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shaunwilks's avatar
shaunwilks
Icon for Helper V rankHelper V
8 years ago
Solved

Dynamic Data Source based on parameter

  Hello all,   Hopefully this is easier to explain that Im finding it is to do.   I have done work with parameters that place the SQL Server and Database names into the Source in the Advanced Ed...
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  • Anonymous's avatar
    Anonymous
    8 years ago

    shaunwilks,

    Here is an example for you.

    let

#"Table 1" = (para as text) =>
if para = "test1"
then

let
    Source = Sql.Database("servername", "test",[Query="select * from Main"])
   in
    Source

else 

let
    Source = Excel.Workbook(File.Contents("path\Book1.xlsx"), null, true),
    #"Security public - Copy_Sheet" = Source{[Item="Security public - Copy",Kind="Sheet"]}[Data]
    in
    #"Security public - Copy_Sheet"

in #"Table 1"



    Regards,
    Lydia

Anonymous's avatar
Anonymous
Not applicable
8 years ago

shaunwilks,

I am not very clear about your logic, could you please post a screenshot about the code in your Advanced Editor? How do you create parameter in Query Editor?

In your scenario, why not create another table name parameter?


Regards,
Lydia

  • shaunwilks's avatar
    shaunwilks
    Icon for Helper V rankHelper V
    8 years ago

    Sorry if I was not clear enough but you are on the right track in response.

    The data source is not as simple as the Table name, Sql server name or database name.

    It could be excel or SQL, it could be a different sheet name in different excel or different table in a different SQL database.

     

    I wanted to present the 3 or 4 options in a plain english list of options in the "Parameter" and then handle the data source inside the M code.

     

    So for simplicity sake the parameter would read Option 1, Option 2, Option 3,Option 4....

     

    I wanted the M code to read something like

    If Parameter = Option1 Then Source = Excel.Workbook(File.Contents("C:\Data.xlsx"), null, true) else

    If Parameter = Option2 Then Source = Excel.Workbook(File.Contents("F:\Database.xlsx"), null, true) else

    If Parameter = Option3 Then Source = Sql.Database(SQLServer, AdventureWorks, [Query="SELECT * FROM Data", CreateNavigationProperties=false]) else

    Sql.Database(SQLServer99, AdventureWorks, [Query="SELECT * FROM DataView", CreateNavigationProperties=false])

     

    Continually having syntax issues trying to achieve it and was hoping a sample "If" statement could be provided that changes the data source property in the Advanced Query Editor

    • Anonymous's avatar
      Anonymous
      Not applicable
      8 years ago

      shaunwilks,

      Here is an example for you.

      let

#"Table 1" = (para as text) =>
if para = "test1"
then

let
    Source = Sql.Database("servername", "test",[Query="select * from Main"])
   in
    Source

else 

let
    Source = Excel.Workbook(File.Contents("path\Book1.xlsx"), null, true),
    #"Security public - Copy_Sheet" = Source{[Item="Security public - Copy",Kind="Sheet"]}[Data]
    in
    #"Security public - Copy_Sheet"

in #"Table 1"



      Regards,
      Lydia

      • jnogle's avatar
        jnogle
        Icon for Microsoft Employee rankMicrosoft Employee
        7 years ago

        This is an amazing solution!

         

        I am building a template for users that may decide to use SQL or Excel as their data source and this is much more elegant than maintaining 2 versions of the same file (one for each data source).

         

        I took this solution one step further by referencing an already defined parameter to determine which data source to use. So, when the user first opens the Power BI file as a template, they are presented with a "Data Source" parameter option where they can select either "SQL" or "Excel" from the list. The table is then populated with the appropriate source based on this choice.

         

        I'm still working out the best solution for handling connection parameters (SQL requires Server, Database and Table parameters, but Excel only requires a path parameter) but there are multiple solutions to explore there.

         

        Here's a code example:

        if #"Data Source Type" = "SQL"
then

let
    Source = Sql.Database(#"SQL Server Name", #"SQL Database Name", [Query="SELECT * FROM [dbo].[view_" & #"Table Name" & "]"]),
    #"Extracted Date" = Table.TransformColumns(Source,{{"Date", DateTime.Date, type date}})
in
    #"Extracted Date"

else

let
    Source = Excel.Workbook(File.Contents(ExcelDataFile), null, true),
    FactTable_Sheet = Source{[Item="FactTable",Kind="Sheet"]}[Data],
    #"Promoted Headers" = Table.PromoteHeaders(FactTable_Sheet, [PromoteAllScalars=true]),
    #"Changed Type" = Table.TransformColumnTypes(#"Promoted Headers",{{"Value", Int64.Type}, {"StageIndex", Int64.Type}, {"Date", type date}, {"Version", Int64.Type}, {"OsBuildRelease", type text}, {"DeviceFamily", type text}, {"FlightRing", type text}})
in
    #"Changed Type"