Direct Query- multiple column relationships?

[OneWithQuestion]

Our vendor system that we are using as a data source has several tables that use a combination primary key and for relationships to other tables you have to join on 3 or 4 columns (I hate it, I do not know WHY they do it...but it is the way it is).

Is there anyway to support that in Power BI Desktop using Direct Query?

In a Tabular data model I can make a calculated column to achieve this, however... it does not seem possible to do multiple column relationships in the modeling option for Direct Query Mode?

[S19K15]

After seven months and no activity on the performance issue that this approach of merge can cause.

[koureass]

UPDATE 07/07/2023 in behalf of my previous post

I have tested this on tables with million of rows using Direct Query, very very bad idea...

[rshukramani]

Could we address @koureass concern on query performance?

[koureass]

This is true and can be done, although is not very performant as the query is no longer hitting the actual column predicates for the join, right?

[kdoherty]

Agree.  It is isn't practical to do it with large tables.  The database ends up scanning the whole table to find the artificial keys it needs.  

[v-yulgu-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi @OneWithQuestion,

In Direct Query, you are still able to create a calculated column to combine multiple columns to generate the primary Key.

Col4 = Test5[Col1]&" "&Test5[Col2]

ColC = Test6[ColA]&" "&Test6[ColB]

Best regards,

Yuliana Gu