Best way to query HCM tables??

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Hi, so for the past 3 years, the way I've been querying HCM tables is by using a BI data model to write the query and output the data. I'm curious if there's a better way to query the HCM tables? There's some limitations with BI data models, such as a 200 row maximum unless you run it through a BI report.

I've seen some Oracle engineers use cloudem as a way to query, but obviously we won't have that same access as customers.

I'm curious what everyone uses and how they use it. Or is a data model in BI the best way and the standard for all customers? It seems like a lengthy process to have to create a data model and report just to read a mass amount of data.