Connecting to Excel, CSV, and Databases0%

Connecting to Excel, CSV, and Databases

Beginner12 min read•Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Reading Time: 8 Mins | Level: Beginner to Advanced

1. Connecting to Diverse Data Sources

Power BI supports over 150 built-in data connectors:

File Sources: Excel (.xlsx), CSV/Text, JSON, XML, Folder (combine all files in a folder).
Relational Databases: SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, IBM DB2.
Cloud & Big Data: Azure SQL, Snowflake, Google BigQuery, Amazon Redshift, Databricks.
Online Services: SharePoint Lists, Salesforce, Google Analytics.

When connecting to a database, Power BI asks for the connection mode:

1
Import Mode (Default & Fastest): Ingests and compresses data into the in-memory VertiPaq engine. Full DAX support, sub-second query speeds.
2
DirectQuery: Leaves data in the source database. Power BI sends real-time SQL queries on every visual click. Required for massive data (> 100 GB) or strict real-time needs.
3
Live Connection: Direct connection to an existing Analysis Services tabular model or Power BI dataset.

Interactive Quiz• Knowledge Check

Question 1

What is the fastest and most feature-complete connection mode in Power BI?

Question 2

When should an analyst choose 'DirectQuery' over 'Import Mode'?

Question 3

Which Power BI connector allows you to read and append all monthly CSV files stored inside a designated directory automatically?

Question 4

What happens when you click 'Load' instead of 'Transform Data' in the Navigator window?

Question 5

Can Power BI connect to password-protected SQL databases securely?

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