Replacing local folders with SharePoint folders

[IanDavies]

I've seen a few question about replacing sources when a model has been developed on the desktop with local files and then there is a need to move it online, but I haven't found one that uses folders as thr local source.

My model has several queries that import files from folders on my desktop. I have been asked to look at moving them into SharePoint so they can be updated by more than just me and eventually with a view to triggering a refresh using Power Automate

Despite the connection source I see saying Sharepoint Folder, it always imports all the files from the connected Sharepoint site. I can't pick and choose.

I've setup a dedicated team and imported the files, so I don't get anything I shouldn't but I can't combine and transform multiple files into a new query like I can using a local folder. I only appear to b able to open individual files by clicking the "binary" link, but if there are five, six or up to ten source files, I end up having to create five, six or more queries queries that then have to be merged.

For example, I might get a list of all the computers in each of five businesses, the files are exactly the same format for every bsuiness, currenlty I drop them into a folder on my PC and the query in PowerBI opens all the files in the folder and automatically combines and transforms the data in one go.

How do I achieve this same productivity using SharePoint?

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Hi @IanDavies 

You can use the sharepoint folder, you can choose the file when you transform the data, you can filter the file name in power query then combine them.

And you can refer to the following link.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-query/connectors/sharepoint-folder#connect-to-a-sharepoint-f...

Best Regards!

Yolo Zhu

If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

[IanDavies]

Thank you this looks like it might work if I give the files a common naming convention, I can then use a text filter by "contains" and combine what's left.

I will try this in my report over then weekend and mark it as answered if it does bring the data in as expected. It certainly looks like it is a useable answer.