Forum Discussion
Import all CSV files from folder with different schemas
Hi,
I have a folder with 300+ csv files. It's a mass download that I receive on a regular basis mirroring our EMR's database so each file is it's own table with a different schema. I'd like to import all of them into Power BI. I need them imported as separate tables so each table is listed on the side like with any other import of multiple tables (e.g. several tables from an excel file or database). I don't see any options allowing me to automatically read all the tables in that folder in, nor do I see a way to select multiple csv files. How can I get all those tables without having to click "get data" for each and every one of them?
Thanks,
Yisroel Len
Hi caninetiger
Currently Power Query doesn't support to create more queries(tables) automatically or dynamically from a table. So this is not possible at present. I read your discussion in another thread about this and you may decide to use a Python script to write them into an Excel Workbook or a database. This seems the best alternative currently.
But I'd like to remind that if these files have too many rows, it may hit the data size limit as you will have 300+ tables in a semantic model. You may refer to Power BI limit for number of tables - Microsoft Fabric Community There is no document to point out that the limit for number of tables in Power BI but there is limit to data size.
Best Regards,
Jing
10 Replies
- Greg_Deckler
Community Champion
caninetiger If they all have the same schema, then you can use a Folder query. If they all have different schemas may God have mercy on your soul...
Greg_Deckler unfortunately they all have different schemas... It's the only mass download option the software gives us.
So, I've been praying.
- Greg_Deckler
caninetiger OK, so what do you want to end up with? A single table with all of the rows from all of the files or 300+ tables, one for each file or something else?
300+ tables, one for each file. It's a mass export from our EHR. They've basically mirrored a lot of the underlying data model with tables for patients, tables for employees, tables for encounters etc. The correct way to go about this is to import all of it in and properly build out the relationships between tables in Power BI. That way I can easily create graphs and reports.
Maybe I'm wrong but I believe that's the best way to go about it. I just can't figure out how to import them all at the same time.
