---
title: "ktx sl"
description: "List, read, validate, query, or write semantic-layer sources."
---

Interact with your project's semantic layer. Semantic sources are YAML definitions that describe your tables, columns, measures, joins, and grain — the vocabulary agents use to generate correct SQL.

## Command signature

```bash
ktx sl <subcommand> [options]
```

## Subcommands

| Subcommand | Description |
|-----------|-------------|
| `list` | List semantic-layer sources |
| `read <sourceName>` | Read a semantic-layer source |
| `validate <sourceName>` | Validate a semantic-layer source against the database schema |
| `write <sourceName>` | Write a semantic-layer source |
| `query` | Compile or execute a semantic-layer query |

## Options

### `sl list`

| Flag | Description | Default |
|------|-------------|---------|
| `--connection-id <id>` | Filter by KTX connection id | — |
| `--output <mode>` | Output mode: `pretty` (default in TTY), `plain` (TSV), or `json` | `pretty` |
| `--json` | Shortcut for `--output=json` (overrides `--output`) | `false` |

### `sl read`

| Flag | Description | Default |
|------|-------------|---------|
| `--connection-id <id>` | KTX connection id (required) | — |

### `sl validate`

| Flag | Description | Default |
|------|-------------|---------|
| `--connection-id <id>` | KTX connection id (required) | — |

### `sl write`

| Flag | Description | Default |
|------|-------------|---------|
| `--connection-id <id>` | KTX connection id (required) | — |
| `--yaml <yaml>` | Semantic-layer source YAML content (required) | — |

### `sl query`

| Flag | Description | Default |
|------|-------------|---------|
| `--connection-id <id>` | KTX connection id | — |
| `--measure <measure>` | Measure to query; repeatable (at least one required) | — |
| `--dimension <dimension>` | Dimension to include; repeatable | — |
| `--filter <filter>` | Filter expression; repeatable | — |
| `--segment <segment>` | Segment to include; repeatable | — |
| `--order-by <field[:direction]>` | Order field, optionally suffixed with `:asc` or `:desc`; repeatable | — |
| `--limit <n>` | Query limit | — |
| `--include-empty` | Include empty rows | `false` |
| `--format <format>` | Output format: `json` or `sql` | `json` |
| `--execute` | Execute the compiled query against the database | `false` |
| `--max-rows <n>` | Maximum rows to return when executing | — |

## Examples

```bash
# List all semantic sources
ktx sl list

# List sources for a specific connection
ktx sl list --connection-id my-warehouse

# List sources as JSON
ktx sl list --json

# Read a source definition
ktx sl read orders --connection-id my-warehouse

# Validate a source against the live schema
ktx sl validate orders --connection-id my-warehouse

# Write a new source from YAML
ktx sl write customers --connection-id my-warehouse --yaml "$(cat sources/customers.yaml)"

# Compile a query and view the generated SQL
ktx sl query \
  --connection-id my-warehouse \
  --measure orders.total_revenue \
  --dimension orders.created_date \
  --format sql

# Execute a query with filters
ktx sl query \
  --connection-id my-warehouse \
  --measure orders.total_revenue \
  --dimension orders.status \
  --filter "orders.created_date >= '2024-01-01'" \
  --execute \
  --max-rows 100

# Query with ordering and limit
ktx sl query \
  --connection-id my-warehouse \
  --measure orders.total_revenue \
  --dimension customers.country \
  --order-by total_revenue:desc \
  --limit 10 \
  --execute

# Execute and cap the result set
ktx sl query \
  --connection-id my-warehouse \
  --measure orders.count \
  --dimension orders.created_date \
  --execute \
  --max-rows 1000
```

## Output

Semantic-layer commands return human-readable output by default. Use `--json` or `--format json` when an agent needs structured output; use `--format sql` to inspect generated SQL before execution.

```json
{
  "sql": "SELECT orders.status, SUM(orders.total_amount) AS total_revenue FROM public.orders GROUP BY orders.status",
  "rows": [
    {
      "orders.status": "completed",
      "total_revenue": 125000
    }
  ]
}
```

## Common errors

| Error | Cause | Recovery |
|-------|-------|----------|
| Source not found | Source name or connection id is wrong | Run `ktx sl list --json` and retry with an exact source name and connection id |
| Validation fails | YAML references missing columns, invalid joins, or invalid SQL expressions | Fix the source YAML and rerun `ktx sl validate` |
| Query compile fails | Measure, dimension, filter, or segment name is invalid | Read the source with `ktx sl read`, then retry using declared fields |
| Execution returns too many rows | `--max-rows` is missing or too high | Add `--max-rows` with a bounded value before executing |