---
title: Snowflake - Stage Files
description: Snowflake - Stage Files generates a Stage layer for Snowflake that loads Parquet files, as SnowSQL scripts with stored procedure loaders.
---

[Skip to content](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/snowflake-stage-files#main-content)

[Contact us](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en) [Go to Customer Portal](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/customer-portal?hsLang=en)

[![TRI\_Logo\_biGENIUS\_2020\_RGB\_s](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Marketing/TRI_Logo_biGENIUS_2020_RGB_s.png?width=150&height=42&name=TRI_Logo_biGENIUS_2020_RGB_s.png)](https://www.bigenius-x.com/)

Open main navigation

Close main navigation

- [Contact us](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/kb-tickets/new)
- [Go to Customer Portal](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/customer-portal)

 How can we help you?

- There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

1. [biGENIUS-X Knowledge Base](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/?hsLang=en)
2. [Generators](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/generators?hsLang=en)
3. [Snowflake](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/generators?hsLang=en#snowflake)

# Snowflake - Stage Files

**Applies to**  
Platform: Snowflake  
Architecture: Stage

Snowflake - Stage Files generates a Stage layer for Snowflake that loads Parquet files, as SnowSQL scripts with stored procedure loaders. Select the Generator Configuration `Snowflake Stage File` when you add a project whose sources are Parquet files.

The configuration works with Parquet source systems only. Another project, for example a Data Vault project, uses its Stage model objects as a linked project. For source databases use [Snowflake - Stage](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/snowflake-stage?hsLang=en).

### Scope and output

- Platform: Snowflake.
- Layers: Source and Stage. Dataflow Modeling shows Stage in the Bronze column. See [Understand the Layering concept](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/understand-the-layering-concept?hsLang=en).
- Output: the layer script `SQL\L010_Stage.sql`, the task scripts of the load control or an Airflow DAG in the folder `LoadControl`, and `deploy.ps1` with `deploy.sql`, described in [Snowflake - Artifacts](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/snowflake-artifacts?hsLang=en).

### Prerequisites

- A Snowflake account with the databases of the layers and of the load control, and a warehouse. The deployment creates only the schemas.
- A role that creates the objects, runs tasks and reads the external stage.
- PowerShell 7 and SnowSQL with a named connection.
- An external stage on the storage location of the Parquet files, in Azure Blob Storage or Amazon S3, and a file format of type `PARQUET`.

The setup is described in [Snowflake - Target environment](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/snowflake-target-environment?hsLang=en), the placeholders in [Snowflake - Placeholder values](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/snowflake-placeholder-values?hsLang=en).

### Sources and linked projects

The source system has the type `Parquet`. The loader of each Stage reads the files of one folder below the external stage with `COPY INTO`, the file format and the pattern of [File Name Pattern](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/file-name-pattern-model-object?hsLang=en), which defaults to `.*[.]parquet`. The names of the stage and the file format are placeholders per source system. The discovery types are listed in [Source Systems per Generator Configurations](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/source-systems-per-generator-configurations?hsLang=en).

You can [export this project as a linked project](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/export-a-project-to-be-used-as-linked-project?hsLang=en). The configuration cannot import linked projects.

### Supported model objects

- [Source](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/create-a-source?hsLang=en)
- [Stage](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/create-a-stage?hsLang=en)

### Capabilities and limitations

- Generated objects per Stage: the table `STG_ST_<model object name>`, the view `_RESULT` and the loader `_LOADER`. There is no source view; the loader holds the file query.
- Tables: Stage tables are transient, because the default [Implementation Type](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/implementation-type-model-object?hsLang=en) is `Cached`. With `Permanent` the table is permanent.
- Load: the loader truncates the table, then loads the files with `COPY INTO`. Each column is read as `$1:<column name>` and cast to the data type of its term. `BG_SourceSystem` holds the name of the source system.
- Names: generated names are upper case without quotes, for example `STG_ST_BDC_CUSTOMER`.
- Loaders: stored procedures `<table name>_LOADER` in Snowflake Scripting. Each loads in one transaction and logs its row counts with `SYSTEM$LOG_INFO`.
- Keys: Stage tables have no primary key and no hash columns.
- Indexes: index management is not available.
- Deployment: with the default [Deployment Options](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/deployment-options-project?hsLang=en), each deployment replaces the tables with empty ones and drops the load control schema. See [Snowflake - Deployment](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/snowflake-deployment?hsLang=en).
- Loading: [LoadControl Options](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/loadcontrol-options-project?hsLang=en) offers Snowflake tasks and Apache Airflow. [Warehouse Placeholder Variable Name](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/warehouse-placeholder-variable-name-dataflow?hsLang=en) moves the tasks of a dataflow to another warehouse.
- Governance: [Apply Sensitivity Level Tags](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/apply-sensitivity-level-tags-project?hsLang=en) adds a script that creates the tag `SENSITIVITY_LEVEL`.

