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Ritesh_Air
Post Patron
Post Patron

DirectQuery or Import for Snowflake

‎08-18-2022 06:19 PM

Hello,

We got Snowflake as our new datasource. On Day 1, I thought I should use DirectQuery but I am already running into limitations from the get go.

So bit of a general question:

  1. DirectQuery or Import for Snowflake?
  2. These limitations make DirectQuery not an attractive proposition. Any advice why should we use DirectQuery?

 

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Ritesh_Air_1-1660922395706.png

 

 

Thanks,

-RK

 

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Vijay_A_Verma
Most Valuable Professional
Most Valuable Professional

‎08-19-2022 05:02 AM

Though everything is context specific but in Direct Query, many DAX and M language functions don't work. And also, every interaction like filter etc. (i.e. every query) is sent to Snowflake. So, if you have many users who are sending requests to Snowflake and Snowflake charges you for it use. So, cost can increase very much compared to Import. In case of import, once you import the data resides in Power BI service till you refresh again. So, every request from user is not sent to Snowflake but to Power BI service.

There are other factors as well in considering DQ/Import.. A good comparison of DQ vs Import is here - https://www.phdata.io/blog/import-vs-direct-query-power-bi/ 

 

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