5.4 Step 2: Explore the Model

Open it

qdbd serve erd/

The explorer groups tables by dbt folder: models, seeds, staging. Clicking orders opens its details:

• the model description and every column's description;
• customer_id is tagged FK; under References it points to customers.customer_id (N:1);
• under customers, Referenced by lists orders.customer_id.

Arrange it

Drag customers next to orders. The position is saved to erd/qdbd.layout.json. Commit that file and everyone sees the same arrangement.

To keep each dbt folder together with shaded regions:

qdbd layout erd/ --by-group

Narrow it down

In the explorer's filter box (or with -s on the CLI):

Filter	Shows
group:models	only the marts
+orders	orders and what it references
customers+	customers and what references it
col:customer_id	every table with a customer_id column
!group:seeds	everything except seeds

How do two tables join?

In orders' details, type customers into Path to another table:

orders -> customers: 1 join(s)
  orders.customer_id -> customers.customer_id (N:1)

FROM orders
JOIN customers ON customers.customer_id = orders.customer_id

The same from the terminal:

qdbd path erd/ --from orders --to customers

Share a view

Select orders, filter +orders, then press Link. The copied URL reopens exactly that view, so you can paste it in Slack or a ticket.

Next: review a change :octicons-arrow-right-24: