# Creating reports directly from SQL?

> Holistics does not support creating reports directly from SQL. Here are why, and some workarounds.

## Introduction

Holistics doesn't support creating reports directly from a SQL query, but instead asking you to define "models" and "datasets" before creating reports. If you have experience working with BI tools with a "SQL to charts" approach (e.g Redash, Chartio), you might find this approach unfamiliar.

This post talks more about why, and offers you a workaround if you still prefer SQL to charts experience.

## Why we follow modeling-based approach

In a "SQL to charts" BI tool, you simply write and run a SQL query, select some chart types and save it as a report. While relatively straightfoward, the downsides of this approach are:

- **Fixed Reporting:** Non-technical users cannot customize their own reports without knowing SQL.
- **SQL definitions sprawl:** As reports increase, reports definitions get duplicated all over the place.

Holistics takes a different approach by introducing a semantic/modeling layer in between. While it takes more setup time, the benefits of this approach are:

- **Self-service:** Non-technical users can build their own reports without relying on data teams.
- **Central definitions:** All business logic are centralized and organized in one place.

## Still, how can I create reports from a SQL query?

If you have some complex reporting logic that the available Datasets cannot satisfy, you can package your SQL transformation in a [Query Model](/docs/query-models.md), and create a reporting widget on top of that model by following these steps:

1. Go to **Data Modeling** page.
2. Click **+ Create → Add Data Model from Data Transform**
3. Write your SQL transformation and save it as a Query Model
4. Add relationships if needed
5. In the Data Model UI, click **Explore** and create a Dataset
6. From the Dataset explore, drag and drop to build your visualization
7. Turn that into a report