Top Ways to Import and Connect Data in Power Query

Today, data transformation and analysis have become essential parts of business and professional activity. For this reason, the combination of Power Query in Excel and Power BI multi-source became a tool for obtaining and cleaning data. Everyone, from a beginner to an expert data analyst, needs to know how to import and connect data to Power Query to create a reliable report or dashboard.

In this article, we will consider the top ways to import and connect data and their specific features and use cases.

1. Import Data from Excel

First, the numbers are essential as a separate source of data. Power Query enables us to import them from worksheets, named ranges, and databases.

To do this, we choose Data > Get Data > From File > From Workbook in Excel or Power BI.
An ideal use case would be to analyze the sales results, financial statements, or employee data on spreadsheets.
The learned lesson is that data must always be formatted as a table, as Power Query offers such an option for easier detection and data update.

2. Connect to CSV and Text Files

Secondly, another source of data is the CSV and text files from which data is exported from applications or databases.

3. Import from Databases

Thirdly, Power Query connects or directly imports data from databases, including SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, and PostgreSQL etc.

4. Connect to Online Services

Power Query connects with services like SharePoint, OneDrive, Salesforce, Google Analytics, and Azure.

5. Failure to Optimize the Size of the Data Model

Power Query also allows you to pull and refresh data from web pages, so long as the data is available online to the public.

6. Use Folder Connections

At other times, you might have to consolidate multiple files with similar structure (for example monthly sales reports). With the folder connection option in Power Query, you can import and layer them with ease.

7. Connect via APIs

For more complex scenarios, Power Query allows connecting to services that return the data as JSON or XML.

Steps: Get Data > From Other Sources > From Web.
Use Case: Great for developers and traders pulling data streams to power live market conditions in products like their bespoke trading application信Perfect use case for fetching weather APIs and financial APIs in real time or even running complex ML model inference
Pro Tip: Know your JSON or XML structure is the key to lean transformations.

8. Manually Enter Data

Power Query also supports creating small datasets by specifying the values yourself.

Final Thoughts

Power Query is an incredible tool that makes it easy to import, connect, and transform data from almost any source. Whether you’re gleaning your power from a modest Excel list or a mammoth SQL Server database, or even a live website, Power Query ensures you only request the exact data you want and no more.

Master these best practices for importing and connecting data, and you’ll save time, minimise errors, and create more dependable reports and dashboards. In case you need to polish your skills further, you can also consider attending Power BI training in Hyderabad to help you to get hands-on experience on concepts you learnt in these tutorials and teach you industry-level skills and knowledge to excel in your career.