Browse external tables backed by Parquet, CSV, and other file formats.
## Overview The File Tables page lists external tables whose data resides in file-based formats such as Parquet, CSV, JSON, and Avro. Data engineers and analysts use this page to register, inspect, and preview file-backed datasets without first converting them into native Delta Lake tables. Schema detection runs automatically when a file table is registered, inferring column names, data types, and nullability from the underlying files. The page also tracks schema evolution over time, flagging changes when new files introduce additional or modified columns. ## Key Features - **File-backed table listing.** View all registered file tables organized by zone. Each entry displays the table name, file format, storage location, and file count. - **Schema detection and evolution tracking.** Inspect the inferred schema for each file table. When the underlying files change, re-run detection to see added, removed, or type-changed columns highlighted in a diff view. - **File format metadata.** Review format-specific properties such as Parquet row group statistics, CSV delimiter and header settings, and compression codec. This metadata helps diagnose read performance and compatibility issues. - **Data preview.** Load sample rows from the file table directly in the GUI. The preview applies any inferred schema and displays data in a tabular grid with virtual scrolling for large result sets. ## Workflow 1. Navigate to the File Tables page from the Catalog sidebar. 2. Browse the list of registered file tables or use the search bar to locate a specific table. 3. Click a table to view its detected schema and file format metadata. 4. If the underlying files have changed, trigger schema re-detection to update the column definitions. 5. Open the data preview panel to inspect sample rows. 6. Optionally, use the context menu to open the table in the Query Explorer for ad-hoc analysis.