### Project properties

The configuration offers no Hash Algorithm and no End of Universe. It offers these project properties, with their defaults:

- [Hash Casing](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/hash-casing-project?hsLang=en): `None`; also `Upper` and `Lower`
- [Hash Concatenation Separator](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/hash-concatenation-separator-project?hsLang=en): `_`
- [Hash Null Placeholder](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/hash-null-placeholder-project?hsLang=en): `_NULL_`
- [Hash Trim](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/hash-trim-project?hsLang=en): off
- [Begin of Universe](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/begin-of-universe-project?hsLang=en): `1900-01-01`
- [Persist Validity](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/persist-validity-project?hsLang=en): on
- [Create Result Views](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/create-result-views-project?hsLang=en): on
- [Target Object Comment Type](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/target-object-comment-type-project?hsLang=en): `None`; also `Tables` and `Tables and Views`
- [Artifact Output Mode](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/artifact-output-mode-project?hsLang=en): `Layer Composites`; also `Deployment Objects`
- [Deployment Options](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/deployment-options-project?hsLang=en): `Generate Drop Table Statements` and `Generate Drop Load Control Schema`
- [Apply Sensitivity Level Tags](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/apply-sensitivity-level-tags-project?hsLang=en): off
- [Sensitivity Level Tag Name](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/sensitivity-level-tag-name-project?hsLang=en): `SENSITIVITY_LEVEL`
- [Configure LoadControl](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/configure-loadcontrol-project?hsLang=en): on
- [LoadControl Options](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/loadcontrol-options-project?hsLang=en): `Depending Tasks`; also `Stage-Driven Tasks`, `Near-Realtime Tasks` and `Airflow`

Hash Casing, Hash Concatenation Separator, Hash Null Placeholder, Hash Trim and Persist Validity have no effect on Stage objects.

### Data types

The Default Terms get these data types. `TIMESTAMP_TZ` has no precision, so Snowflake uses precision 9, and `VARCHAR` has no length:

- Load timestamp, `TIMESTAMP_TZ`: `BG_LoadTimestamp`
- Text, `VARCHAR`: `BG_SourceSystem`, `BG_DataflowName`, `BG_DataflowSetName`, `BG_IncrementLoadStatus`
- Number, `INTEGER`: `BG_ID`
- `BG_IncrementalFilter`, `BG_LowerThreshold`, `BG_UpperThreshold`: the data type of the term that you map to `BG_IncrementalFilter`

### Platform differences

The table compares the configuration with [Microsoft SQL Server - Stage Files](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/microsoft-sql-server-stage-files?hsLang=en) of the same release:

| Item | Snowflake | Microsoft SQL Server |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Source files | Parquet | CSV |
| Timestamp Default Terms | `TIMESTAMP_TZ` | `datetimeoffset` |
| Text Default Terms | `VARCHAR` | `nvarchar` |
| Persist Validity default | on | off |
| Deployment Options default | both options | `Generate Drop Table Statements` |
| Index management | not available | available |
| [Deploy LoadControl](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/deploy-loadcontrol-project?hsLang=en) | not available | available |

On both platforms, LoadControl Options offers `Airflow` and a native load control: Snowflake tasks on Snowflake, `Native Load Control` on Microsoft SQL Server.

