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Working with SQL

This section requires a Practicus AI Cloud Worker. Please visit the introduction to Cloud Workers section of this tutorial to learn more.

Using SQL with a SQL database

This is quite straightforward, if the database you connect to support SQL, you can simply start by authoring a SQL statement.

Practicus AI Cloud Workers come with a simple music artists database.

  • Open Explore tab
  • Select a Cloud Worker upper right of screen (start new or reuse existing)
  • Select SQLite on the left menu
  • Click Run Query

You will see the result of a sample SQL, feel free to experiment and rerun the SQL

As you will see later in this tutorial, Practicus AI also allows you to run SQL on the result of your previous SQL, as many times as you need. On a SQL database you would need to use temporary tables to do so, which is a relatively advanced topic.

Using SQL on any data

Practicus AI allows you to use SQL without a SQL database. Let's demonstrate using an Excel file. You can do the same on other non-SQL data, such as S3.

  • Open Explore tab
  • Select Local Files
  • Load Home > practicus > samples > data > worker_aws.xlsx

  • Click on SQL Query button

  • After click on the Query tab, the dialog will open. Select Yes.

Since SQL is an advanced feature, it will require a Cloud Worker to run. You will be asked if you would like to quickly upload to a Cloud Worker. Click Yes, select a Cloud Worker, and now your Excel file will be on the cloud.

Click on SQL Query button again. This time the SQL query editor will be displayed.

  • Type the below SQL 
SELECT "name", "total_price", "bang_for_buck" 
FROM "node_types" 
WHERE "total_price" < 5
ORDER BY "bang_for_buck" DESC

Tip: double-clicking on a column name adds its name to the query editor, so you can write SQL faster. If you select some text before double-clicking, your selected text is replaced with the column name.

  • Click on Test SQL button

Note: Your first SQL on a particular Cloud Worker (cold run) will take a little longer to run. Subsequent SQL queries will run instantly.

  • (Optional) Experiment further with the SQL, click
  • When ready, click Apply SQL button

You will get the result of the SQL back in the worksheet.

(Optional) Visualize SQL result

  • Click Analyze > Graph
  • Select bang_for_buck for X and total_price for Y
  • Click ok

You will see the estimated total cost (Practicus AI license cost + Cloud infrastructure cost), and how much cloud capacity value you would expect to get (bang for buck) visualized.

Note: If you have Practicus AI Enterprise license, your software is already paid for. So this graph would not make any sense. This is only meaningful for the professional pay-as-you-go license type.

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