Duplicate source load when loading queries to the model

[Syndicate_Admin]

I'm working on a BI that has several Excel files as sources, one in particular is quite heavy (about 400MB) because it lowers historical data from SAP. The problem is that we have several queries that are based on the same source and when loading the data into the model, Power BI repeatedly reads the same source, which takes a long time to update.

I tried generating a single base query that is not loaded to the model and then referencing the others to the first. So that base query is the only one that takes data from the external source, but anyway, when loading the data model, Power BI reads the same source several times.

Is there a way to design the data model so that Power BI queries the data in the source once and speeds up the model refresh?

[ToddChitt · Accepted solution]

YES! Create ONE Source in Power Query, then load it into the model. Then use a DAX statement to replicate it:

MyNewTable = OneSourceTableName

You can then apply filters, etc. to this new table.

Of course, if you have different transforms to make you have to do it in Power Query