metabasecli

name	metabasecli
description	CLI for querying Metabase (cards/questions, dashboards, collections, databases, search). Use when working with Metabase to search entities, browse collections, run saved questions, export/import dashboards, explore database metadata, or resolve Metabase URLs. Triggered by requests involving Metabase data, dashboard queries, saved questions, collection browsing, or Metabase automation. Use when this capability is needed.
metadata	{"author":"fprochazka"}

metabasecli

Command-line interface for Metabase API operations.

Terminology

• Cards = Questions/Queries in the Metabase UI (metabase cards, metabase queries, metabase questions are aliases)
• Dashboards = Dashboards
• Collections = Collections (folders for organizing cards and dashboards)
• Databases = Connected data sources

Flag Placement

Always place flags after the full command path, not between metabase and the command group. This ensures command prefix matching works correctly for permissions.

# Correct:
metabase databases list --profile prod --json
metabase cards run 123 --limit 100

# Wrong:
metabase -p prod databases list

Global Flags

Flag	Description
-p, --profile	Named profile to use (default: "default")
-v, --verbose	Enable verbose output
--json	JSON output (available on most commands)

JSON Output Format

All commands support --json. Output wraps as:

• Success: {"success": true, "data": {...}, "meta": {"timestamp": "...", "api_calls": N}}
• Error: {"success": false, "error": {"code": "...", "message": "..."}}

Error codes: NOT_FOUND, AUTHENTICATION_ERROR, SESSION_EXPIRED, PERMISSION_DENIED, API_ERROR, VALIDATION_ERROR.

Authentication

metabase auth status            # Check current auth status
metabase auth login              # Interactive login
metabase auth login --url https://metabase.example.com --method api_key
metabase auth token              # Print session token (for piping)
metabase auth logout             # Clear stored session

Search

metabase search "revenue"                              # Search all entities
metabase search "revenue" --models card                # Cards only
metabase search "revenue" --models dashboard           # Dashboards only
metabase search "revenue" --collection-id 42           # Within collection
metabase search "revenue" --database-id 1              # Filter by database
metabase search "revenue" --archived                   # Search archived items
metabase search "revenue" --created-by 5               # By creator user ID
metabase search "revenue" --limit 10                   # Limit results (default 50)

Valid --models values: card, dashboard, collection, database, table, dataset, segment, metric, action.

Resolve URLs

Parse Metabase URLs into entity details:

metabase resolve 'https://metabase.example.com/question/123'
metabase resolve 'https://metabase.example.com/dashboard/456-my-dashboard'
metabase resolve '/collection/789'
metabase resolve '/browse/databases/1'

Databases

metabase databases list                                # List all databases
metabase databases list --include-tables               # Include table info
metabase databases get 1                               # Database details
metabase databases get 1 --include-tables              # With tables
metabase databases get 1 --include-fields              # With tables and fields
metabase databases metadata 1                          # Full metadata (all tables and fields)
metabase databases metadata 1 --include-hidden         # Include hidden tables/fields
metabase databases schemas 1                           # List schemas

Collections

Browse Collections

metabase collections tree                              # Collection hierarchy
metabase collections tree --search "analytics"         # Filter by name
metabase collections tree --search "analytics" -L 3    # Show 3 levels deep (default 1)
metabase collections tree --include-archived           # Include archived
metabase collections get 42                            # Collection details
metabase collections get root                          # Root collection
metabase collections items 42                          # Items in collection
metabase collections items root                        # Items in root
metabase collections items 42 --models card            # Cards only
metabase collections items 42 --models dashboard       # Dashboards only
metabase collections items 42 --archived               # Archived items
metabase collections items 42 --sort-by last_edited_at --sort-dir desc

Valid --models for items: card, dashboard, collection, dataset, pulse. Valid --sort-by: name, last_edited_at, last_edited_by, model.

Manage Collections

metabase collections create --name "My Collection" --parent-id 42
metabase collections create --name "Top Level" --description "A description"
metabase collections update 42 --name "New Name"
metabase collections update 42 --parent-id 10          # Move to different parent
metabase collections archive 42                        # Archive (soft delete)

Cards (Questions/Queries)

Browse Cards

metabase cards list --filter mine                      # My cards
metabase cards list --filter bookmarked                # Bookmarked
metabase cards list --filter archived                  # Archived
metabase cards list --collection-id 42                 # By collection
metabase cards list --filter database --database-id 1  # By database
metabase cards get 123                                 # Full card details with query definition

At least one filter is required: --filter, --collection-id, or --database-id.

Valid --filter: mine, bookmarked, archived, database, table, using_model.

Run Cards

Execute a saved question and get results:

metabase cards run 123                                 # Run card (default limit 2000 rows)
metabase cards run 123 --limit 100                     # Limit rows
metabase cards run 123 --parameters '{"date": "2024-01-01"}'  # With parameters
metabase cards run 123 --json                          # JSON output

Results are exported to /tmp/metabase-<timestamp>/.

Import/Export Cards

metabase cards import --file card.json                 # Create new card from JSON
metabase cards import --file card.json --id 123        # Update existing card
metabase cards import --file card.json --collection-id 42  # Override target collection
metabase cards import --file card.json --database-id 1 # Override target database
cat card.json | metabase cards import --file -          # From stdin

For JSON format details and creating cards from scratch, see references/creating-cards-and-dashboards.md.

Delete Cards

metabase cards archive 123                             # Archive (soft delete)
metabase cards delete 123                              # Permanent delete (with confirmation)
metabase cards delete 123 --force                      # Skip confirmation

Dashboards

Browse Dashboards

metabase dashboards list --collection-id 42            # List in collection (required filter)
metabase dashboards get 456                            # Dashboard with dashcard definitions
metabase dashboards get 456 --include-cards            # Include full card definitions

Export Dashboards

metabase dashboards export 456                         # Export dashboard + all referenced cards

Exports to /tmp/metabase-<timestamp>/ with:

• dashboard-456.json — dashboard layout with dashcard placements (card_id references only)
• card-<id>.json — one per referenced card (full card definition for context)

Import Dashboards

Dashboard import only handles the layout. Cards must already exist — create them first with metabase cards import.

metabase dashboards import --file dashboard.json                  # Create new dashboard
metabase dashboards import --file dashboard.json --id 456         # Update existing
metabase dashboards import --file dashboard.json --collection-id 42  # Override collection
cat dashboard.json | metabase dashboards import --file -          # From stdin

For creating cards and dashboards from scratch, see references/creating-cards-and-dashboards.md.

Revisions

metabase dashboards revisions 456                      # List revisions
metabase dashboards revert 456 789                     # Revert to revision 789

Delete Dashboards

metabase dashboards archive 456                        # Archive (soft delete)
metabase dashboards delete 456                         # Permanent delete (with confirmation)
metabase dashboards delete 456 --force                 # Skip confirmation

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