Using Source of one query for another

[vikkidurai91]

Hello

I have a .pbix file, where we import few views and tables(Oracle). In some queries, the view imported are same but steps are different.

Example : 4 queries imports same view and then has different steps. 

Is there any possibility to import that view in one query, and this imported view can be used as a source for other queries within pbix file? This will help me in avoiding unnecessary 4 imports of same view and have one import of view and use the same as source for other queries.

please suggest.

Thanks

Vignesh

[amitchandak]

In the ci=onnection you have an advance option where you can write down query.

[edhans · Accepted solution]

Yes, absolutely.

1. Do your initial import of the view and any transformations you want. You don't have to do any, but you might want everything to be filtered for the last 2 years for example. Do that here so you don't have do that 4 times in the next step.
2. Right-click  on that query and select REFERENCE. That will make query 1 the source of query 2. Any changes to 1 will affect 2 (and 3, 4, 5.)

Do not select DUPLICATE. That will copy the first query and changes made in 1 will no longer affect 2. You might want that for other scenarios, but it doesn't sound like you do for this question.

[vikkidurai91]

Hi @edhans 

Thanks for your response. yes I tried with Reference already. When I refresh the refrenced query, there is always 2 sessions coming to DB. One from Actual query and other from referenced query. So I was confused, if it's being effective. Also my .pbix file is 1.8Gb and with this reference(common View Queries), my .pbix grew to 2.4 GB. Thats again a problem for me.

[edhans]

It is effective.

A few things:

• Make sure your first query is set to NOT LOAD. Right-click and tell it not to load. That will solve the size issue. You only want the tables you need in the DAX model to load. the others will still be used in calculations, but will not load their results to DAX, merely hand them off to referenced queries.
• It will make multiple requests to the DB. Power Query works bottom up, not top down. So if you have 3 queries referencing 1, and 1 is the databse, it will do the 3 end queries and go to the top, hitting your DB 3 times.

[vikkidurai91]

HI @edhans  , @amitchandak 

I adapted my report again with Reference and disabled the load.

I see the performance has increased, but I can check on Monday morning. I will keep you posted.

Thanks a lot for your help!

[mwegener]

Hi @vikkidurai91 ,

as far as I know, you should deactivate parallel loading in the options so that the queries uses the cache.

There are good contributions from Chris Webb.

https://blog.crossjoin.co.uk/2016/11/20/referenced-queries-and-caching-in-power-bi-and-power-query/

[vikkidurai91]

@edhans  Thanks for your suggestion. We tested for last 2 days and Reference feature has solved the issue.

Thanks all for the help.

[edhans]

Excellent @vikkidurai91 . Glad my suggestion helped and it is helping your project move forward!

[vikkidurai91]

Thanks @edhans . I will check this and will let you know. Referencing is a very good option.