---
title: dbt - Placeholder values
description: "Set the values that the generated dbt_project.yml leaves as <placeholder>: the profile, the layer schemas and the source locations."
---

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# dbt - Placeholder values

**Applies to**  
Platform: Snowflake dbt · Databricks dbt

Set the values that the generated `dbt_project.yml` leaves as `<placeholder>`: the profile, the layer schemas and the source locations. Do this before you run the project. Afterwards dbt finds your profile and builds the models in your target schemas.

A dbt project has no `replace_placeholders.ps1` and no `replacement_config.json`, unlike the artifacts described in [Replace the placeholders in the artifacts](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/replace-the-placeholders-in-the-artifacts?hsLang=en). You edit `dbt_project.yml` directly.

### Prerequisites

- The target environment is prepared, with a connection profile in `profiles.yml`: 
    - Databricks dbt: [Target environment](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/databricks-dbt-target-environment?hsLang=en)
    - Snowflake dbt: no target environment article available yet
- The artifacts are [generated](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/generate-artifacts?hsLang=en) and [downloaded](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/download-generated-artifacts?hsLang=en).

### Values to set

- `profile`: the name of your profile in `profiles.yml`.
- `+schema` under each layer: the second part of the layer's schema. dbt creates the models of the layer in `<profile schema>_<layer schema>`, where `<profile schema>` is the `schema` of the profile. A Data Vault project has the layers `stage`, `rawvault` and `businessvault`.
- `<source system>_catalog` and `<source system>_schema`: the catalog and the schema that hold the tables of a source system. The project has one pair for each source system, named after it in lower case.

The profile also sets the target catalog or database. The layers write to it, and dbt reads the sources from the location in the variables.

### Set the values

1. Open `dbt_project.yml` in the root folder of the downloaded artifacts.
2. Replace `<placeholder>` of `profile` with the name of your profile.
3. Replace `<placeholder>` of each `+schema` with the schema part of the layer, for example the layer name.
4. Replace `<placeholder>` of each source variable with the catalog or schema of the source tables.
5. Search the file for `<placeholder>`. No match remains. Save the file.

Each generation writes `dbt_project.yml` with `<placeholder>` again. Keep your values and enter them again after each generation.

### Example

A Databricks dbt project with the source system `bfmmssql`, whose tables are in the schema `bfm` of the catalog `landing`. The profile `dwh` has the catalog `dwh_dev` and the schema `analytics`. The edited part of `dbt_project.yml`:

```
models:
  datavault_spark_databricks_dbt:
    +contract:
      enforced: true
    businessvault:
      +schema: businessvault
    rawvault:
      +schema: rawvault
    stage:
      +schema: stage

vars:
  # source systems
  bfmmssql_catalog: landing
  bfmmssql_schema: bfm

profile: 'dwh'
```

dbt then reads the source table `customer` as ``landing`.`bfm`.`customer`` and writes these tables:

```
`dwh_dev`.`analytics_stage`.`stg_st_customer`
`dwh_dev`.`analytics_rawvault`.`rdv_hub_common_customer`
`dwh_dev`.`analytics_businessvault`.`bdv_hub_load_bhub`
```

### Check the result

Open a terminal in the artifacts folder and run `dbt debug`. The output ends with `All checks passed!`, which shows that dbt found the profile and connected. It does not check the source variables or the layer schemas.

### Failure symptoms and recovery

#### dbt does not find the profile

Message: `Could not find profile named '<placeholder>'`  
Cause: `profile` in `dbt_project.yml` still holds the placeholder.  
Fix: Enter the name of your profile and run the command again.

### Platform differences

- Snowflake dbt: the source variables are `<source system>_database` and `<source system>_schema`. Each layer also has `+snowflake_warehouse`: enter the warehouse that runs the models of the layer. With [Apply Sensitivity Level Tags](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/apply-sensitivity-level-tags-project?hsLang=en) on, the variables `governance_tags_database` and `governance_tags_schema` name the location of the tag.
- `Databricks Dbt DataMart`: one layer, `mart`. The source variables belong to the linked source systems: enter the catalog and schema of the linked project's tables, for example `rawvault_catalog` and `rawvault_schema`.
- `Databricks Dbt DataVault & Mart`: four layers, `stage`, `rawvault`, `businessvault` and `mart`. Source variables exist only for the source systems.

### Related articles

- Previous: [Generate artifacts](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/generate-artifacts?hsLang=en), [Download generated artifacts](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/download-generated-artifacts?hsLang=en) 
    - Snowflake dbt: no target environment article available yet
    - Databricks dbt: [Target environment](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/databricks-dbt-target-environment?hsLang=en)
- Next: [dbt - Deployment](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/dbt-deployment?hsLang=en)
- Reference: [Apply Sensitivity Level Tags (Project)](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/apply-sensitivity-level-tags-project?hsLang=en)
- See also: [dbt - Artifacts](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/dbt-artifacts?hsLang=en), [Replace the placeholders in the artifacts](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/replace-the-placeholders-in-the-artifacts?hsLang=en)

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