Explore

Explore lets you write a SQL query over the tables of your Data Tables. The result is saved as a new Data Table, called an Explore table. You can join tables from different data sources, filter rows, or add computed columns. Then you use the Explore table in a data model like any other Data Table.

Before you start

Creating and saving an Explore table needs the Enterprise plan. See Plans and limits.
You need Build permission on every Data Table you use in the query.
If row-level security applies to you on a Data Table, you cannot use that Data Table.
Without the needed permission, you see “You cannot use Explore”.

On Free and Pro, creating, saving, checking and previewing an Explore query are all refused.

Create an Explore table

Open Explore in the sidebar.
Click Explore with SQL. The Create data table from SQL page opens.
In the left panel, find the tables. Click a table or a column to insert its name into the query.
Write the query in SQL statement.
Click Validate. The Columns tab shows the columns of the result.
Click Preview 100 rows (or press Ctrl+Enter, or Cmd+Enter on a Mac) to see the first rows.
Click Continue.
Check the Dependency chain and the columns.
Enter the Data Table name (up to 200 characters).
Leave Refresh when an input data table refreshes ticked if you want the Explore table to update each time one of its inputs is refreshed.
Click Create data table.

Fresco BI builds the Explore table for the first time and opens the Explore list.

Write the query

Table and column names

The left panel groups tables by data source. Explore tables are in Explore tables. It shows only Data Tables you have Build permission on.

What	How to write it
A table	`"orders"` (the name of the table in its Data Table)
A table whose name is in several Data Tables	`"Sales 2026"."orders"` (Data Table name, then table name)
A column	`"amount"`

You can leave out the double quotes for simple names. The Data Tables named in the query become the inputs of the Explore table.

What you can write

One SELECT statement. You can use joins, subqueries, WITH clauses, UNION and window functions.
No comments.
No parameters.
Only allowed functions. If a function is not allowed, you see “This function is not allowed”.
No function in FROM or JOIN. You see “This table function is not allowed”.
If a column has a type that Fresco BI does not support, CAST it to another type.

Example

SELECT
  o."order_id",
  o."order_date",
  c."region",
  o."quantity" * o."unit_price" AS "amount"
FROM "orders" AS o
JOIN "customers" AS c ON c."customer_id" = o."customer_id"
WHERE o."status" = 'paid'

Change the SQL

Open Explore and click the Explore table.
Click the SQL definition tab.
Edit the query.
Click Save SQL.

To go back to the saved query, click Undo changes.

If the new query no longer returns some columns, you see Some columns will be removed. Data models and reports that use these columns will not be able to show them. Click Save anyway to continue, or go back and keep the columns.

The Explore table also has the Data, Data models and Refresh history tabs, like any Data Table. See Data Tables.

Refresh an Explore table

An Explore table is refreshed in two ways:

With Refresh when an input data table refreshes on, it is rebuilt each time one of its input Data Tables is refreshed successfully.
When you refresh a data model that contains it. It is refreshed after the Data Tables it is built from. See Refresh.

If an input fails to refresh, the Explore table is skipped and keeps its previous data.

Limits

Item	Limit
SQL length	64 KB
Input Data Tables in one query	1 to 8
Levels in a chain of Explore tables built on Explore tables	3
Preview	100 rows
Data Table name	200 characters

Common questions

Can I delete a Data Table that an Explore table uses? No. Delete or change the Explore table first.

Why can’t I see a Data Table in the left panel? You need Build permission on it, and row-level security must not apply to you on it.