Sharepoint list into PowerBI

[Switto]

Hello Everyone,

I am trying to connect a list which has thousands of line items and more than 100 columns. Still, After removing the unnecessary columns, my refresh takes 15-20 min.

I have connected the data like: Get Data>More>Other>ShrepointList>Entered the path>Connect>Choose the respective list>Edit and removed the unnecessary columns and close and Apply.

And, I have connected same SP list without removing the columns and it took the same time and same data around 235MB.

Is it my understanding correct to link the SP list and removing the columns or there is another way so I can save time in the refresh.

Thanks a ton

[v-yingjl]

Hi @Switto ,

You can try the following two ways :

1. Spilt your data into some small size files in SharePoint;
2. Replace the data source into which can produce underlying data in power bi desktop like SQL Server Database and so on.

Best Regards,

Yingjie Li

If this post helps then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

[Switto]

Hi Yingjie,

Thanks for the replay.

For the Sharepoint split option: Will it not again takes the same time while doing the refresh as it will talk to all the queries and show the results.

For the SQL part: We don't have access to servers nor we can request it.

Just checking, after removing the unnecessary columns, are these columns still active in the background and consuming data while refreshing hence consuming the same data and time?

Thanks

[v-yingjl]

Hi @Switto ,

If you use SharePoint, even if you have removed unnecessary columns in power bi desktop and refresh it, these are still active in the background and will take the same refersh time because you just modify data in power bi desktop instead of SharePoint. 

Best Regards,

Yingjie Li

If this post helps then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

[Switto]

Sorry to bother you again..

Is there a way to connect the views instead of the lists. So we can give a particular view with only particular columns which are required and take less space?

[v-yingjl · Accepted solution]

Hi @Switto ,

When connecting SharePoint in power bi desktop, it can only connect to SharePoint Folder and SharePoint lists. Unfortunately, both of them could not connect the views instead of the lists. SharePoint Folder just show the files name, path, types and so on in desktop and SharePoint lists like what we have dicussed previously.

Perhaps you can submit the requirement to ideas and add your comments there to make this feature coming sooner: https://ideas.powerbi.com/forums/265200-power-bi-ideas

Best Regards,

Yingjie Li

If this post helps then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

[Switto]

Oh ok..Is there any other way to reduce the time taken??