Agent access · Context and connections
Which BI tools let agents trace a number's sources?
4 of 15 tools do, according to their public docs, and 10 partly.
Yes: Databricks, Snowflake, Tableau, Power BI. Partly: Omni, Hex, Sigma, BigQuery, Looker, Metabase, Alteryx, MotherDuck, Mode, Redshift.
The question we asked: Can an outside agent traverse the upstream sources and transformations behind a number?
Grading standard
yes: an outside agent can follow a number to its upstream sources and transformations through a documented lineage interface. Reading the SQL of a view or model and inferring its sources is partly. A link from an answer back to its underlying source is partly. A description that names no upstream source or transformation does not count.
Databricks
Yes
Quoted from Databricks’s docsFor lineage history beyond one year, use Catalog Explorer or the lineage API, which indefinitely retain lineage captured after September 1, 2024.
Source: docs.databricks.com/aws/en/admin/system-tables/lineage · checked Oct 26, 2026 · quoted by Claude
Snowflake
Yes
Quoted from Snowflake’s docsGiven a Snowflake object, returns data lineage information upstream or downstream from that object.
Source: docs.snowflake.com/en/sql-reference/functions/get_lineage-snowflake-core · checked Oct 26, 2026 · quoted by GPT
Omni
Partly
Quoted from Omni’s docsdimensions and measures - These blocks contain a sql property that defines which database columns are used for that field
Source: docs.omni.co/guides/api/data-lineage-integration · checked Oct 26, 2026 · quoted by Claude
Hex
Partly
Quoted from Hex’s docsBefore deletion, the agent inspects cell lineage to understand which other cells depend on the cell being removed, including variable references, dataframe dependencies, and input parameter usage.
Source: learn.hex.tech/docs/explore-data/notebook-view/notebook-agent · checked Oct 26, 2026 · quoted by Gemini
Sigma
Partly
Quoted from Sigma’s docsAlso fires for usage of the Sigma MCP describe tool to view the schema / DDL of a data model or workbook.
Source: help.sigmacomputing.com/docs/audit-log-events-and-metadata · checked Oct 26, 2026 · quoted by Claude
BigQuery
Partly
Quoted from BigQuery’s docsVIEW: A virtual table defined by a SQL query.
Source: docs.cloud.google.com/bigquery/docs/reference/mcp/tools_list/get_table_info · checked Oct 26, 2026 · quoted by Claude
Looker
Partlypreview
Quoted from Looker’s docsReturns the contents of a LookML file.
Source: cloud.google.com/looker/docs/reference/looker-api/latest/types/McpTools · checked Oct 26, 2026 · quoted by Claude
Tableau
Yes
Quoted from Tableau’s docsFor example, you can use upstreamTablesConnection to query the tables used by a data source, use downstreamSheetsConnection to query sheets used by a workbook, or upstreamLinkedFlows and downstreamLinkedFlows to query flows that are directly upstream or downstream of one another.
Source: help.tableau.com/current/api/metadata_api/en-us/docs/meta_api_model.html · checked Oct 26, 2026 · quoted by GPT
Power BI
Yes
Quoted from Power BI’s docsWhether to return lineage info (upstream dataflows, tiles, data source IDs)
Source: learn.microsoft.com/en-us/rest/api/power-bi/admin/workspace-info-post-workspace-info · checked Oct 26, 2026 · quoted by Claude
Metabase
Partly
Quoted from Metabase’s docsmb logs in to a Metabase instance and lets you or an AI agent read and write content over the Metabase API: questions, dashboards, collections, transforms, and more.
Source: www.metabase.com/docs/latest/installation-and-operation/metabase-cli · checked Oct 26, 2026 · quoted by Claude
Alteryx
Partly
Quoted from Alteryx’s docsCalculates trend behavior for selected measures. Returns a source link back to the underlying data, but the link doesn't include forecast-verification detail.
Source: help.alteryx.com/aac/en/agent-studio/alteryx-mcp-server/alteryx-mcp-server-toolsets.html · checked Oct 26, 2026 · quoted by Claude
MotherDuck
Partly
Quoted from MotherDuck’s docsList views in database: SELECT database_name, schema_name, view_name, comment, sql FROM duckdb_views() WHERE database_name = 'your_database';
Source: motherduck.com/docs/key-tasks/ai-and-motherduck/building-analytics-agents · checked Oct 26, 2026 · quoted by Claude
Mode
Partly
Quoted from Mode’s docsYou can use the queries resource to manage, update, or retrieve information about a SQL query in a given report.
Source: mode.com/developer/api-reference/analytics/queries · checked Oct 26, 2026 · quoted by Claude
Redshift
Partly
Quoted from Redshift’s docsShows the definition of a view, including for materialized views and late-binding views.
Source: docs.aws.amazon.com/redshift/latest/dg/r_SHOW_VIEW.html · checked Oct 26, 2026 · quoted by Claude
Streamlit