states across misaligned polling rates.

See Table Structures & Polling Types and Point Time Series Column Reference.

Next steps

Building BI overview

Browse concept guides and reference pages for Building BI.

Dashboards

Create and configure interactive dashboards with charts and widgets.

Physical vs virtual data sources

Compare direct tables with derived virtual sources.

Key data sources

Choose Real-Time or Last Value Point Time Series sources.

Database types

Understand ClickHouse, PostgreSQL, and BigQuery trade-offs.

Column reference

Look up column names for calculations and filters.

Get Started

Dashboards

Data sources

Collections & templates

Administration

Concepts

Reference

Source types

Database types

Data Sources table columns

Adding a new data source

Navigating a single data source

Optimization (virtual sources)

Key sensor data sources

See also

Next steps

Building BI overview

Dashboards

Physical vs virtual data sources

Key data sources

Database types

Column reference

​Source types

​Database types

​Data Sources table columns

​Adding a new data source

​Navigating a single data source

​Optimization (virtual sources)

​Key sensor data sources

​See also

​Next steps

Building BI overview

Dashboards

​Related reading

Physical vs virtual data sources

Key data sources

Database types

Column reference

Source types

Database types

Data Sources table columns

Adding a new data source

Navigating a single data source

Optimization (virtual sources)

Key sensor data sources

See also

Next steps

Related reading