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# SQLite + TsFile user manual

Use `tsfile_sqlite` to query existing TsFile data with SQL, or collect new data and
save it as TsFile. New rows stay in SQLite, where you can update or delete them.
Sealing moves them into TsFile: they remain queryable but can no longer be changed.

This manual walks through creating a table, writing and querying rows, exporting,
and reopening the exported data. It then covers daily operations and troubleshooting.
Examples use the SQLite CLI; applications can execute the same SQL.
[中文](USER_GUIDE.md) · [Technical report](TECHNICAL_GUIDE_EN.md)

## 1. Prepare your environment

Use Linux or macOS with SQLite 3.31 or newer and extension loading enabled. You
need `tsfile_sqlite` and the shared `libtsfile` from the same build. If you already
have them, proceed to the tutorial. This extension supports TsFile table-model files.

To build from source, run from the repository root:

```bash
cmake -S cpp -B cpp/build/sqlite \
  -DBUILD_SQLITE_EXTENSION=ON \
  -DTSFILE_BUILD_SHARED=ON \
  -DBUILD_TEST=ON
cmake --build cpp/build/sqlite --target tsfile_sqlite -j
```

The libraries are produced in `cpp/build/sqlite/lib`. The extension is
`tsfile_sqlite.so` on Linux and `tsfile_sqlite.dylib` on macOS. Keep it alongside
`libtsfile` when deploying.

Apple SDK SQLite headers disable extension loading. For Homebrew SQLite, use this
configuration command, then the build command above:

```bash
cmake -S cpp -B cpp/build/sqlite \
  -DBUILD_SQLITE_EXTENSION=ON \
  -DTSFILE_BUILD_SHARED=ON \
  -DBUILD_TEST=ON \
  -DSQLite3_INCLUDE_DIR="$(brew --prefix sqlite)/include" \
  -DSQLite3_LIBRARY="$(brew --prefix sqlite)/lib/libsqlite3.dylib"
```

The CLI must also support loading extensions. Start Homebrew's CLI with
`"$(brew --prefix sqlite)/bin/sqlite3"`.

## 2. Complete your first example

Follow these steps in order to create a SQLite database and a standalone TsFile.
Use a new directory for each run; the examples use `/tmp/tsfile-demo`. If it already
exists, choose another name and replace that path throughout the examples. Use
persistent storage for production data.

### Open a database and load the extension

In your terminal:

```bash
mkdir /tmp/tsfile-demo
sqlite3 /tmp/tsfile-demo/demo.db
```

In SQLite, substitute the absolute path to your built extension:

```sql
.load /absolute/path/to/tsfile_sqlite
.headers on
.mode column
```

Load the extension on every new connection. You can include its `.so` or `.dylib`
suffix in the path.

### Create a table and write rows

```sql
CREATE VIRTUAL TABLE sensor USING tsfile_hybrid(
  time TIMESTAMP TIME,
  device STRING TAG,
  temperature DOUBLE FIELD,
  directory='/tmp/tsfile-demo/sensor-segments',
  timestamp_precision='ms'
);

INSERT INTO sensor VALUES
  (1000, 'd1', 21.5),
  (2000, 'd1', 22.0),
  (3000, 'd2', 19.0);
```

Here time is a millisecond timestamp, device identifies a device, and temperature
holds a measurement. The extension creates the dedicated directory used for future
sealed data; it must be absent or empty when the table is created. These three rows
are initially mutable SQLite data.

### Query and correct a value

```sql
SELECT time, device, temperature FROM sensor ORDER BY time;
```

Expected result:

```text
time  device  temperature
1000  d1      21.5
2000  d1      22.0
3000  d2      19.0
```

Correct the second measurement and read it back:

```sql
UPDATE sensor SET temperature=22.5 WHERE time=2000 AND device='d1';
SELECT temperature FROM sensor WHERE time=2000 AND device='d1';
```

The result is `22.5`. You can also use ordinary DELETE on rows that have not been sealed.

