Understanding Append Data source and Table Joins in Bold BI

When working with data in Bold BI, it’s essential to understand the different methods available for merging data from multiple sources. Two common approaches are combining data sources and performing table joins. Each method serves a unique purpose and can be used to achieve different results. Understanding these concepts will enable you to manipulate and analyze your data effectively within Bold BI.

Append/Union Data Sources

Combining data sources, often referred to as a union, is the process of appending rows from one data source to another. This is particularly useful when you have data with the same structure spread across different tables or sources and you want to create a single, continuous dataset.

Example:

Given two tables, A and B, with the same structure:

Table A

Table B

When combined, the resultant dataset will be:

This method does not require a common key or relationship between the datasets, as it simply stacks them on top of each other.

Table Joins

Table joins, on the other hand, are used to merge two tables based on a related column, known as a join key. Joins can be of various types, such as inner join, left join, right join, full join, and cross join, each serving a different purpose and yielding different results.

Example:

Given two tables, A and B, with the same structure:

Table A

Table B

When Inner Joined with Age field, the resultant dataset will be:

Additional References

• Append data sources: Append Data Sources in Bold BI
• Joining tables: Joining Tables in Bold BI