Concepts and Terminology
Before you dive into bippLang, let’s review the basic bipp structure and concepts:
Projects
Projects structures your data resources and business information enabling you to build models and visualize your data. A project may consist of several files and artifacts compiled to create a data model with datasets. The project serves as a unit for source control.
Datasources
Datasources are essentially the connected databases where the model gets the data. Projects and models can connect to multiple data sources. The model defines the table views in the data sources using joins and SQL operations.
Tables
Tables contain the data in a database.
Derived Tables
Derived Tables are created with custom SQL to fetch the data to populate a new table, like a non-materialized view.
Joins
Joins are the defined relationship between two or more tables in the data model. Joins are used when fetching the data.
Columns
Columns are the fields in a table. Each column’s data values are of the same type. One value for each row in the database.
Column Types
Column Types are the data types of the columns in the Datasource. The various SQL data types are mapped to standard bippLang types:
| bippLang Data Type | SQL Data Types |
|---|---|
| Integer | TinyInt, SmallInt, Int, Int2, Int4, Integer, BigInt,UInt8, UInt16, UInt32, UInt64, Int8, Int16, Int32, Int64 |
| Float | Decimal, Double, Float, Float32, Float64, Numeric, Real |
| DateTime | Time, TimeStamp, Date, DateTime |
| Bool | Bool, Boolean |
| String | Char, Varchar, Character, String, Text, FixedString, Any other data type not already defined |
Derived columns
Derived columns are created from operations on existing columns. Operations are defined using columns constants and any supported SQL operation.
Parameter Based Columns
Parameter Based Columns are created based on the selected value for a defined parameter.
Datasets
Datasets are logical groups of tables, columns, relationships and operations that are likely to be accessed or reused in the future.
Data Models
Data Models are organized as bippLang projects accessible through the user interface. Models can have multiple dataset definitions.
Parameters
Parameters are defined within a dataset to accept user input to determine the output.
Sheets
Sheets enable you to view and Visualize data corresponding to a data model created with bippLang. There are functions available to help you create and manage your sheets, including Visualization, Threads, Tags, and Scheduled Reports. Sheets can be imported and exported.
Dashboards
Dashboards group and present bipp sheets. You can create and manage multiple dashboards or insight boards. Data can be filtered across multiple sheets and embedded dashboards and drilldown of specific data points to view details.
Extensions
Extensions are custom visualizations for your data you upload to bipp for use when creating sheets. Extensions are created as plug-in JavaScript files using the bipp Extensions API.
