Importing data to Power BI Desktop models

Import is the default data connectivity mode for Power BI Desktop, and the import models created in Power BI Desktop use the same in-memory, columnar compressed storage engine (Vertipaq) featured in SSAS Tabular 2016+ import models. Import mode models support the integration of disparate data sources (for example, SQL Server and DB2) and allow more flexibility in developing metrics and row-level security roles given via full support for all DAX functions.

This recipe describes a process of using M and the Query Editor to develop the queries supporting a standard star-schema analytical model. A staging query approach is introduced as a means of efficiently enhancing the dimensions of a model, and tips are included to use less resources during refresh and to avoid refresh failures from revised source data. More details of these methods are included in other recipes in this chapter.