# How to Configure an External Table Data Source (JSON Only)

### 1. Ensure Semi-Structured is selected for the Data Source Type

![](https://ajeuwbhvhr.cloudimg.io/https://colony-recorder.s3.amazonaws.com/files/2025-06-19/e9c42b67-305c-43da-9ba8-c3340b998c92/ascreenshot.jpeg?tl_px=0,168\&br_px=1376,937\&force_format=jpeg\&q=100\&width=1120.0\&wat=1\&wat_opacity=1\&wat_gravity=northwest\&wat_url=https://colony-recorder.s3.amazonaws.com/images/watermarks/FB923C_standard.png\&wat_pad=502,277)

### 2. Select External Table for the Object Type

![](https://ajeuwbhvhr.cloudimg.io/https://colony-recorder.s3.amazonaws.com/files/2025-06-19/aa8bfabc-b975-4822-a0a4-4f9389679206/ascreenshot.jpeg?tl_px=0,15\&br_px=1376,784\&force_format=jpeg\&q=100\&width=1120.0\&wat=1\&wat_opacity=1\&wat_gravity=northwest\&wat_url=https://colony-recorder.s3.amazonaws.com/images/watermarks/FB923C_standard.png\&wat_pad=453,277)

### 3. Select the Column Data Type

![](https://ajeuwbhvhr.cloudimg.io/https://colony-recorder.s3.amazonaws.com/files/2025-06-19/d906155d-e074-4b05-84f6-a7f1c5d72ddb/ascreenshot.jpeg?tl_px=0,138\&br_px=1376,907\&force_format=jpeg\&q=100\&width=1120.0\&wat=1\&wat_opacity=1\&wat_gravity=northwest\&wat_url=https://colony-recorder.s3.amazonaws.com/images/watermarks/FB923C_standard.png\&wat_pad=405,276)

### 4. Select JSON for the Format Type

![](https://ajeuwbhvhr.cloudimg.io/https://colony-recorder.s3.amazonaws.com/files/2025-06-19/63f5990c-641f-4ef3-9f38-6c8e079702df/ascreenshot.jpeg?tl_px=0,223\&br_px=1376,993\&force_format=jpeg\&q=100\&width=1120.0\&wat=1\&wat_opacity=1\&wat_gravity=northwest\&wat_url=https://colony-recorder.s3.amazonaws.com/images/watermarks/FB923C_standard.png\&wat_pad=405,278)

### 4. Click "DEMO\_DATA"

![](https://ajeuwbhvhr.cloudimg.io/https://colony-recorder.s3.amazonaws.com/files/2025-06-19/95f9a803-3641-4b24-8cec-3dffdba6117c/ascreenshot.jpeg?tl_px=164,70\&br_px=1541,839\&force_format=jpeg\&q=100\&width=1120.0\&wat=1\&wat_opacity=1\&wat_gravity=northwest\&wat_url=https://colony-recorder.s3.amazonaws.com/images/watermarks/FB923C_standard.png\&wat_pad=665,277)

5\. Click "SAMPLE\_DATA"

![](https://ajeuwbhvhr.cloudimg.io/https://colony-recorder.s3.amazonaws.com/files/2025-06-19/385db496-965e-4bf6-b3b2-8d24ef32d041/ascreenshot.jpeg?tl_px=164,179\&br_px=1541,948\&force_format=jpeg\&q=100\&width=1120.0\&wat=1\&wat_opacity=1\&wat_gravity=northwest\&wat_url=https://colony-recorder.s3.amazonaws.com/images/watermarks/FB923C_standard.png\&wat_pad=663,277)

6\. Click here.

![](https://ajeuwbhvhr.cloudimg.io/https://colony-recorder.s3.amazonaws.com/files/2025-06-19/6d54e50b-261c-4229-8266-d1ab24fc9c8e/ascreenshot.jpeg?tl_px=164,104\&br_px=1541,873\&force_format=jpeg\&q=100\&width=1120.0\&wat=1\&wat_opacity=1\&wat_gravity=northwest\&wat_url=https://colony-recorder.s3.amazonaws.com/images/watermarks/FB923C_standard.png\&wat_pad=685,277)

7\. Click the "Column Name\*" field.

![](https://ajeuwbhvhr.cloudimg.io/https://colony-recorder.s3.amazonaws.com/files/2025-06-19/0fe82dfd-b397-487b-9084-a547b4fde5b0/ascreenshot.jpeg?tl_px=164,195\&br_px=1541,964\&force_format=jpeg\&q=100\&width=1120.0\&wat=1\&wat_opacity=1\&wat_gravity=northwest\&wat_url=https://colony-recorder.s3.amazonaws.com/images/watermarks/FB923C_standard.png\&wat_pad=624,277)

### Ensure all required fields are completed

The "Required Fields" section in the bottom of the left-hand sidebar will show exactly which fields must still be completed.

If code generation feature is enabled, see [How to Configure the Secure Semantic View Layer](https://docs.datapancake.com/guides/how-to-guides-ui/creating-and-configuring-data-sources/how-to-configure-the-secure-semantic-view-layer).

<figure><img src="https://201309747-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FkX4nSXGvrFIEggg2Drr1%2Fuploads%2FY8HF1WfssfyTdpjqA0wa%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=ef1f68cd-c5a1-4b4b-885f-5a02a007a5eb" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### 10. Save the Data Source

![](https://ajeuwbhvhr.cloudimg.io/https://colony-recorder.s3.amazonaws.com/files/2025-06-19/96ae9e24-9854-4139-92a9-6004bddb8e94/ascreenshot.jpeg?tl_px=0,223\&br_px=1376,993\&force_format=jpeg\&q=100\&width=1120.0\&wat=1\&wat_opacity=1\&wat_gravity=northwest\&wat_url=https://colony-recorder.s3.amazonaws.com/images/watermarks/FB923C_standard.png\&wat_pad=416,417)

***

## Next Steps

[How to Modify Enabled Features for a Data Source](https://docs.datapancake.com/guides/how-to-guides-ui/modify-enabled-features-for-a-data-source)

[How to Configure the Secure Semantic View Layer](https://docs.datapancake.com/guides/how-to-guides-ui/creating-and-configuring-data-sources/how-to-configure-the-secure-semantic-view-layer)

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