Chapter 38: Introducing Power Query
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Importing data from database systems
In larger organizations, the task of data management is not performed by Excel; rather,
it is primarily performed by database systems such as Microsoft Access and SQL Server.
Databases like these not only store millions of rows of data but also ensure data integrity,
prevent redundancy, and allow for the rapid search and retrieval of data through queries
and views.
Power Query offers options to connect to a wide array of database types. Microsoft has been
keen to add connection types for as many commonly used databases as it can.
Importing data from relational and OLAP databases
Click Data ➪ Get Data ➪ From Database, and you will see the list of databases to which you
can connect. Power Query offers connection types for many of the popular database sys-
tems in use today: SQL Server, Microsoft Access, Oracle, MySQL, and so on.
Importing data from Azure databases
If your organization has a Microsoft Azure cloud database or a subscription to Microsoft
Azure Marketplace, there is an entire set of connection types designed to import data from
Azure. You can get to these connection types by clicking Data ➪ Get Data ➪ From Azure.
Importing data using ODBC connections to nonstandard databases
Some of you may be using a unique nonstandard database system that isn’t popular enough
to be specifically included as an option under the Get Data command. Not to worry. As long
as an ODBC connection string can be used to connect to your database system, Power Query
can connect to it.
Click Data ➪ Get Data ➪ From Other Sources to see a list of other connection types. Click
the From ODBC option to start a connection to your unique database via an ODBC connec-
tion string.
Getting Data from Other Data Systems
In addition to ODBC, Figure 38.19 illustrates other kinds of data systems that can be lever-
aged by Power Query.