--- title: Stage description: A Stage copies the data of a source object into the Stage layer, as a table that each load refills or as a view on the source. --- [Skip to content](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/stage#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. [Model Object Type](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/generators?hsLang=en#model-object-type) # Stage **Applies to** Platform: Microsoft SQL Server · Snowflake · Snowflake dbt · Databricks · Databricks dbt · Fabric Lakehouse · Fabric Warehouse · Oracle Architecture: Stage · Data Store · Data Vault · Dimensional A Stage copies the data of a source object into the Stage layer, as a table that each load refills or as a view on the source. Use one Stage for each source object that your solution reads. The model objects of the next layer read the result view of the Stage. ### Sources and relationships A Stage reads [Sources](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/source?hsLang=en) in exactly one dataflow. It has no relationships. These model object types read a Stage: - Data Store: Store Entity and Store Composite. - Data Vault: Hub, Link, Same As Link, Hierarchical Link, Driving Key Link, all Raw Vault satellite types, RawVault Composite and Reference Table. - Dimensional: Entity, Fact and Core Composite. ### Create a Stage - From a Discovery of the source system: see [Create Source Objects from a Discovery](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/create-source-objects-from-a-discovery?hsLang=en). - With the wizard: open the menu of a Source, choose **Automate** and then **Create Stage**. Its steps are [Create Model Object](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/wizard-step-create-model-object?hsLang=en), [Map Terms](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/wizard-step-map-terms?hsLang=en) and [Add to View](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/wizard-step-add-to-view?hsLang=en). See [Create a Model Object with the wizard](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/create-a-model-object-with-the-wizard?hsLang=en). ![Menu of a Source with Automate and its entry Create Stage](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/hs-fs/hubfs/knowledge_base_screenshots/create-a-stage-automate-menu.png?width=376&height=243&name=create-a-stage-automate-menu.png) - Manually: [create a model object](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/create-a-model-object?hsLang=en) of type Stage in the Stage layer, [create a dataflow set](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/create-a-data-flow-set?hsLang=en), [add the Source](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/add-a-model-object-into-a-data-flow-set?hsLang=en) and [map the terms](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/map-a-source-term-with-a-target-term?hsLang=en). ### Properties - [Implementation Type](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/implementation-type-model-object?hsLang=en): `Cached` (default) stores the data in a table that the loader empties and refills on every load. `Virtual` creates only views on the source object. The Stage Files, OpenQuery and JDBC generators do not offer `Virtual`. - [Deduplication Method](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/deduplication-method-dataflow?hsLang=en): `None` (default), `Distinct` or `Partition`, with [Sort Order within Partition](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/sort-order-within-partition-dataflow?hsLang=en). OpenQuery offers `None` and `Distinct`. A method other than `None` adds a deduplication view. Validation then reports a warning, and generation continues: `Model object '' of type 'Stage' has deduplication method 'Distinct' or 'Partition' configured.` - [Increment Management Type](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/increment-management-type-model-object?hsLang=en): `Auto` (default) or `User`, see [Configure an incremental load](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/configure-an-incremental-load?hsLang=en). The Stage Files and JDBC generators of Databricks and Fabric Lakehouse and the Snowflake Stage Files generator offer `Auto` only. Available since Generator 2.2. ### Default Terms - [`BG_LoadTimestamp`](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/bg_loadtimestamp?hsLang=en): the timestamp of the load that wrote the row. - [`BG_SourceSystem`](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/bg_sourcesystem?hsLang=en): the source system of the row; empty unless you map it. - [`BG_IncrementalFilter`](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/bg_incrementalfilter?hsLang=en): mapping it to a source term switches the Stage to an incremental load. - [`BG_ID`](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/bg_id?hsLang=en), [`BG_DataflowName`](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/bg_dataflowname?hsLang=en) and [`BG_DataflowSetName`](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/bg_dataflowsetname?hsLang=en): columns of the increment table. - [`BG_LowerThreshold`](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/bg_lowerthreshold?hsLang=en), [`BG_UpperThreshold`](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/bg_upperthreshold?hsLang=en) and [`BG_IncrementLoadStatus`](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/bg_incrementloadstatus?hsLang=en): hidden terms of the incremental load, not on Snowflake dbt and Databricks dbt. - Databricks and Fabric Lakehouse Stage Files also carry [`BG_SourceFilePath`](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/bg_sourcefilepath?hsLang=en) and [`BG_CorruptedRecord`](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/bg_corruptedrecord?hsLang=en). ### Generated objects These are the names on Microsoft SQL Server for a Stage `customer`: | Role | Generated name | Purpose | | --- | --- | --- | | Source | `STG_ST_customer_Source` | Reads the source object | | Deduplication | `STG_ST_customer_Deduplication` | Removes duplicate rows | | Increment | `STG_ST_customer_Increment` | Stores