How to Import SQL Data in Power Bi Desktop?

Introduction

Here, we will learn what is Import Mode in Power Bi Desktop & how we can import SQL data into Power Bi Desktop.

Description

Mainly, Power Bi Desktop support two types of data source connection mode like Import & Direct Query mode. Here we will talk about Import mode.

In import mode Power Bi Desktop store the data inside Power Bi Cache. If your data size is less then 1 GB or data not continually changing then you can use Import mode. Import mode is very fast compare to Direct Query mode because all data comes from Power Bi Desktop Cache, so you can use this mode to develop & testing purpose. But later on you have to change your data source mode as a Direct Query for production, it will be depends on your organization you want to change this or not.

When you choose import mode, in that case Power Bi fetch the data from given source and load into Power Bi Cache, this is one time activity. Later on you can Schedule or refresh to get latest Data.

So let's start, Open Power Bi file and go to Home menu then click on Get Data & Select SQL Server

After Click on SQL Server one Pop Up screen will appears, here you will write SQL server & Database name. By default Data Connectivity mode is Import.

After that, expand the Advance Option and write SQL query to fetch data for Load.

Then click on OK button, it will fetch data from SQL and asked to you for Load.

After Data Load you can change Data Set name.

Power Bi converts your Table as a Data set and columns as a Fields. Power Bi is very smart, it will assign Datatypes of your fields automatically as per your data behavior. 

Hope you enjoyed the post. Your valuable feedback, question, or comments about this post are always welcome.