### Export to TsFile

```sql
SELECT tsfile_export('main.sensor', '/tmp/tsfile-demo/export-001');
```

The result is `1`, for the generated file:

```text
/tmp/tsfile-demo/export-001/part-000001.tsfile
```

Export automatically seals all three current rows and exports the complete table;
no preceding seal call is needed. This is an independent copy readable by a
standard TsFile Reader. The original table still returns the same rows, but they
are now sealed and cannot be updated or deleted.

Check the remaining mutable rows and the minimum allowed time for new writes:

```sql
SELECT hot_rows, watermark FROM tsfile_table_info('main.sensor');
```

The result is `hot_rows=0`, `watermark=3001`. Future inserts need a timestamp of at
least 3001. In management calls, `main.sensor` means sensor in the current main
database; include the database qualifier when naming a table.

### Query the exported file directly

```sql
CREATE VIRTUAL TABLE temp.history USING tsfile_hybrid(
  file='/tmp/tsfile-demo/export-001/part-000001.tsfile',
  source_table='sensor'
);

SELECT time, device, temperature FROM history ORDER BY time;
```

The result contains the same three rows, including the corrected `22.5`. No
directory was supplied, so history is query-only. The temp table disappears when
the connection closes; the file remains.

There are no column declarations here: source_table selects the file's sensor
table and the extension reads its schema. The SQLite name history can differ
from the table name inside the file.

### Continue writing from that file

```sql
CREATE VIRTUAL TABLE continued USING tsfile_hybrid(
  file='/tmp/tsfile-demo/export-001/part-000001.tsfile',
  source_table='sensor',
  directory='/tmp/tsfile-demo/continued-segments'
);

INSERT INTO continued VALUES (4000, 'd1', 23.0);
SELECT time, device, temperature FROM continued ORDER BY time;
```

The query returns four rows. The first three are read from the original TsFile;
the new row at 4000 is mutable SQLite hot data. The source file and history's
query results remain unchanged.

The file's maximum time is 3000, so new rows in continued must be strictly later
than 3000, even for a different device. Providing a directory gives this table
its own storage for subsequent sealing.

## 3. Use your own data

### Start collecting into an empty table

Adapt the sensor example with your column names, dedicated directory and actual
time unit. Declare each column as `name TYPE CATEGORY`: the first is
`TIMESTAMP TIME`, identifiers are `STRING TAG`, and measurements are FIELD columns.

You can have multiple TAG columns or none. For a single reading at each timestamp:

```sql
CREATE VIRTUAL TABLE readings USING tsfile_hybrid(
  time TIMESTAMP TIME,
  value DOUBLE FIELD,
  directory='/tmp/tsfile-demo/readings-segments',
  timestamp_precision='ms'
);
```

readings accepts one new row per timestamp; sensor distinguishes new rows by
`(device, time)`. Use double quotes for names containing spaces, such as
`"sensor value" DOUBLE FIELD`. Names cannot differ only by ASCII letter case.
Every column needs an explicit TIME, TAG or FIELD category.

### Open an existing TsFile

Confirm its absolute path and internal table name, then follow the history or
continued example. Omit directory for query-only use; provide a new dedicated
directory to append rows. Each creation selects one table in one file. It does
not guess the table name from the filename or include other tables automatically.

Do not add column declarations when opening a file. Inspect the inferred columns:

```sql
PRAGMA table_info(continued);
```

The tutorial shows `time INTEGER`, `device TEXT` and `temperature REAL`. Use these
names in your queries. Ordinary TsFile sources expose the implicit time column as
time; files generated by this extension also preserve a custom TIME column name.

A file without precision metadata can be queried with precision unknown. To
append, first determine its actual time unit and add `timestamp_precision='ms'`,
`'us'` or `'ns'` to the creation arguments. If the file already records a unit, it
is inherited; any explicit option must match.

Keep source paths and contents unchanged. New rows go into SQLite, without
modifying or appending to the external file. Replacing that file does not refresh
the registered table.

