# Choosing a preparation run method

Choose how to run a preparation based on its destination, automation needs, and execution environment.

You can run a preparation from the Talend Data Preparation interface, automate runs with the Talend Data Preparation Run API, or apply a preparation in a Talend Studio Job with the tDataprepRun component.

| Method | Use it to | Requirements and constraints |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Run from the interface | Send prepared data to a new or existing dataset, update the source dataset, or download the result. | For Talend Cloud runs, use Remote Engine Gen2 R2024-06 or later, or Cloud Engine for Design. Restart the Engine to enable the latest updates. The interface runs only the current preparation version. For steps and destination limitations, see [Running a preparation](https://help.qlik.com/talend/en-US/data-preparation-user-guide/Cloud/running-preparation). |
| Automate with the Talend Data Preparation Run API | Schedule or integrate preparation runs by calling the API to list preparations, start a run, monitor its status, and retrieve run history. | You must have access to the preparation and destination, and the preparation must have completed a successful manual run. Direct download is not supported as a destination. API run history is separate from the interface run history. For details, see [Automating a preparation run via API](https://help.qlik.com/talend/en-US/data-preparation-user-guide/Cloud/automating-a-preparation-run-via-api). |
| Run in a Talend Studio Job | Apply a preparation in a data integration or Big Data Job with the tDataprepRun component. | A data integration Job processes the preparation on the Talend Data Preparation server. A Big Data Job retrieves the preparation definition from the server and processes it on the cluster. Use a preparation version to keep the Job's result predictable. See [tDataprepRun workflow in a Talend Job](https://help.qlik.com/talend/en-US/data-preparation-user-guide/8.0/tdatapreprun-workflow-in-talend-job "In Talend Studio, when running a Job using the tDataprepRun component, several elements come into play so that the data prepared in Talend Data Preparation can be retrieved and used in the flow of the Job.") and [Using a version in a Talend Job](https://help.qlik.com/talend/en-US/data-preparation-user-guide/8.0/using-version-in-talend-job "Preparation versions can be used in data integration or big data Jobs in Talend Studio."). |

Information noteNote:

When you automate runs with the Talend Data Preparation Run API, its run configuration comes from the latest successful manual run. Use a dedicated preparation for automation if later manual runs could change that configuration.

For a database destination, updating more than 100,000 rows in an interface run can cause performance issues. For more information about creating and managing preparations, see [Adding a preparation](https://help.qlik.com/talend/en-US/data-preparation-user-guide/8.0/adding-preparation "Add a preparation to start preparing and cleansing your data.").