What is a database?
When you connect an integration, your data flows into a database. You can then create additional databases that pull from the original database and aggregate the data at different levels. For example, if you import GL data with vendor-level details from QuickBooks, NetSuite, or Xero, you can build another database that rolls it up by department or class.Creating a database
1
Create the database
Click the + button next to a section or page in the sidebar.
2
Choose the type
Select Database and give it a clear name, icon, or emoji.
Configuring a database
After creating a database, configure the source, drivers, and segmentation that determine its grain.1
Open configuration
Click the configuration header to expand it.
2
Choose the data source
Select an existing integration query or another database.
3
Choose drivers
Choose the key metrics or dates you want to track as time series data.
4
Choose dimensions
Select the dimensions to segment your data. Segmentation determines the database’s granularity.
5
Add other columns
Add useful metadata from the data source under Other columns.
Adding a column
To create a new column, click the + button at the far right of the database. You can add:- Number driver: Calculated numeric values. Drivers store time series data, so values can vary by month.
- Date driver: Date values that can also vary over time.
- Dimension: A predefined list of values that categorizes rows, such as Vendor, Location, or Department.
- Lookup: A column that populates a dimension based on data from another database, similar to
VLOOKUP().
For HRIS databases, follow the separate HRIS database column flow.
Show a column as time series
Drivers store time series data. In database tables, each driver column is usually displayed as a single value for readability, but you can expand one driver column to show its monthly values.1
Open the column menu
Click the driver column name in the database header.
2
Show time series
Select Show as time series. The column expands on the far right after the other columns.
If you show a different driver column as a time series, it replaces the currently expanded one.
Show all columns as time series
Instead of expanding only one driver column, you can display all driver columns as time series.1
Open customize
Click Customize in the top-right corner.
2
Choose time series
Select Display as, then choose Time series.
Show and hide columns
For a compact view, hide columns that are not always relevant and show them only when needed.1
Use the column header
Click the column name in the database header and select Hide in block.
2
Use customize
Or click Customize, open Properties, and toggle columns with the eye icon.
Adding a row
If you need to manually add a row to a database, click + Add item. After adding the row, set values for the dimensions used in Segment by.
Segmentation determines the granularity of your database. Each row should have a unique combination of dimension values. If a row does not have a unique combination, Runway shows a warning because that row is linked to other rows with the same segmentation.
Deleting a column
The deletion flow depends on how the column was added.1
Remove configured columns from configuration
For columns coming from database configuration, remove the column from the relevant section in configuration: Driver, Segment by, or Other columns. This prevents it from reappearing after the next integration sync or configuration refresh.
2
Delete manually added columns from the column header
For manually added columns, click the column header and select Delete property. If the column is used elsewhere in your model, Runway asks you to confirm because deleting it can cause reference errors.
Deleting a row
To delete a row from a database, right-click the row and select Delete row. To fully delete a driver and eliminate its impact on formulas, delete it from Unlisted Drivers.