Where is data stored when switching from DirectQuery to Import

[Anonymous]

Hi

I'm switching from DirectQuery to Import and the computer I'm doing it on has 2 drives:

   C:/ with not enough space to do it

   D:/ which has 10x more space.

When I attempt the switch, all the imported data fills up the C:/ drive and the process craps out.

I can't make PowerBI use the D:/ Drive even though I uninstalled/reinstalled to the D:/ drive.

According to what I've read the data ultimately ends up in the .pbix file (https://bit.ly/2EMSpn6) , but it seems, in the interim, data is temporarily stored on the C:/ Drive.  

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

[edhans · Accepted solution]

It could be using the cache, which is likely buried somewhere in your C:\Users\Username\AppData folder. THat can be cleared and set here:

But it could also just be using lots of RAM and using your Windows Swap file, which is usually on the C drive, or other temp working files as it builds the data.

Honestly, if you are so low on HD space that a 10GB PBIX file is causing out of space issues, you need to be more aggressive about cleaning the C drive out. You are to the point Windows Updates will not apply. Windows 10 update 2004 needs 32GB of disk space to be able to install. It doesn't use all of that after done, but needs that much working space during the upgrade.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the quick response @edhans

It is using Cache C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Temp\2

Do you know of a setting to redirect the cache to D drive?

[edhans]

No. I am sure it is using the %USERPROFILE%\AppData folder and not C:\users\username, which means it is going where your user profile is stored, which is always on the C drive unless move it, which is possible, but you need to know what you are doing. It is not a simple checkbox in Windows settings to do that. You can google around for apps and articles to help with that if that is the direction you want to go @Anonymous