Tables with no relationship

[Xaraja]

This is no doubt a basic question. I'm taking over the management of a Power BI implementation that has not previously been centrally managed by anyone and has had a lot of different hands in the mix previously. I'm reviewing everything and as I'm looking at datasets, I'm seeing a lot of tables in the model view that aren't connected to anything. Am I missing something? Why would you have a table in a dataset if it is not connected to anything else?

The one I'm looking at today has about 10 reports built off of it so it's a bit complex to try to analyze whether any of the reports reference any of the tables that are not connected.

[TheoC · Accepted solution]

Hi @Xaraja 

You raise a great question.  Relationships are important where there is a need for them in the data model.  Reports / Dashboards frequently may present information and insights through many different ways and for many different reasons.  Although it may be the norm to create reports / dashboards that focus on one specific subject, performance area, or matter, there are many instances where one report / dashboard may incorporate information and insights from many sources - taking a "mixed salad" approach.

In my experience - as limited as that may be - when I have had to take over someone else's work, especially where there is no journey documented for identifying how something came to be (similar in your current instance, I assume), you may be able to reverse engineer the reports / dashboards to get an understanding of their purpose, the information / insight they are trying communicate, whether they are in fact communicating that information / insight, and so on... until you determine whether or not relationships, etc., are required in the respective data models.

Generically speaking, however, there is no correct answer to whether relationships need to exist without knowing the purpose and intention of the report / dashboard, and the information / insights they aim to achieve.

All the best with your journey and do not hesitate to touch base if you have any questions! 🙂

[Xaraja]

Thanks! Sorry I didn't see your response until now.