cloneSchema

Last updated: January 27, 2026

Creates a zero-copy clone of a Snowflake schema with optional time travel support. Clones can be created from the current state or from a specific point in time within the retention window.

Note: This change type does not support automatic rollback or database inspection features (snapshot, diff, diff-changelog, and generate-changelog commands).

Available attributes

Attribute	Type	Description	Required
`sourceCatalogName`	String	Name of the database containing the source schema	No
`sourceSchemaName`	String	Name of the schema to clone from	Yes
`targetCatalogName`	String	Name of the database for the cloned schema	No
`targetSchemaName`	String	Name of the new cloned schema	Yes
`replaceIfExists`	Boolean	Replace existing schema with `OR REPLACE`*	No
`ifNotExists`	Boolean	Only create if target doesn't exist with `IF NOT EXISTS`*	No
`ignoreTablesWithInsufficientDataRetention`	Boolean	Skip tables lacking historical data (time travel only)**	No
`ignoreHybridTables`	Boolean	Skip hybrid tables during clone (time travel only)**	No
`includeInternalStages`	Boolean	Include named internal stages and files (time travel only)**	No
`timeTravelClause`	Nested	Time travel options for cloning from historical state	No

* replaceIfExists and ifNotExists are mutually exclusive.

** These options require a timeTravelClause to be specified.

timeTravelClause attributes

Attribute	Type	Description	Required
`timeTravelType`	String	Either `AT` or `BEFORE`	Yes
`timestamp`	String	Absolute timestamp or SQL expression (e.g., `2025-01-15 09:30:00`)***	No
`offset`	String	Relative seconds (e.g., `-3600` for 1 hour ago)***	No
`statement`	String	Statement ID from query history***	No

*** Exactly one of timestamp, offset, or statement must be specified.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<databaseChangeLog
        xmlns="http://www.liquibase.org/xml/ns/dbchangelog"
        xmlns:pro-snowflake="http://www.liquibase.org/xml/ns/pro-snowflake"
        xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
        xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.liquibase.org/xml/ns/dbchangelog
        http://www.liquibase.org/xml/ns/dbchangelog/dbchangelog-latest.xsd
        http://www.liquibase.org/xml/ns/pro-snowflake
        http://www.liquibase.org/xml/ns/pro-snowflake/liquibase-pro-snowflake-latest.xsd">

    <!-- Basic clone (current state) -->
    <changeSet id="clone-basic" author="examples">
        <pro-snowflake:cloneSchema
                sourceSchemaName="PRODUCTION"
                targetSchemaName="PRODUCTION_COPY"/>
    </changeSet>

    <!-- Clone with IF NOT EXISTS and time travel offset -->
    <changeSet id="clone-with-offset" author="examples">
        <pro-snowflake:cloneSchema
                sourceSchemaName="ANALYTICS"
                targetSchemaName="ANALYTICS_BACKUP"
                ifNotExists="true">
            <pro-snowflake:timeTravelClause timeTravelType="BEFORE">
                <pro-snowflake:offset>-3600</pro-snowflake:offset>
            </pro-snowflake:timeTravelClause>
        </pro-snowflake:cloneSchema>
    </changeSet>

    <!-- Clone with OR REPLACE and all options -->
    <changeSet id="clone-full-options" author="examples">
        <pro-snowflake:cloneSchema
                sourceSchemaName="DATA_WAREHOUSE"
                targetSchemaName="DATA_WAREHOUSE_CLONE"
                replaceIfExists="true"
                ignoreTablesWithInsufficientDataRetention="true"
                ignoreHybridTables="true"
                includeInternalStages="true">
            <pro-snowflake:timeTravelClause timeTravelType="AT">
                <pro-snowflake:timestamp>2025-01-15 09:30:00</pro-snowflake:timestamp>
            </pro-snowflake:timeTravelClause>
        </pro-snowflake:cloneSchema>
    </changeSet>

    <!-- Cross-database clone -->
    <changeSet id="clone-cross-database" author="examples">
        <pro-snowflake:cloneSchema
                sourceCatalogName="PROD_DB"
                sourceSchemaName="ANALYTICS"
                targetCatalogName="DEV_DB"
                targetSchemaName="ANALYTICS_DEV"/>
    </changeSet>

</databaseChangeLog>

{
  "databaseChangeLog": [
    {
      "changeSet": {
        "id": "clone-basic",
        "author": "examples",
        "changes": [
          {
            "cloneSchema": {
              "sourceSchemaName": "PRODUCTION",
              "targetSchemaName": "PRODUCTION_COPY"
            }
          }
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "changeSet": {
        "id": "clone-with-offset",
        "author": "examples",
        "changes": [
          {
            "cloneSchema": {
              "sourceSchemaName": "ANALYTICS",
              "targetSchemaName": "ANALYTICS_BACKUP",
              "ifNotExists": true,
              "timeTravelClause": {
                "timeTravelType": "BEFORE",
                "offset": "-3600"
              }
            }
          }
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "changeSet": {
        "id": "clone-full-options",
        "author": "examples",
        "changes": [
          {
            "cloneSchema": {
              "sourceSchemaName": "DATA_WAREHOUSE",
              "targetSchemaName": "DATA_WAREHOUSE_CLONE",
              "replaceIfExists": true,
              "ignoreTablesWithInsufficientDataRetention": true,
              "ignoreHybridTables": true,
              "includeInternalStages": true,
              "timeTravelClause": {
                "timeTravelType": "AT",
                "timestamp": "2025-01-15 09:30:00"
              }
            }
          }
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "changeSet": {
        "id": "clone-cross-database",
        "author": "examples",
        "changes": [
          {
            "cloneSchema": {
              "sourceCatalogName": "PROD_DB",
              "sourceSchemaName": "ANALYTICS",
              "targetCatalogName": "DEV_DB",
              "targetSchemaName": "ANALYTICS_DEV"
            }
          }
        ]
      }
    }
  ]
}

