You find the MySQL query editor in the metrics tab in a panel's edit mode. You enter edit mode by clicking the
panel title, then edit.
The query editor has a link named `Generated SQL` that shows up after a query has been executed, while in panel edit mode. Click on it and it will expand and show the raw interpolated SQL string that was executed.
### Select table, time column and metric column (FROM)
When you enter edit mode for the first time or add a new query Grafana will try to prefill the query builder with the first table that has a timestamp column and a numeric column.
In the FROM field, Grafana will suggest tables that are in the configured database. You can also manually enter a fully qualified name (schema.table) like `public.metrics`.
The Time column field refers to the name of the column holding your time values. Selecting a value for the Metric column field is optional. If a value is selected, the Metric column field will be used as the series name.
The metric column suggestions will only contain columns with a text datatype (text, tinytext, mediumtext, longtext, varchar, char).
If you want to use a column with a different datatype as metric column you may enter the column name with a cast: `CAST(numericColumn as CHAR)`.
You may also enter arbitrary SQL expressions in the metric column field that evaluate to a text datatype like
`CONCAT(column1, " ", CAST(numericColumn as CHAR))`.
### Columns and Aggregation functions (SELECT)
In the `SELECT` row you can specify what columns and functions you want to use.
In the column field you may write arbitrary expressions instead of a column name like `column1 * column2 / column3`.
If you use aggregate functions you need to group your resultset. The editor will automatically add a `GROUP BY time` if you add an aggregate function.
You may add further value columns by clicking the plus button and selecting `Column` from the menu. Multiple value columns will be plotted as separate series in the graph panel.
### Filter data (WHERE)
To add a filter click the plus icon to the right of the `WHERE` condition. You can remove filters by clicking on
the filter and selecting `Remove`. A filter for the current selected timerange is automatically added to new queries.
### Group By
To group by time or any other columns click the plus icon at the end of the GROUP BY row. The suggestion dropdown will only show text columns of your currently selected table but you may manually enter any column.
You can remove the group by clicking on the item and then selecting `Remove`.
If you add any grouping, all selected columns need to have an aggregate function applied. The query builder will automatically add aggregate functions to all columns without aggregate functions when you add groupings.
#### Gap Filling
Grafana can fill in missing values when you group by time. The time function accepts two arguments. The first argument is the time window that you would like to group by, and the second argument is the value you want Grafana to fill missing items with.
### Text Editor Mode (RAW)
You can switch to the raw query editor mode by clicking the hamburger icon and selecting `Switch editor mode` or by clicking `Edit SQL` below the query.
> If you use the raw query editor, be sure your query at minimum has `ORDER BY time` and a filter on the returned time range.
## Macros
To simplify syntax and to allow for dynamic parts, like date range filters, the query can contain macros.
