generating a source directory by identifying a plurality of partitions, each partition including external data in an external table stored on a data storage platform, the generating of the source directory including:

identifying the plurality of partitions in the data storage platform;

identifying folders and folder locations for individual partitions; and

generating the source directory using the identified folders and folder locations;

receiving a query for execution on the external data in the external table stored on the data storage platform external to a database platform, the external data distributed among the plurality of partitions, the plurality of partitions being organized in the external table based on information located in the source directory, the source directory defining the folders and the folder locations, the folders storing files corresponding to particular partitions;

identifying at least a subset of the plurality of partitions for execution of the query;

identifying data that satisfies the query by assessing data stored within the identified subset of the plurality of partitions at least partially based on application of the query to the source directory; and

responding to the query at least in part with the identified data that satisfies the query.