---
title: "Select From Data Table Variable Step"
url: "https://docs.robotiq.ai/en/article/select-from-data-table-variable-step"
language: "en"
last_updated: "2025-12-24T15:11:15.484Z"
---

# Select From Data Table Variable Step

The Select From Data Table Variable step runs SQL queries on variables set up as a Datatable. This step helps you filter, join, and change data inside your automation. The query result saves into a new Datatable variable.

## What You'll Need

-   A Datatable variable that holds data. This data can come from:
    -   Database queries
    -   Web tables (using Selenium steps)
    -   Excel sheets

## How to Use Select From Data Table Variable

Use this step to query and change data stored in a Datatable variable.

### Step 1: Add the Step to Your Process

1.  Drag the **Select From Data Table Variable** step into your process workflow.
2.  (Optional) Type a **Step name** to label the step in the editor.

### Step 2: Configure Input Parameters

1.  In the **SQL Select Query** field, type your SQL SELECT statement.
    -   This query runs on your Datatable variable.
    -   The Datatable variable's name works as the table name in your query.
    -   Datatable column names work as column names in your query.

**Example:** If you have a Datatable variable named `movies` with columns `Id`, `name`, and `duration`:

| Id | name | duration |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Terminator | 120 |
| 2 | Commandos | 90 |

To select all data: `SELECT * FROM movies`

To filter data: `SELECT * FROM movies WHERE id = '1'`

To join data: If you also have a Datatable variable named `actors` with columns `Id`, `movie_id`, and `actor`:

| Id | movie\_id | actor |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | 1 | Linda |
| 2 | 1 | Arnold |
| 3 | 2 | Arnold |

You can join these tables: `SELECT actor, name AS movie_name FROM movies m JOIN actors a ON m.id = a.movie_id`

**Important:** Use backticks (`) around table or column names if they have spaces or uppercase letters. For example:`SELECT `Titles` FROM `my movies` WHERE id = 5\`.

### Step 3: Configure Output Parameters

1.  In the **Destination DataTable** field, pick an existing Datatable variable. The query result will save here.
2.  In the **Row Count** field, pick an existing or new Integer variable. This variable will hold the number of rows in the resulting Datatable.
3.  In the **Column Count** field, pick an existing or new Integer variable. This variable will hold the number of columns in the resulting Datatable.

## Parameters Explained

**Step name** (Optional)

-   A custom name for this process step.

**SQL Select Query** (Required)

-   The SQL SELECT statement to run on your Datatable variable.
-   **Example:** `SELECT name, duration FROM movies WHERE duration > 100`
-   **When to use it:** To filter, sort, or combine data from one or more Datatable variables.

**Destination DataTable** (Required)

-   The Datatable variable where the query's result will be stored.
-   **When to use it:** To save the output of your SQL query for later use in your process.

**Row Count** (Required)

-   An Integer variable to store the number of rows in the resulting Datatable.
-   **When to use it:** To get a count of the rows your query returned.

**Column Count** (Required)

-   An Integer variable to store the number of columns in the resulting Datatable.
-   **When to use it:** To get a count of the columns in the resulting Datatable.

## Additional Comments

-   This step uses an in-memory SQLite database to run queries. SQLite does not force data types in tables.
-   When joining columns of different types, use `CAST` to make sure data matches up. For example: `CAST(m.id AS INTEGER) = CAST(a.movie_id AS INTEGER)`.
-   The syntax used is SQLite syntax.

## Related Articles

-   [Create New Data Table Step](https://docs.robotiq.ai/en/article/create-new-data-table-step)
-   [Excel To Data Table Step](https://docs.robotiq.ai/en/article/excel-to-data-table-step)
-   [Save Table Selenium Step](https://docs.robotiq.ai/en/article/save-table-selenium-step)
-   [Database Read Query Step](https://docs.robotiq.ai/en/article/database-read-query-step)

## Need Help?

Can't find what you're looking for? Join the [Robotiq Community](https://community.robotiq.ai/home/) to get help from other users and the Robotiq team.

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