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

July 7 - July 17 | Round 2 of the Power BI Dataviz World Championships. Don't miss your chance! Learn more

Reply
webportal
Impactful Individual
Impactful Individual

Import SQL server database without empty columns

Hello,

 

I'm importing a set of tables from a SQL Server DB to Power BI Desktop.

It's a huge database and I'm selecting only some of its tables.

However, these tables have empty columns or columns with zeros only, so I've created two M functions to apply to each and every table to "clean" them.

Is it possible to specify an SQL command in the import settings to fetch only "valid" columns, thus avoiding loading Power BI and custom functions?

 

Can anyone please share sucha a SQL command?

 

Thank you!

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION
v-piga-msft
Resident Rockstar
Resident Rockstar

Hi @webportal


I'm importing a set of tables from a SQL Server DB to Power BI Desktop.

It's a huge database and I'm selecting only some of its tables.

However, these tables have empty columns or columns with zeros only, so I've created two M functions to apply to each and every table to "clean" them.

Is it possible to specify an SQL command in the import settings to fetch only "valid" columns, thus avoiding loading Power BI and custom functions?

 

Can anyone please share sucha a SQL command?

The SQL query you want to use in Power BI when you get data is the same as you query the data in SQL Database.

 

You could refer to the queries in the thread here. You could also have a reference of IS NOT NULL .

 

Best Regards,

Cherry

Community Support Team _ Cherry Gao
If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

View solution in original post

1 REPLY 1
v-piga-msft
Resident Rockstar
Resident Rockstar

Hi @webportal


I'm importing a set of tables from a SQL Server DB to Power BI Desktop.

It's a huge database and I'm selecting only some of its tables.

However, these tables have empty columns or columns with zeros only, so I've created two M functions to apply to each and every table to "clean" them.

Is it possible to specify an SQL command in the import settings to fetch only "valid" columns, thus avoiding loading Power BI and custom functions?

 

Can anyone please share sucha a SQL command?

The SQL query you want to use in Power BI when you get data is the same as you query the data in SQL Database.

 

You could refer to the queries in the thread here. You could also have a reference of IS NOT NULL .

 

Best Regards,

Cherry

Community Support Team _ Cherry Gao
If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

Helpful resources

Announcements
FabCon and SQLCon Barcelona 2026

FabCon & SQLCon – Barcelona 2026

Join us in Barcelona for FabCon and SQLCon, the Fabric, Power BI, SQL, and AI community event. Save €200 with code FABCMTY200.

60 days of Data Days Carousel

Data Days 2026

Join Data Days 2026: 60 days of free live/on-demand sessions, challenges, study groups, and certification opportunities.

Power BI DataViz World Championships carousel

Power BI DataViz World Championships - June 2026

A new Power BI DataViz World Championship is coming this June! Don't miss out on submitting your entry.

Top Solution Authors