SQLBits 2024
Power BI and Big Tables
This talk explores the available storage mode options in Power BI. You don’t have to decide purely between either importing or using DirectQuery, but you can implement solutions which combine the two techniques to find the best compromise between query run-time and freshness of data. This talk will introduce you to features like dual mode, hybrid tables, incremental refresh, pre-aggregated tables and the DirectLake storage mode.
If you want the best possible performance in Power BI, then you need to import all the data. Unfortunately, there are situations where this is just not possible (because the amount of data is beyond the available resources in Power BI and/or the time to refresh the data to keep it up-to-date would take too long). DirectQuery mode allows you to connect to databases without importing their content – but this comes almost always with a less than optimal report performance and users will start to complain about it.
Fortunately, you don’t have to decide purely between either importing or using DirectQuery, but you can implement solutions which combine the two techniques to find the best compromise between query run-time and freshness of data. This talk will introduce you to features like dual mode, hybrid tables, incremental refresh, pre-aggregated tables and the DirectLake storage mode.
Fortunately, you don’t have to decide purely between either importing or using DirectQuery, but you can implement solutions which combine the two techniques to find the best compromise between query run-time and freshness of data. This talk will introduce you to features like dual mode, hybrid tables, incremental refresh, pre-aggregated tables and the DirectLake storage mode.