Datamarts Connection Type

[EricHulshofGU]

Hello, 

We are currently using Datamarts and are unable to understand the connection type. 
According to this page: 
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/transform-model/datamarts/datamarts-understand

During preview, default semantic model connectivity is available using DirectQuery only.

The same page shows this:

Where it says its stored in an Azure SQL DB. 

And indeed our Datamarts are DirectQuery on default. However im troubling to understand how this is directquery, as i have to refresh the datamart for end-users to be able to use the data. 

So the question is, How is directquery in a datamart different from import. Or am i doing something wrong here? 

[v-kaiyue-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi @EricHulshofGU ,

When using DirectQuery, reports use Data Analysis Expressions (DAX) queries to fetch data. When the semantic model receives a DAX query from a report, it generates another set of queries that run on the data source to get the data it needs. Using the "import" connection mode, Power BI caches the linked data and provides a snapshot of the data at a specific point in time. All data interactions and filters will be applied to this compressed cached source instead of the original data source. For more details refer to the link: DirectQuery in Power BI - Power BI | Microsoft Learn

Power BI Import vs Direct Query: Everything You Need to Know (powerbiconsulting.com)

While DirectQuery ensures that reports are always querying the latest data, the data marketplace itself needs to be refreshed in order to pull the latest data from its data source into the Azure SQL database. This is a separate process from the DirectQuery mechanism.

More details can be found at the link: Get started with datamarts (preview) - Power BI | Microsoft Learn

Power BI Datamart Integration in the Power BI Ecosystem - RADACAD

If your Current Period does not refer to this, please clarify in a follow-up reply.

Best Regards,

Clara Gong

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

[EricHulshofGU]

So in summary if i understand correctly, the directquery i see in the datamart model is the directquery for the automatically generated semantic model and not for the datamart? That kinda makes sense indeed.