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Add Current Model (before data refresh) as PowerBI Desktop DataSource

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Rui Quintino's profile image

Rui Quintino on 27 Aug 2016 22:38:02

Similar to excel.currentworkbook () in Excel/PowerQuery it would be extremely useful to have a CurrentModel () data source in PowerBI Desktop, that allows to get any table (or DAX query) from the existing model, note: the data *before refresh* , not the data from the new execution.

Among others this would allow for easy incremental loads and accumulating snapshot patterns like in the post below.

see here for a sample using Excel PowerQuery;

Incremental data loads in Microsoft Power Query for Excel by Hilmar Buchta
https://blog.oraylis.de/2015/05/incremental-data-loads-in-microsoft-power-query-for-excel/

Currently it's already possible to connect using tcp/port but it's hacky, obviously not supported, and won't work in pbi service or without manual setup.

Even if an automatic load incremental appears in the future I think seeing the current model data would still be useful in a lot of ways.

Comments (1)
Rui Quintino's profile image Profile Picture

Kenneth Barber on 06 Jul 2020 00:01:16

RE: Add Current Model (before data refresh) as PowerBI Desktop DataSource

Incremental load is now supported in Power BI.