LTSV

The Labeled Tab-Separated Values (LTSV) connector bridges the gap between semi-structured log data and analytical workflows. It allows users to query .ltsv files — such as web server logs, access traces, or application diagnostics — using standard SQL without custom scripts or manual text processing.

At its core, the connector treats each line of an LTSV file as a structured record composed of labeled key-value pairs separated by tabs. When you query an LTSV file, the connector automatically parses these labels as column names and their values as fields, transforming what’s typically unstructured text into well-defined, queryable data your engine can reason about.

This connector is designed for both simplicity and adaptability. With minimal configuration, you can open LTSV logs for inspection, validation, or reporting. Yet, for more advanced workflows — such as handling inconsistent keys, filtering large log volumes, or normalizing nested values — you can fine-tune behavior through configuration options that control how Metaform interprets, casts, and normalizes each record.