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pratafran's avatar
pratafran
Icon for Helper III rankHelper III
7 years ago
Solved

Build a visual showing evolution of a parameter based on two databases with different periods oftime

Hi!, I think it is a very simple question but I guess if there is a simpler approach to sort this out than the one I'm thinking in.

 

I have two databases in my Power Bi model.

1 - A plain database with sales information from period 2010-2018 (local excel file with historical information that is not being updated anymore)

2- A sharepoint database with the information from 2019-on (this is live and is currently being updated and automatically refreshed on the Power Bi model)

 

And one dictionary:

1 - Calendar, automatically generated with days from Jan 1st 2010 to the last day that it find in the database 2.

 

Most of the visuals I have in my model are linked to the 2nd database to show current KPIs but I want to add one visual showing the evolution of sales by month from 2010 to now.

 

I have both databases linked by a dictionary with dates (DIC_DATES) so I know I have to put the DIC_DATES (Date) in the X axis but how can I do to put the sales for the whole period on the Y axis?

 

The only approach I can imagine is to do a query to append both databases in a new one that shows all the information 2010-today and then do the visual from there but I want to avoid generating a new huge database.

 

Is there a simpler approach?

 

Thanks!!

  • pratafran you can append the tables in power query and that is the best approach and best practice. 

4 Replies

  • pratafran you can append the tables in power query and that is the best approach and best practice. 

    • pratafran's avatar
      pratafran
      Icon for Helper III rankHelper III

      parry2k thanks for your answer. That was what I was thinking but with that approach I would be duplicating a lot of information.

      So, it is not possible to add the volumes of both databases to the same visual to show them as a continuos line?

      • parry2k's avatar
        parry2k
        Icon for Super User rankSuper User

        pratafran not sure if appending will make it duplicte information. You just not load other two tables in model, just load the one whihc is combined, so I don't see there will be anything duplicated.