Reference existing query from R script

[dkay84_PowerBI]

I know that you can import data (i.e. from URL or local file) using the custom R Script in Query Editor, but is it possible to load the data using a regular UI-based query and then reference that query within your R script?

For example, I have a list of transactions as a CSV and I want to perform a market basket analysis using the Apriori algorithm within R.  I know I can read the CSV into Power BI from within R script, but what if the CSV was already loaded into a data model?  In other words, I have a query already loaded named "Transactions" and I want to create a new query that references "Transactions" but performs the analysis and outputs the Apriori analysis (a dataframe/table that has the association rules and resulting measures).

[scottazrhc]

Did you ever find a workaround for this issue? For my purposes, it makes R in Power Query Editor frustratingly useless. It seems the most obvious need would be to selectively apply R functions against existing data, but for whatever reason, that is not supported. 

[rlu]

Bump - has there been any updates in the last year that would allow us to reference an existing query and apply R functions against that data?

[v-haibl-msft · Accepted solution]

@dkay84_PowerBI

We can only reference the existing query with Power Query by starting from a Blank Query and type = Query1, which will reference to an existing query called "Query1".

We can use R Script to get data, perform data cleansing, advanced data shaping and analytics in datasets, including completion of missing data, predictions, and clustering. For details please refer to https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/documentation/powerbi-desktop-r-in-query-editor/.

But we cannot reference existing query from R script as you desired.

Best Regards,

Herbert

[Anonymous]

If you mean pass a query table to the R script engine and have it return the results of an R analysis as a visual, see https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/documentation/powerbi-desktop-r-visuals/

[dkay84_PowerBI]

No I am looking to perform some calculations and transformations using R, not visuals, for this use case.  Thanks though

[BhaveshPatel]

Hi @dkay84_PowerBI

As far as I am aware, this is not possible in integrated R environment at this stage.