Skip to main content
cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

The Power BI Data Visualization World Championships is back! It's time to submit your entry. Live now!

Reply
Anonymous
Not applicable

Best Practice for Direct Query

Hi,

 

What is the best practice for using direct query,

 

We are querying against a live sales databse, and the performance is not very good.  I am currently using date wheres in the SQl and in the Report via slicers. For direct query is it just as well only using the slicers?

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION
v-huizhn-msft
Microsoft Employee
Microsoft Employee

Hi @Anonymous,

With Power BI Desktop, when you connect to your data source with import mode, it is a copy of the data into the Power BI Desktop. DirectQuery – no data is imported or copied into Power BI Desktop. As you create or interact with a visualization, you’re always viewing current data. DirectQuery lets you build visualizations over very large datasets, and you always use the current data, not need to re-importing data and refresh when the data is updated.

When you upload the data to Power BI desktop, you can use SQL in Advanced Options to filter the data. While, A slicer narrows the portion of the dataset shown in the other visualizations on the page. Direct Query is a database mode, slicer is a visualization level filter.

Best Regards,
Angelia


View solution in original post

1 REPLY 1
v-huizhn-msft
Microsoft Employee
Microsoft Employee

Hi @Anonymous,

With Power BI Desktop, when you connect to your data source with import mode, it is a copy of the data into the Power BI Desktop. DirectQuery – no data is imported or copied into Power BI Desktop. As you create or interact with a visualization, you’re always viewing current data. DirectQuery lets you build visualizations over very large datasets, and you always use the current data, not need to re-importing data and refresh when the data is updated.

When you upload the data to Power BI desktop, you can use SQL in Advanced Options to filter the data. While, A slicer narrows the portion of the dataset shown in the other visualizations on the page. Direct Query is a database mode, slicer is a visualization level filter.

Best Regards,
Angelia


Helpful resources

Announcements
Power BI DataViz World Championships

Power BI Dataviz World Championships

The Power BI Data Visualization World Championships is back! It's time to submit your entry.

January Power BI Update Carousel

Power BI Monthly Update - January 2026

Check out the January 2026 Power BI update to learn about new features.

FabCon Atlanta 2026 carousel

FabCon Atlanta 2026

Join us at FabCon Atlanta, March 16-20, for the ultimate Fabric, Power BI, AI and SQL community-led event. Save $200 with code FABCOMM.