### Example

A Stage `CUSTOMER` of the source system `blackforestmarkets` reads the files of the folder `customer/`. Its loader runs this statement. The excerpt shows the example database `DWH`, schema `STAGE`, stage `PARQUET_STAGE` and file format `PARQUET_FORMAT` in place of the placeholders and leaves out nine columns:

```
TRUNCATE TABLE DWH.STAGE.STG_ST_CUSTOMER;
COPY INTO DWH.STAGE.STG_ST_CUSTOMER (
     BG_LOADTIMESTAMP
    ,BG_SOURCESYSTEM
    ,CUSTOMER_ID
    ,CUSTOMER
    ,CUSTOMER_SINCE
)
FROM (
    SELECT
         :LoadTimestamp AS BG_LOADTIMESTAMP
        ,'blackforestmarkets' AS BG_SOURCESYSTEM
        ,$1:CUSTOMER_ID::NUMBER(38,0) AS CUSTOMER_ID
        ,$1:CUSTOMER::VARCHAR AS CUSTOMER
        ,$1:CUSTOMER_SINCE::DATE AS CUSTOMER_SINCE
    FROM @DWH.STAGE.PARQUET_STAGE/customer/
)
FILE_FORMAT = DWH.STAGE.PARQUET_FORMAT
PATTERN = '.*[.]parquet'
;
```

Both statements run in one transaction. The table `STG_ST_CUSTOMER` is transient and holds only the rows of the last load.

### Release differences

Project Settings shows the Generator Version of your project.

- Generator 2.2: the project properties Persist Validity, Create Result Views, Hash Casing, Hash Concatenation Separator, Hash Null Placeholder, Hash Trim, Apply Sensitivity Level Tags and Sensitivity Level Tag Name; the model object property Increment Management Type on Stage.

### Related articles

- Previous: 
    - Snowflake: [Target environment](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/snowflake-target-environment?hsLang=en)
- Next: [Generate artifacts](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/generate-artifacts?hsLang=en), [Replace the placeholders in the artifacts](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/replace-the-placeholders-in-the-artifacts?hsLang=en) 
    - Snowflake: [Artifacts](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/snowflake-artifacts?hsLang=en), [Deployment](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/snowflake-deployment?hsLang=en), [Load data - Native Load Control](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/snowflake-load-data-native-load-control?hsLang=en), [Load data - Apache Airflow Load Control](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/snowflake-load-data-apache-airflow-load-control?hsLang=en)
- Reference: [File Name Pattern (Model Object)](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/file-name-pattern-model-object?hsLang=en), [Artifact Output Mode (Project)](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/artifact-output-mode-project?hsLang=en), [Deployment Options (Project)](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/deployment-options-project?hsLang=en), [LoadControl Options (Project)](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/loadcontrol-options-project?hsLang=en), [Warehouse Placeholder Variable Name (Dataflow)](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/warehouse-placeholder-variable-name-dataflow?hsLang=en) 
    - Snowflake: [Placeholder values](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/snowflake-placeholder-values?hsLang=en)
- See also: [Available Generator Configurations](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/available-generator-configurations?hsLang=en), [Understand the Generator Configuration](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/understand-the-generator-configuration?hsLang=en), [Source Systems per Generator Configurations](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/source-systems-per-generator-configurations?hsLang=en) 
    - Snowflake: [Stage](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/snowflake-stage?hsLang=en), [Data Store](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/snowflake-data-store?hsLang=en), [DataVault](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/snowflake-datavault?hsLang=en), [Dimensional](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/snowflake-dimensional?hsLang=en)