databaseChangeLog:
  # Basic clone (current state)
  - changeSet:
      id: clone-basic
      author: examples
      changes:
        - cloneSchema:
            sourceSchemaName: PRODUCTION
            targetSchemaName: PRODUCTION_COPY

  # Clone with IF NOT EXISTS and time travel offset
  - changeSet:
      id: clone-with-offset
      author: examples
      changes:
        - cloneSchema:
            sourceSchemaName: ANALYTICS
            targetSchemaName: ANALYTICS_BACKUP
            ifNotExists: true
            timeTravelClause:
              timeTravelType: BEFORE
              offset: "-3600"

  # Clone with OR REPLACE and all options
  - changeSet:
      id: clone-full-options
      author: examples
      changes:
        - cloneSchema:
            sourceSchemaName: DATA_WAREHOUSE
            targetSchemaName: DATA_WAREHOUSE_CLONE
            replaceIfExists: true
            ignoreTablesWithInsufficientDataRetention: true
            ignoreHybridTables: true
            includeInternalStages: true
            timeTravelClause:
              timeTravelType: AT
              timestamp: "2025-01-15 09:30:00"

  # Cross-database clone
  - changeSet:
      id: clone-cross-database
      author: examples
      changes:
        - cloneSchema:
            sourceCatalogName: PROD_DB
            sourceSchemaName: ANALYTICS
            targetCatalogName: DEV_DB
            targetSchemaName: ANALYTICS_DEV

--liquibase formatted sql

--changeset examples:basic-clone-current-state
-- Basic clone (current state)
CREATE SCHEMA PRODUCTION_COPY CLONE PRODUCTION;

--changeset examples:clone-with-if-not-exists-and-time-travel-offset
-- Clone with IF NOT EXISTS and time travel offset
CREATE SCHEMA IF NOT EXISTS ANALYTICS_BACKUP CLONE ANALYTICS BEFORE (OFFSET => -3600);

--changeset examples:clone-with-or-replace-and-all-options
-- Clone with OR REPLACE and all options
CREATE OR REPLACE SCHEMA DATA_WAREHOUSE_CLONE CLONE DATA_WAREHOUSE
    AT (TIMESTAMP => '2025-01-15 09:30:00')
    IGNORE TABLES WITH INSUFFICIENT DATA RETENTION
    IGNORE HYBRID TABLES
    INCLUDE INTERNAL STAGES;

--changeset examples:cross-database-clone
-- Cross-database clone
CREATE SCHEMA DEV_DB.ANALYTICS_DEV CLONE PROD_DB.ANALYTICS;

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<databaseChangeLog
        xmlns="http://www.liquibase.org/xml/ns/dbchangelog"
        xmlns:pro-snowflake="http://www.liquibase.org/xml/ns/pro-snowflake"
        xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
        xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.liquibase.org/xml/ns/dbchangelog
        http://www.liquibase.org/xml/ns/dbchangelog/dbchangelog-latest.xsd
        http://www.liquibase.org/xml/ns/pro-snowflake
        http://www.liquibase.org/xml/ns/pro-snowflake/liquibase-pro-snowflake-latest.xsd">

    <!-- Basic clone (current state) -->
    <changeSet id="clone-basic" author="examples">
        <pro-snowflake:cloneSchema
                sourceSchemaName="PRODUCTION"
                targetSchemaName="PRODUCTION_COPY"/>
    </changeSet>

    <!-- Clone with IF NOT EXISTS and time travel offset -->
    <changeSet id="clone-with-offset" author="examples">
        <pro-snowflake:cloneSchema
                sourceSchemaName="ANALYTICS"
                targetSchemaName="ANALYTICS_BACKUP"
                ifNotExists="true">
            <pro-snowflake:timeTravelClause timeTravelType="BEFORE">
                <pro-snowflake:offset>-3600</pro-snowflake:offset>
            </pro-snowflake:timeTravelClause>
        </pro-snowflake:cloneSchema>
    </changeSet>

