## connect_to_table() Connect to a database table using a connection string. Usage ``` python connect_to_table(connection_string) ``` This utility function tests whether a connection string leads to a valid table and returns the table object if successful. It provides helpful error messages when no table is specified or when backend dependencies are missing. ## Parameters `connection_string: str` A database connection string with a required table specification using the `::table_name` suffix. Supported formats are outlined in the *Supported Connection String Formats* section. ## Returns `Any` An Ibis table object for the specified database table. ## Supported Connection String Formats The `connection_string` parameter must include a valid connection string with a table name specified using the `::` syntax. Here are some examples on how to format connection strings for various backends: DuckDB: "duckdb:///path/to/database.ddb::table_name" SQLite: "sqlite:///path/to/database.db::table_name" PostgreSQL: "postgresql://user:password@localhost:5432/database::table_name" MySQL: "mysql://user:password@localhost:3306/database::table_name" BigQuery: "bigquery://project/dataset::table_name" Snowflake: "snowflake://user:password@account/database/schema::table_name" If the connection string does not include a table name, the function will attempt to connect to the database and list available tables, providing guidance on how to specify a table. ## Examples Connect to a DuckDB table: ``` python import pointblank as pb # Get path to a DuckDB database file from package data duckdb_path = pb.get_data_path("game_revenue", "duckdb") # Connect to the `game_revenue` table in the DuckDB database game_revenue = pb.connect_to_table(f"duckdb:///{duckdb_path}::game_revenue") # Use with the `preview()` function pb.preview(game_revenue) ```

DuckDBRows2,000Columns11
	player_id string	session_id string	session_start timestamp	time timestamp	item_type string	item_name string	item_revenue float64	session_duration float64	start_day date	acquisition string	country string
1	ECPANOIXLZHF896	ECPANOIXLZHF896-eol2j8bs	2015-01-01 01:31:03+00:00	2015-01-01 01:31:27+00:00	iap	offer2	8.99	16.3	2015-01-01	google	Germany
2	ECPANOIXLZHF896	ECPANOIXLZHF896-eol2j8bs	2015-01-01 01:31:03+00:00	2015-01-01 01:36:57+00:00	iap	gems3	22.49	16.3	2015-01-01	google	Germany
3	ECPANOIXLZHF896	ECPANOIXLZHF896-eol2j8bs	2015-01-01 01:31:03+00:00	2015-01-01 01:37:45+00:00	iap	gold7	107.99	16.3	2015-01-01	google	Germany
4	ECPANOIXLZHF896	ECPANOIXLZHF896-eol2j8bs	2015-01-01 01:31:03+00:00	2015-01-01 01:42:33+00:00	ad	ad_20sec	0.76	16.3	2015-01-01	google	Germany
5	ECPANOIXLZHF896	ECPANOIXLZHF896-hdu9jkls	2015-01-01 11:50:02+00:00	2015-01-01 11:55:20+00:00	ad	ad_5sec	0.03	35.2	2015-01-01	google	Germany
1996	NAOJRDMCSEBI281	NAOJRDMCSEBI281-j2vs9ilp	2015-01-21 01:57:50+00:00	2015-01-21 02:02:50+00:00	ad	ad_survey	1.332	25.8	2015-01-11	organic	Norway
1997	NAOJRDMCSEBI281	NAOJRDMCSEBI281-j2vs9ilp	2015-01-21 01:57:50+00:00	2015-01-21 02:22:14+00:00	ad	ad_survey	1.35	25.8	2015-01-11	organic	Norway
1998	RMOSWHJGELCI675	RMOSWHJGELCI675-vbhcsmtr	2015-01-21 02:39:48+00:00	2015-01-21 02:40:00+00:00	ad	ad_5sec	0.03	8.4	2015-01-10	other_campaign	France
1999	RMOSWHJGELCI675	RMOSWHJGELCI675-vbhcsmtr	2015-01-21 02:39:48+00:00	2015-01-21 02:47:12+00:00	iap	offer5	26.09	8.4	2015-01-10	other_campaign	France
2000	GJCXNTWEBIPQ369	GJCXNTWEBIPQ369-9elq67md	2015-01-21 03:59:23+00:00	2015-01-21 04:06:29+00:00	ad	ad_5sec	0.12	18.5	2015-01-14	organic	United States

Here are some backend-specific connection examples: ``` python # PostgreSQL pg_table = pb.connect_to_table( "postgresql://user:password@localhost:5432/warehouse::customer_data" ) # SQLite sqlite_table = pb.connect_to_table("sqlite:///local_data.db::products") # BigQuery bq_table = pb.connect_to_table("bigquery://my-project/analytics::daily_metrics") ``` This function requires the Ibis library with appropriate backend drivers: ``` bash # You can install a set of common backends: pip install 'ibis-framework[duckdb,postgres,mysql,sqlite]' # ...or specific backends as needed: pip install 'ibis-framework[duckdb]' # for DuckDB pip install 'ibis-framework[postgres]' # for PostgreSQL ``` #### See Also - [print_database_tables()](print_database_tables.md): List all available tables in a database for discovery