### Supply the right values and time unit

Timestamps are stored as integers without automatic conversion. If your input is
in seconds and the table uses ms, convert the input to milliseconds before writing.

| Declared type | Write value |
| --- | --- |
| BOOLEAN | Integer; zero is false, nonzero true; read as 0 or 1 |
| INT32, DATE | Integer within signed int32 range |
| INT64, TIMESTAMP | Integer within signed int64 range |
| FLOAT, DOUBLE | Integer or real number |
| STRING, TEXT | Text |
| BLOB | Binary value, preserving length and zero bytes |

TIME cannot be NULL. TAG and FIELD values can be NULL; TAG columns must be STRING.
New rows with the same complete TAG combination and time conflict. For uniqueness,
two NULLs in the same key position count as equal, so NULL cannot bypass the key
check. NULL, empty text and the literal text `'null'` are distinct. Use IS NULL
when querying a NULL value.

Existing duplicate rows in a source file are returned unchanged, without automatic
deduplication when the table is created.

## 4. Query, edit and seal during daily use

### Query with ordinary SQL

Query the logical table regardless of where rows are stored. Conditions, joins,
aggregates and sorting work through SQLite. After completing the tutorial:

```sql
SELECT device, avg(temperature) AS avg_temperature
FROM continued
WHERE time >= 1000 AND time < 5000
GROUP BY device
ORDER BY device;
```

Specify ORDER BY when order matters. Time ranges and device/TAG conditions can
reduce scanning. Do not use implicit rowids as persistent business keys; sealing
and later queries can change them.

### Write or correct a batch

```sql
BEGIN;
INSERT INTO continued VALUES (5000, 'd2', 20.0);
UPDATE continued SET temperature=23.5 WHERE time=4000 AND device='d1';
COMMIT;
```

Use ROLLBACK instead of COMMIT to cancel the batch. Hot writes also support
savepoints. Locate rows precisely using their time and TAG values.

If an UPDATE or DELETE actually targets any sealed row, the entire statement fails,
including changes to other hot rows. IGNORE and FAIL do not bypass this rule.
Reading cold data remains allowed.

### Freeze history before exporting

When data before a chosen time no longer needs correction, seal it explicitly:

```sql
SELECT tsfile_seal('main.continued', 4500);
```

Following this manual in order, the result is `1`: the row at 4000 is sealed and
the row at 5000 stays hot. The cutoff excludes 4500 itself. New rows now need a time
of at least 4500, and queries continue returning the same data.

A larger cutoff advances the write boundary even when no hot rows qualify. Choose
it according to your late-arrival and correction window. Repeating the current
boundary returns zero; using an earlier boundary fails.

Seal is synchronous and can participate in an explicit transaction:

```sql
BEGIN IMMEDIATE;
SELECT tsfile_seal('main.continued', 5001);
ROLLBACK;
```

This rollback undoes the seal, leaving the row at 5000 hot. Use COMMIT to retain
it. A successful seal call inside a transaction is not durable until that outer
transaction commits.

## 5. Export and deliver data

Whenever you need a complete independent data copy, call export with a new output
directory:

```sql
SELECT tsfile_export('main.continued', '/tmp/tsfile-demo/export-002');
```

Commit or roll back any current transaction first, then execute this SELECT on
its own. Invoke export and seal as standalone calls, outside row queries, views,
triggers or other expressions.

Export includes the external history, previously sealed rows and all current hot
rows in its captured data view. It automatically seals those hot rows, so recent
writes are included. Writes arriving after the automatic seal commits are left
for the next export. A read-only file table can also export its selected table.

A nonempty table produces one `part-000001.tsfile` and returns 1; an empty table
produces an empty directory and returns 0. The file's internal table name is the
current logical name, continued in this example. Tell recipients this name so they
can select it with source_table. Known time precision is preserved.

The output's parent directory must exist. Keep output outside the table's owned
segment directory and do not let it contain or replace a source file. It can be a
sibling of an external file. Existing output paths are never overwritten.
Deleting an export does not affect the original table. However, keep the export
if another table references it, as history does in the tutorial.

After export, captured hot rows are frozen and future writes must be later than
their maximum time. Finish any necessary corrections before exporting.

### Recover from an export failure

Read the error and check hot_rows and watermark through tsfile_table_info:

| State reported by the error | Next step |
| --- | --- |
| Path validation failed or automatic seal did not commit | Fix paths, permissions or files and retry; no seal changes were committed |
| Automatic seal committed but output failed | Data remains readable but is sealed; fix the output issue and retry with a new directory |
| Complete output published but parent-directory sync failed | Inspect the target and files first; use another directory if exporting again |

A failure does not make committed cold rows mutable again. An interrupted process
may leave a temporary directory containing `.tsfile-export-` in its name; do not
treat it as a completed delivery.