    <!-- Clone with OR REPLACE and all options -->
    <changeSet id="clone-full-options" author="examples">
        <pro-snowflake:cloneSchema
                sourceSchemaName="DATA_WAREHOUSE"
                targetSchemaName="DATA_WAREHOUSE_CLONE"
                replaceIfExists="true"
                ignoreTablesWithInsufficientDataRetention="true"
                ignoreHybridTables="true"
                includeInternalStages="true">
            <pro-snowflake:timeTravelClause timeTravelType="AT">
                <pro-snowflake:timestamp>2025-01-15 09:30:00</pro-snowflake:timestamp>
            </pro-snowflake:timeTravelClause>
        </pro-snowflake:cloneSchema>
    </changeSet>

    <!-- Cross-database clone -->
    <changeSet id="clone-cross-database" author="examples">
        <pro-snowflake:cloneSchema
                sourceCatalogName="PROD_DB"
                sourceSchemaName="ANALYTICS"
                targetCatalogName="DEV_DB"
                targetSchemaName="ANALYTICS_DEV"/>
    </changeSet>

</databaseChangeLog>

{
  "databaseChangeLog": [
    {
      "changeSet": {
        "id": "clone-basic",
        "author": "examples",
        "changes": [
          {
            "cloneSchema": {
              "sourceSchemaName": "PRODUCTION",
              "targetSchemaName": "PRODUCTION_COPY"
            }
          }
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "changeSet": {
        "id": "clone-with-offset",
        "author": "examples",
        "changes": [
          {
            "cloneSchema": {
              "sourceSchemaName": "ANALYTICS",
              "targetSchemaName": "ANALYTICS_BACKUP",
              "ifNotExists": true,
              "timeTravelClause": {
                "timeTravelType": "BEFORE",
                "offset": "-3600"
              }
            }
          }
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "changeSet": {
        "id": "clone-full-options",
        "author": "examples",
        "changes": [
          {
            "cloneSchema": {
              "sourceSchemaName": "DATA_WAREHOUSE",
              "targetSchemaName": "DATA_WAREHOUSE_CLONE",
              "replaceIfExists": true,
              "ignoreTablesWithInsufficientDataRetention": true,
              "ignoreHybridTables": true,
              "includeInternalStages": true,
              "timeTravelClause": {
                "timeTravelType": "AT",
                "timestamp": "2025-01-15 09:30:00"
              }
            }
          }
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "changeSet": {
        "id": "clone-cross-database",
        "author": "examples",
        "changes": [
          {
            "cloneSchema": {
              "sourceCatalogName": "PROD_DB",
              "sourceSchemaName": "ANALYTICS",
              "targetCatalogName": "DEV_DB",
              "targetSchemaName": "ANALYTICS_DEV"
            }
          }
        ]
      }
    }
  ]
}

databaseChangeLog:
  # Basic clone (current state)
  - changeSet:
      id: clone-basic
      author: examples
      changes:
        - cloneSchema:
            sourceSchemaName: PRODUCTION
            targetSchemaName: PRODUCTION_COPY

  # Clone with IF NOT EXISTS and time travel offset
  - changeSet:
      id: clone-with-offset
      author: examples
      changes:
        - cloneSchema:
            sourceSchemaName: ANALYTICS
            targetSchemaName: ANALYTICS_BACKUP
            ifNotExists: true
            timeTravelClause:
              timeTravelType: BEFORE
              offset: "-3600"

  # Clone with OR REPLACE and all options
  - changeSet:
      id: clone-full-options
      author: examples
      changes:
        - cloneSchema:
            sourceSchemaName: DATA_WAREHOUSE
            targetSchemaName: DATA_WAREHOUSE_CLONE
            replaceIfExists: true
            ignoreTablesWithInsufficientDataRetention: true
            ignoreHybridTables: true
            includeInternalStages: true
            timeTravelClause:
              timeTravelType: AT
              timestamp: "2025-01-15 09:30:00"

  # Cross-database clone
  - changeSet:
      id: clone-cross-database
      author: examples
      changes:
        - cloneSchema:
            sourceCatalogName: PROD_DB
            sourceSchemaName: ANALYTICS
            targetCatalogName: DEV_DB
            targetSchemaName: ANALYTICS_DEV

--liquibase formatted sql

--changeset examples:basic-clone-current-state
-- Basic clone (current state)
CREATE SCHEMA PRODUCTION_COPY CLONE PRODUCTION;

--changeset examples:clone-with-if-not-exists-and-time-travel-offset
-- Clone with IF NOT EXISTS and time travel offset
CREATE SCHEMA IF NOT EXISTS ANALYTICS_BACKUP CLONE ANALYTICS BEFORE (OFFSET => -3600);

--changeset examples:clone-with-or-replace-and-all-options
-- Clone with OR REPLACE and all options
CREATE OR REPLACE SCHEMA DATA_WAREHOUSE_CLONE CLONE DATA_WAREHOUSE
    AT (TIMESTAMP => '2025-01-15 09:30:00')
    IGNORE TABLES WITH INSUFFICIENT DATA RETENTION
    IGNORE HYBRID TABLES
    INCLUDE INTERNAL STAGES;

--changeset examples:cross-database-clone
-- Cross-database clone
CREATE SCHEMA DEV_DB.ANALYTICS_DEV CLONE PROD_DB.ANALYTICS;

cloneSchema

Available attributes

timeTravelClause attributes

XML example

JSON example

YAML example

SQL example

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