# Sigma
> Connect Sigma to MotherDuck through the Postgres endpoint to query tables and views live in workbooks, data models, and reports.
[Sigma](https://www.sigmacomputing.com/) is a cloud analytics and BI platform with a spreadsheet-style interface for workbooks, data models, and reports. Sigma's MotherDuck connection is in public beta and is read-only.

## How it works with MotherDuck

Sigma connects to MotherDuck through the [Postgres endpoint](/key-tasks/authenticating-and-connecting-to-motherduck/postgres-endpoint/) and queries your data live, with no extracts or pipelines. You can use MotherDuck tables and views in Sigma workbooks, data models, and custom SQL, including [AI functions](/sql-reference/motherduck-sql-reference/ai-functions/) such as `prompt()`.

The connection authenticates with a [read scaling token](/key-tasks/authenticating-and-connecting-to-motherduck/read-scaling/), so Sigma's queries run on read-only Ducklings, separate from your read/write Duckling. Read scaling replicas are eventually consistent, so results can lag a few minutes behind your latest writes.

## Prerequisites

- A Sigma user with the **Admin** account type, or an account type with the **Manage connections** permission
- A MotherDuck database
- A MotherDuck [read scaling token](/key-tasks/authenticating-and-connecting-to-motherduck/read-scaling/) for Sigma
- Your MotherDuck Postgres host, which you can find on the [Postgres settings page](https://app.motherduck.com/settings/postgres), for example `pg.us-east-1-aws.motherduck.com`

## Set up the connection

1. In MotherDuck, create a read scaling token for Sigma. Copy the token before you close the dialog.
1. In Sigma, click your user icon in the top right and select **Add connection**.
1. Under **Connection details**, enter a **Name** and set **Type** to **MotherDuck**.
1. Under **Connection credentials**, enter the following values:

   | Field | Value |
   |---|---|
   | **Host** | Your MotherDuck Postgres host, for example `pg.us-east-1-aws.motherduck.com` |
   | **Port** | `5432` |
   | **User** | `postgres` |
   | **Token** | Your MotherDuck read scaling token |

1. Optional: under **Connection features**, change the **Connection timeout** or the **Use friendly names** setting. Refer to [Connection options](#connection-options).
1. Select **Create**.
1. Select **Browse Connection**, then select **Add permission** to choose which Sigma users and teams can access the data.

## Connection options

- **Connection timeout:** How many seconds Sigma waits for query results before it cancels the query. The default is 120 seconds, and the maximum is 600 seconds.
- **Use friendly names:** Displays column names in a readable form. For example, `ORDER_NUMBER` displays as "Order Number".

## Limitations

During the public beta, Sigma's MotherDuck connection doesn't support:

- Writeback, including input tables, CSV uploads, and Python code
- Materialization and warehouse views
- Export to cloud storage
- SSH tunnels or OAuth
- Sample connections
- Specifying a role, or user attributes for role and warehouse switching
- Geography functions

For the latest list, refer to [Sigma's MotherDuck documentation](https://help.sigmacomputing.com/docs/connect-to-motherduck).

## Related content

- [Read Sigma's public beta announcement](https://www.sigmacomputing.com/blog/motherduck-connection-public-beta)
- [View Sigma's MotherDuck setup guide](https://help.sigmacomputing.com/docs/connect-to-motherduck)
- [Connect to MotherDuck using the Postgres endpoint](/key-tasks/authenticating-and-connecting-to-motherduck/postgres-endpoint/)
- [Learn how read scaling works](/key-tasks/authenticating-and-connecting-to-motherduck/read-scaling/)


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