- [Getting started](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/getting-started?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Guidelines](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/getting-started?hsLang=en#guidelines)
    - [Start working](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/getting-started?hsLang=en#start-working)
    - [Account](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/getting-started?hsLang=en#account)
- [General overview](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/general-overview?hsLang=en)
- [Artificial Intelligence](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/artificial-intelligence?hsLang=en)
- [Application Modules](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/application-modules?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Administration](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/application-modules?hsLang=en#administration)
    - [Solutions](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/application-modules?hsLang=en#solutions)
    - [Global Features](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/application-modules?hsLang=en#global-features)
    - [Projects](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/application-modules?hsLang=en#projects)
    - [Branches](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/application-modules?hsLang=en#branches)
    - [Data Connections](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/application-modules?hsLang=en#data-connections)
    - [Dataflow Modeling - Overview](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/application-modules?hsLang=en#dataflow-modeling-overview)
    - [Dataflow Modeling - Wizard Steps](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/application-modules?hsLang=en#dataflow-modeling-wizard-steps)
    - [Dataflow Modeling - Terms](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/application-modules?hsLang=en#dataflow-modeling-terms)
    - [Dataflow Modeling - Term Mapping](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/application-modules?hsLang=en#dataflow-modeling-term-mapping)
    - [Dataflow Modeling - Relationships](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/application-modules?hsLang=en#dataflow-modeling-relationships)
    - [Dataflow Modeling - Data Quality](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/application-modules?hsLang=en#dataflow-modeling-data-quality)
    - [Dataflow Modeling - Indexes](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/application-modules?hsLang=en#dataflow-modeling-indexes)
    - [Relationship Modeling](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/application-modules?hsLang=en#relationship-modeling)
    - [Generate Artifacts](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/application-modules?hsLang=en#generate-artifacts)
    - [Project Settings](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/application-modules?hsLang=en#project-settings)
    - [Data Marketplace](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/application-modules?hsLang=en#data-marketplace)
- [Generators](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/generators?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Fabric Warehouse](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/generators?hsLang=en#fabric-warehouse)
    - [Fabric Lakehouse](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/generators?hsLang=en#fabric-lakehouse)
    - [Databricks](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/generators?hsLang=en#databricks)
    - [Snowflake](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/generators?hsLang=en#snowflake)
    - [Microsoft SQL Server](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/generators?hsLang=en#microsoft-sql-server)
    - [Oracle](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/generators?hsLang=en#oracle)
    - [Artifacts](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/generators?hsLang=en#artifacts)
    - [Replace Placeholders](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/generators?hsLang=en#replace-placeholders)
    - [Target solution environment](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/generators?hsLang=en#target-solution-environment)
    - [Deployment](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/generators?hsLang=en#deployment)
    - [Deployment with an Azuze DevOps pipeline](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/generators?hsLang=en#deployment-with-an-azuze-devops-pipeline)
    - [Delta Deployment](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/generators?hsLang=en#delta-deployment)
    - [Load control environment](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/generators?hsLang=en#load-control-environment)
    - [Load data with a native load control](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/generators?hsLang=en#load-data-with-a-native-load-control)
    - [Load data with Apache Airflow](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/generators?hsLang=en#load-data-with-apache-airflow)
    - [Model Object Type](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/generators?hsLang=en#model-object-type)
    - [Properties](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/generators?hsLang=en#properties)
    - [Default Terms](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/generators?hsLang=en#default-terms)
- [Discovery application](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/discovery-application?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Discovery configurations](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/discovery-application?hsLang=en#discovery-configurations)
- [Best practices](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/best-practices?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Modeling Approaches](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/best-practices?hsLang=en#modeling-approaches)
    - [Use Cases](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/best-practices?hsLang=en#use-cases)
    - [Business Rules](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/best-practices?hsLang=en#business-rules)
    - [Data Quality Rules](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/best-practices?hsLang=en#data-quality-rules)
- [FAQs](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/faqs?hsLang=en)
- [Product Release Notes](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/product-release-notes?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [SaaS Application](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/product-release-notes?hsLang=en#saas-application)
    - [Discovery application](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/product-release-notes?hsLang=en#discovery-application)
    - [Generators](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/product-release-notes?hsLang=en#generators)
- [Legal Documents](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/legal-documents?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Current legal docs](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/legal-documents?hsLang=en#current-legal-docs)
    - [Software Product and Limits](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/legal-documents?hsLang=en#software-product-and-limits)

- [Contact us](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en)
- [Customer Portal](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/customer-portal)
- [Sign in](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/_hcms/mem/login)

[![biGENIUS logo](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/hubfs/TRI_Logo_biGENIUS_2020_RGB-1.svg "biGENIUS logo")](https://www.bigenius-x.com)

<https://www.linkedin.com/company/bigenius> <https://www.youtube.com/@biGENIUS_DWA>

All rights reserved © 2025, biGENIUS AG