Different data sources in Power BI?

Connecting to different data sources in Power BI is straightforward and one of its core strengths.

Power BI supports a wide range of data sources, including Excel, SQL Server, SharePoint, cloud services, and many more. Here’s a high-level overview of how you can connect to various data sources:

How to connect to data sources in Power BI

1. Open Power BI Desktop – Launch Power BI Desktop on your computer.

2. Click on ‘Get Data’ – On the Home tab, click the ‘Get Data’ button. This opens a list of available data sources.

3. Choose your data source – Select the type of data source you want to connect to, such as:

o Excel

o SQL Server

o SharePoint

o Web

o Files (CSV, XML, JSON)

o Azure services

o Online services (Salesforce, Google Analytics, etc.)

4. Provide connection details – After selecting the data source, you’ll need to enter the specific connection details, such as:

o File path or URL

o Server name and database name (for databases)

o API keys or login credentials (for cloud and online services)

5. Authenticate – Enter the required credentials or authentication method to access the data.

6. Load or Transform Data – Once connected, you can:

o Click ‘Load’ to bring the data directly into Power BI.

o Select ‘Transform Data’ to open Power Query Editor for cleaning and shaping your data before loading.

Examples of common data sources

Data Source -> How to connect

Excel file Get Data > Excel > Browse to file > Load/Transform

SQL Server Get Data > SQL Server > Enter server and database details

SharePoint Get Data > SharePoint Folder/Lists > Enter site URL

Web (API) Get Data > Web > Enter URL

Azure Blob Storage Get Data > Azure > Blob Storage > Enter credentials

Online services Get Data > [Service name] > Sign in and authorize

Tips for success

• Make sure you have necessary permissions to access the data.

• Use Power Query Editor for cleaning and transforming your data.

• Save your connections as queries for reusability.