Forum Discussion

Peter_Yaacoub's avatar
Peter_Yaacoub
Frequent Visitor
4 years ago
Solved

Data Storage

Hi everyone!

 

We are new to Power BI and would like to visualise our results with the option of a monthly update based on the new data fed in.

 

The issue we are facing is the data being stored in human-friendly excel files (which are later converted to pdf reports) in an unstructured manner.

 

I am looking for your tips/advice on how to proceed with organising/storing my data to meet my end-goal of automatic monthly updates.

 

Thank you in advance

Peter

Data Protection
  • serpiva64's avatar
    serpiva64
    4 years ago

    Hi, 

    if i understood your problem, you need to create an excel file for each month and store them in a folder. In this folder each month you add a new file.

    Then instead of loading the single file you load the folder.

  • Anonymous's avatar
    Anonymous
    4 years ago

    PowerQuery would automatically "APPEND" data from all the Monthly Files to the same table. It becomes easier if you have a name pattern for the files like "SalesDate_YYYYMM.xlsx". 

6 Replies

  • serpiva64's avatar
    serpiva64
    Solution Sage
    4 years ago

    Hi, if you can provide some sample data it would be easier to evaluete if there is the necessity to modify excel files and in which direction

     

  • Anonymous's avatar
    Anonymous
    Not applicable
    4 years ago

    You have various options with PowerBI for the updates (based on the license you have - Pro or Premium).

     

    You could use Data Alerts or your users can use Monthly Subscription to the report or you can use APIs to push the Reports to your users.

     

     

  • Peter_Yaacoub's avatar
    Peter_Yaacoub
    Frequent Visitor
    4 years ago

    Hi Serpiva,

     

    Thanks for your response. Above is a screenshot of a table I am preparing from the unstructured excel files. I understand it needs to be in flat format before being loaded to Power Bi. I am not sure how to take it from here so monthly data is added resulting in a dashboard update.

    • serpiva64's avatar
      serpiva64
      Solution Sage
      4 years ago

      Hi, 

      if i understood your problem, you need to create an excel file for each month and store them in a folder. In this folder each month you add a new file.

      Then instead of loading the single file you load the folder.

      • Peter_Yaacoub's avatar
        Peter_Yaacoub
        Frequent Visitor
        4 years ago

        Hi Serpiva,

         

        Thanks a lot for the solution I will definitely try this. I was wondering if it's possible to create one table and adding the new data to it through the "Append Queries".