the increment thresholds | | Loader | `STG_ST_customer_Loader` | Empties and refills the table | | Storage | `STG_ST_customer` | Stage table | | Result | `STG_ST_customer_Result` | View read by the next layer | - The loader is a stored procedure; `STG_ST_customer` and the increment table are tables; all other objects are views. - The deduplication view exists only with a Deduplication Method other than `None`. - The increment table exists only with an incremental load. Its last threshold restricts the source view to newer rows. - With `Virtual`, only the source, deduplication and result views exist. - Microsoft SQL Server Stage Files: the raw-data table `STG_ST__RawData`, its loader `_RawDataLoader` and a format file per Stage read the file. The Stage table and its loader exist only with an incremental load; otherwise the result view reads the source view. With all optional objects, the dependencies are: ``` source object -> _Source -> _Deduplication -> _Loader _Loader -> STG_ST_customer -> _Result -> next layer _Increment -> _Source (incremental load only) ``` Without a Deduplication Method, the loader reads `_Source` directly. ### Example The Stage `branch` on Microsoft SQL Server reads the source table `BRANCH` with the default `Cached`. Load 1 on 2026-10-28 delivers the branches 1 Basel `large`, 2 Bern `small` and 3 Zurich `large`. Before load 2 on 2026-10-29, the source deletes branch 3 and changes the market size of Bern to `large`. ### Check the result Query the result view after load 2, here in the schema `stg`: ``` SELECT BRANCH_ID, BRANCH_NAME, MARKET_SIZE, BG_LoadTimestamp FROM stg.STG_ST_branch_Result ORDER BY BRANCH_ID; ``` The result, with the timestamp shortened: ``` BRANCH_ID BRANCH_NAME MARKET_SIZE BG_LoadTimestamp 1 Basel large 2026-10-29 08:00 2 Bern large 2026-10-29 08:00 ``` - The loader replaced all rows, so Zurich is gone and both rows carry the timestamp of load 2. - After load 1 the view showed three rows with the timestamp 2026-10-28 08:00. ### Platform differences - Snowflake: names are in capitals, and the Stage table is a transient table. The load control task `LC_STG_ST__TASK` calls the loader. The dataflow properties [Use Stream](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/use-stream-model-object?hsLang=en) and [Warehouse Placeholder Variable Name](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/warehouse-placeholder-variable-name-dataflow?hsLang=en) apply. - Databricks and Fabric Lakehouse: the loader is the notebook `STG_ST__Loader`. The properties [File Format](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/file-format-model-object?hsLang=en), [Optimization Method](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/optimization-method-model-object?hsLang=en) and [Optimization Method Columns](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/optimization-method-columns-model-object?hsLang=en) apply. Stage Files add the term property [Partition Filter](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/partition-filter-target-term?hsLang=en). - Snowflake dbt and Databricks dbt: the generator creates the dbt models `stg_st__source` (view), `stg_st_` (table) and `stg_st__result` (view). Increment Management Type is not available. - Fabric Warehouse: the same objects as on Microsoft SQL Server. - Oracle: names are in capitals, and the loader is a PL/SQL package. An incremental Stage with `Auto` adds the view `STG_ST__INCREMENTSOURCE`. Physical properties such as [Partition Clause](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/partition-clause-and-table-storage-model-object?hsLang=en), Table Compression and tablespaces apply. ### Limitations - A Stage has exactly one dataflow and no relationships. - A `Virtual` Stage cannot load incrementally. Validation reports: `Model object '' of type 'Stage' has implementation type 'Virtual' and incremental load defined.` - A Stage cannot be historized; it has no validity terms. ### Related articles - Previous: [Source](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/source?hsLang=en) - Next: [Store Entity](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/store-entity?hsLang=en), [Store Composite](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/store-composite?hsLang=en) - Reference: [Implementation Type (Model Object)](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/implementation-type-model-object?hsLang=en), [Deduplication Method (Dataflow)](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/deduplication-method-dataflow?hsLang=en), [Sort Order within Partition (Dataflow)](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/sort-order-within-partition-dataflow?hsLang=en), [BG\_LoadTimestamp](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/bg_loadtimestamp?hsLang=en), [BG\_SourceSystem](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/bg_sourcesystem?hsLang=en), [BG\_IncrementalFilter](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/bg_incrementalfilter?hsLang=en), [BG\_ID](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/bg_id?hsLang=en), [BG\_DataflowName](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/bg_dataflowname?hsLang=en), [BG\_DataflowSetName](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/bg_dataflowsetname?hsLang=en) - See also: [Configure an incremental load](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/configure-an-incremental-load?hsLang=en), [Create Source Objects from a Discovery](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/create-source-objects-from-a-discovery?hsLang=en), [Create a Model Object with the wizard](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/create-a-model-object-with-the-wizard?hsLang=en), [Model a Stage Solution](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/model-a-stage-solution?hsLang=en), [No deduplication for Stage objects (Business Rule)](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/no-deduplication-for-stage-objects-business-rule?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) - 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