topic Re: Visualizing Merge Join Types in Power BI in Data Stories Gallery

Visualizing Merge Join Types in Power BI

SqlJason — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 02:48:51 GMT

You can combine two queries in Power BI using the Merge Queries option (in Edit Queries). While merging queries, you will be asked for a join kind. This report visually shows what are the different join kinds as well as show the resulting merged table.

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Re: Visualizing Merge Join Types in Power BI

deldersveld — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 03:23:32 GMT

Are you using the Visio custom visual for the main join diagram?

Re: Visualizing Merge Join Types in Power BI

SqlJason — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 03:52:52 GMT

Synoptic Panel. Just made a simple png using PowerPoint and then used the Synoptic Designer to create the 3 areas within the Venn chart.

I initially thought of using the Visio custom visual, but then remembered that you will need to make the visio file public with everyone to publish this report to the web. This visual requires One Drive for Business (so I don't have a personal account) and right now, my company does not allow sharing files publicly. So could not use the Visio option.

Re: Visualizing Merge Join Types in Power BI

deldersveld — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 13:14:59 GMT

Thanks. I see Synoptic's zoom control now. I haven't spent any time with the Visio preview.

Re: Visualizing Merge Join Types in Power BI

leonardmurphy — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 18:46:04 GMT

Nice work Jason (and great idea too)!

I haven't seen anything explaining joins as simple to understand as your diagram on page 2. As much as the Venn diagram is a classic, the blocks were as straightforward as side-ways Tetris to me (seeing which blocks "fall" to the right-hand column based on their presence and/or absence in the other 2 columns).

Cross joins might be worth adding to the mix (but that would not be fun to do).

Re: Visualizing Merge Join Types in Power BI

SqlJason — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 19:38:30 GMT

Thanks Leonard, though I can only take the credit for developing the actual solution. The join diagrams are inspired from this post - https://blog.jooq.org/2016/07/05/say-no-to-venn-diagrams-when-explaining-joins/ and was pointed out to me on twitter by @@thesqlgrrrl.

Re: Visualizing Merge Join Types in Power BI

ketan10 — Sat, 29 Jul 2017 05:24:43 GMT

This is pretty interesting SqlJason ! Good work.

Re: Visualizing Merge Join Types in Power BI

Anonymous — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 17:08:34 GMT

Good Job!

Re: Visualizing Merge Join Types in Power BI

Anonymous — Fri, 15 Nov 2019 18:23:19 GMT

Hi Jason,

I expanded on your sample and I notice that when you do Cross Join it show correct value in power query (5x4=20)
But when you try to show in power bi table visual you get only 15 records (5x3) ?
How do you correct that? see attachments

Thanks,

Oded Dror

Re: Visualizing Merge Join Types in Power BI

Anonymous — Fri, 15 Nov 2019 20:06:21 GMT

Jason,

Please Discard the previous question I fix it

Thanks,

Oded Dror

Re: Visualizing Merge Join Types in Power BI

peachela — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 22:22:24 GMT

Thank you for your effort, very helpful.

Re: Visualizing Merge Join Types in Power BI

TuralAHmadov — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 14:33:13 GMT

Hi SqlJason,
I really liked your report on “Visualizing Merge Join Types in Power BI”.
Could you please share the .pbix file with me?

Thank you in advance!

Re: Visualizing Merge Join Types in Power BI

TuralAHmadov — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 14:32:44 GMT

Hi SqlJason,
I really liked your report on “Visualizing Merge Join Types in Power BI”.
Could you please share the .pbix file with me?

Thank you in advance!

Re: Visualizing Merge Join Types in Power BI

TuralAHmadov — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 13:27:57 GMT

Hi SqlJason,
I really liked your report on “Visualizing Merge Join Types in Power BI”.
Could you please share the .pbix file with me? Thank you in advance!

Re: Visualizing Merge Join Types in Power BI

TuralAHmadov — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 13:27:29 GMT

Hi SqlJason,
I really liked your report on “Visualizing Merge Join Types in Power BI”.
Could you please share the .pbix file with me? Thank you in advance!