Export saves table data, not the complete SQLite database, business configuration
or hot/cold state. Empty exports do not preserve a table definition. Export cannot
replace a complete application database backup.

## 6. Check status and troubleshoot

### Determine what can still be written

```sql
SELECT mode, hot_rows, watermark, append_available, timestamp_precision
FROM tsfile_table_info('main.continued');
```

hot_rows counts mutable rows; watermark is the minimum new timestamp. Mode readonly
means query-only. append_available=1 means later timestamps remain representable,
but writes must still satisfy other constraints. This describes the current view;
the actual write result is authoritative.

At INT64_MAX, append_available becomes 0 and watermark NULL when time space is
exhausted. Existing data remains readable and exportable. An explicit half-open
int64 seal cutoff cannot cover a hot row at INT64_MAX; automatic export sealing can.

### An INSERT, UPDATE or DELETE fails

Check mode and watermark first. A file table created without directory is
read-only; create another named table with a new directory to append data. A write
with no target rows may succeed as a no-op, which does not make a read-only table
writable.

For writable tables, new time must be at least watermark. For external history,
this means strictly after the source maximum; historical gaps cannot be backfilled.
Then check for a duplicate `(all TAGs, time)` key, NULL TIME, wrong types or
out-of-range values. For UPDATE/DELETE, also confirm the target rows are not sealed.

### A source is missing or queries report file problems

```sql
SELECT path, status, detail FROM tsfile_verify('main.continued');
```

Use the reported paths to investigate:

| Status | Action |
| --- | --- |
| OK | The current file checks passed |
| MISSING | Check whether the file moved or was deleted; restore the original at its registered path |
| CORRUPT | The file cannot be opened or parsed; check read permissions and completeness |
| MISMATCH | The file differs from registration; investigate replacement and restore the original |
| UNREGISTERED | Investigate the unregistered TsFile's origin before treating it as data or deleting it |

Verify reports only. It does not repair, register or delete files, or inspect other
files beside an external source. It checks file identity and metadata, without
decoding every data page.

### Loading or creating a table fails

For not authorized, check SQLite extension-loading support; applications must
enable loading on the connection first. For a missing libtsfile, verify that it
and the extension are from the same build and are deployed together.

For creation failures, check absolute paths, the file-internal table name and
precision. Use an empty or absent directory dedicated to this table, without
overlapping or nesting another table's directory. File-based creation has no
explicit column declarations; empty-table creation needs columns, directory and
precision.

### The saved creation SQL has no column definitions

sqlite_schema.sql stores the virtual-table creation SQL and does not expand
inferred columns. Use `PRAGMA table_info(table_name)` to inspect the actual schema.
On older SQLite versions, sqlite_master is the compatible name for sqlite_schema.

## 7. Reopen tables and manage their files

Reopen the same database and load the extension to use persistent tables again.
Their columns, hot rows and write boundaries are retained; do not repeat CREATE.
Temporary tables and their hot rows disappear when their connection closes, while
referenced and generated TsFile files remain.

Retain the SQLite database, external source files and each table's segment directory.
Do not move or rewrite files still referenced by a table. New files appearing in a
directory are not automatically added to query results.

The `.tsfile-owner` marker binds a writable directory to the database path and
table name. A copied or moved SQLite database cannot simply reuse the original
directory for writes; plan data and path handling before moving a deployment.
Do not modify internal tables containing `_tsfile$` to change paths or data.

Use DROP TABLE only when the logical table is no longer needed. It removes SQLite
hot rows and registration, while retaining external files, sealed files and the
directory marker. Check that no other tables reference these files before later
archiving or deleting them.

The current version does not automatically migrate prototype databases or support
changing columns or switching read-only tables to writable in place. Queries and
exports collect rows in memory, and export rewrites the full table. Evaluate memory
and runtime with representative data before using large tables. Sealing and export
are caller-initiated; there is no background sealing schedule.