Input ports, on the left side of a node, input data into the node. Each input port of an Aster Analytics function node represents an input table that is specified in an ON clause in the function syntax.
Output ports, on the right side of a node, output data from the node. Output ports are numbered from the top down, starting at port 0. Port 0 of an Aster Analytics function node corresponds to the output of the query SELECT * FROM function_name . The other output ports correspond to output tables that the function generates.
Port shape and color have meaning. For example:
| Port | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Triangle | Data corresponding to the port is in its internal memory. |
| Brown square | The port has a database connection that is associated with a data source, such as a database table. |
| Red square | The port has a database connection that is not associated with a data source. |
| Clear/colorless/white square | The port has an optional input or output. |
To link two nodes, you must match their ports according to shape (triangles to triangles, squares to squares). A brown square port connected to a red square port passes the database connection, but not the associated data.
For more information about port shapes and colors, see https://tech.knime.org/files/KNIME_quickstart.pdf.