Forum Discussion
Accessing SQL Blobs
Yes, Power Query has a "Binary" data type that you can then bend to your will, for example by declaring that you want to read that binary as a PDF.
Just add the blob to your SQL view columns.
Here's an example where I pull a bunch of CSV files out of their blobs (the [Content] column)
#"Invoke Custom Function1" = Table.AddColumn(#"Renamed Columns1", "CSV", each #"Get CSV file"([Content])),
via a custom function where I do some basic transforms:
Get CSV File =
(File) => let
Source = Csv.Document(File,[Delimiter=",", Encoding=1252, QuoteStyle=QuoteStyle.Csv]),
#"Promoted Headers" = Table.PromoteHeaders(Source, [PromoteAllScalars=true]),....
Thank you. I apologize, for getting upset.
How can that, at least, be done? I cannot find any good and clear instructions on doing so.
Yes, Power Query has a "Binary" data type that you can then bend to your will, for example by declaring that you want to read that binary as a PDF.
Just add the blob to your SQL view columns.
Here's an example where I pull a bunch of CSV files out of their blobs (the [Content] column)
#"Invoke Custom Function1" = Table.AddColumn(#"Renamed Columns1", "CSV", each #"Get CSV file"([Content])),
via a custom function where I do some basic transforms:
Get CSV File =
(File) => let
Source = Csv.Document(File,[Delimiter=",", Encoding=1252, QuoteStyle=QuoteStyle.Csv]),
#"Promoted Headers" = Table.PromoteHeaders(Source, [PromoteAllScalars=true]),
....
Hi:
You mentioned "Power Query". What about Power BI?
John
Frankly, I don't understand any of what you said. Can you please supply some simple steps? Does this sort of thing require prorgramming? Can you not view the PDF attachments in Power BI?
Power BI is a Data Analytics tool, not a picture viewer. There is a PDF visual somewhere but I think it is broken/unsupported.
What Power BI (Power Query) offers is a way to extract data from PDF files, like table data etc.
You told me, originally, that it could be done. I told my boss that it could be done afterward, we relied on that information, and now I may have to cancel an important demo of this scheduled with a client for tomorrow.