> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://lightship.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connect Trace Data

> Choose the table that contains your traces and the fields users can search or use in access rules.

Use **Setup → Connect data** to choose the table that contains your traces and configure its fields.
LightShip suggests likely tables and field mappings, but you review the configuration before saving it.

## Choose the trace table

Select a suggested table, or change the current table. LightShip maps the five columns it needs:

* `trace_id`
* `timestamp`
* `span_id`
* `parent_span_id`
* `name`

Your physical column names can be different. The detected mappings are shown with the selected table.

## Choose fields

The fields table contains discovered columns and sampled attribute keys. For each field, choose:

* **Searchable** — users can use the field to narrow trace queries.
* **Access rules** — roles can use the field to decide which traces someone may see.

Field types come from the trace schema and are read-only. Number fields can be searchable but cannot
be used in access rules.

Use **+ Add field** when a column or map key was not found in the sample. Saving replaces the current
field selection, and LightShip prevents you from removing a field that an existing role still uses.

<Info>
  Discovery samples recent rows to find dynamic map keys. A missing key can still exist in the table;
  add it with **+ Add field** if you know its name.
</Info>

## API access

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Schema API" icon="code" href="/api-reference/access/schema">
    Discover tables, save the binding and fields, or review index suggestions over REST.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Define roles" icon="users" href="/configure/roles-and-policies">
    Use access-rule fields to decide which traces each role can see.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>