Power BI Desktop - IMPORT data limitation

[thilokg]

When I use Power BI Import (Connect to SQL Server and select Import) to get data to Power BI Desktop, is there a data volume limitation? 

I know for DirectQuery there is no data volume limitation. What about Import? Is it 1GB?

Thanks

Thilok

[Element115]

@thilokg In Import mode, the total size of your semantic model is limited by your licence type.  So, under a Pro licence, you only get a maximum of 1 GB after you publish the report to the Power BI Fabric Service.  

However, if you upgrate to a PPU (Premium-per-user) license, the max amount for storage of your model jumps to 100 GB.

Pro -> 1 GB

PPU/Premium -> 100 GB

[zoloturu · Accepted solution]

Hi @thilokg,

There is no volume limitation for a load for either DirectQuery or Import. DirectQuery has a limit of rows behind each visual - 1 mln, but Import has no such limit. You have a limit for Import mode - memory usage limited to your computer resources (RAM). So if you have 8 GB of RAM and your report consumes 9 GB then it will fail. You can check usage via Windows Task Manager -> Resource Monitor (https://www.digitalcitizen.life/how-use-resource-monitor-windows-7)

Regards,

Ruslan

[Element115]

@zoloturu  What you say is true on a local PC running Power BI Desktop app.  But that does not apply to the report and its semantic model once you publish it to the Fabric Service. Once published, the following constraint applies.

In Import mode, the total size of your semantic model is limited by your licence type.  So, under a Pro licence, you only get a maximum of 1 GB after you publish the report to the Power BI Fabric Service.  

However, if you upgrate to a PPU (Premium-per-user) license, the max amount for storage of your model jumps to 100 GB.

Pro -> 1 GB

PPU/Premium -> 100 GB

[thilokg]

First of all, thanks for the quick response.

What do you mean by 'Import mode'? Its the same 'Import' I mentioned, right?

What I mean is the option next to DirectQuery (when you try to get data from a SQL Server)

[zoloturu]

@thilokg,

Yes. Import mode is Import (next option to DirectQuery).

Regards,

Ruslan