How can you create a new model in dbt?

Creating a new model in dbt involves adding a new SQL file to the models directory of your dbt project. In dbt, models are essentially SQL files that contain select statements. Each SQL file corresponds to a table or view that will be built in your target data warehouse when you run dbt. By placing a new SQL file in the models directory, you are directly defining a new transformation or aggregation that dbt will execute.

This aligns with the fundamental structure of dbt, where each model represents a layer in the data transformation pipeline. The process involves writing a select statement in the SQL file, and dbt will handle dependencies and create the necessary workflow to build that model based on your project configuration.

The other choices suggest actions that are not directly related to the standard process of creating a model in dbt. The 'dbt create' command is not a standard command in dbt; instead, dbt has other commands for compiling and running models. Importing existing tables isn't creating new models, as it refers to using already existing data structures. Defining custom metrics in a config file pertains to adding metrics but not specifically to creating models, which centers around SQL files in the models directory.