To test changes to your Delta Live Table (DLT) pipeline without impacting production data, you can point to a different storage location and target schema. This does not require creating a completely separate DLT pipeline. Here are the steps:

1. Create a Test Environment: Set up a separate storage location and target schema for testing. This can be done by creating a new storage account or bucket and a new schema within your data catalog.

2. Modify Pipeline Configuration: Update the configuration of your DLT pipeline to point to the test storage location and target schema. This can be done by modifying the pipeline settings in the Databricks UI or by updating the pipeline configuration file.

3. Parameterize Your Pipeline: Use parameters to easily switch between production and test environments. You can use environment variables or configuration files to manage different settings for storage locations and schemas.

4. Run Tests: Execute your pipeline with the test configuration to ensure that changes do not affect production data. Validate the results in the test environment before applying the changes to the production pipeline.