1. A computer implemented method for query-level access by a database engine to an external distributed file system, the method comprising: identifying a results file location of one or more results files on the external distributed file system; storing, in one or more external table files on the database engine, the results file location of at least one of the results files; storing, in the one or more external table files on the database engine, metadata specifying a location of code to execute operational directives; executing a query, the query specifying a table corresponding to the at least one of the external table files; and retrieving data from the external distributed file system using the query.