# Local filesystem

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**Syntho beta feature**
{% endhint %}

The local filesystem connector enables data writing to a specified path in the host's local filesystem. To utilize this connector, specific configuration steps are required to ensure proper functionality.

<figure><img src="https://content.gitbook.com/content/U61B9DqtWCNO3Z30vnjh/blobs/TAzFpL697eAR6StQruLp/LocalFilesystem.png" alt=""><figcaption><p>Source and Destination Databases</p></figcaption></figure>

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**Destination Only**

This connector can only be used as a destination for writing your generated data.

Supported File Types: Parquet and ORC
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## **Before you begin**

#### **Environment variable setup**:

Before running the Syntho application, declare the environment variable `SYNTHO_LOCALFS`. This variable should be set to the desired path in the host local filesystem where the data will be written.\
Example:

```bash
export SYNTHO_LOCALFS="/path/on/host"
```

Alternatively, you can declare the environment variable when running Docker:

```bash
SYNTHO_LOCALFS="/path/on/host" docker-compose up
```

**Note**: It is recommended to declare the environment variable using `export`.

## **Usage**

* **Destination Only**: The Local Filesystem connector can only be used as a target destination.
* **Parameter Requirement**: The only required parameter is `path`. The value of this parameter will be concatenated with the value of `SYNTHO_LOCALFS`, and the resulting path will be where the data is written.

#### **Example**

If `SYNTHO_LOCALFS` is set to `/mnt/data` and the `path` parameter is `output`, the data will be written to `/mnt/data/output`.

This configuration allows the Syntho application to write data to the local filesystem, ensuring compatibility with various deployment environments without affecting other users who do not require this functionality.

## Connect and set up the workspace

Launch Syntho and select Connect to a database, or under Create workspace, select Local Filesystem. Then do the following:

1. Enter the local target path where the data will be written.
2. Choose a file format: Parquet or ORC.
3. Select Create Workspace.

If Syntho can't make the connection, verify that the target path is correct. If you still can't connect, contact your database administrator.

## File formats

Supported file type formats include:

* Parquet
* ORC

## Limitations & considerations

* For ORC files, columns full of None values which are of type Char, String, or Varchar will be written as "None" (i.e., a string value) to the destination database instead of None.
* Local Filesystem connector is only supported for Docker Compose.

Contact your Syntho representative to discuss possible limitations regarding this connector.