PBI Memory Consumption and Refresh Problem.

Hi shah007 ,

When you use DirectQuery mode, Power BI doesn't store the actual data in the PBIX file. Instead, it queries the data directly from the SQL database each time you interact with a visual. Here’s how it helps:

1. Reduced File Size: Since the data isn’t being imported into the PBIX file, the file size can be significantly reduced. The PBIX file will primarily contain the metadata, visualizations, and query definitions, which are typically much smaller in size.

2. Real-Time Data: DirectQuery ensures that you are always working with the most current data since each interaction fetches the latest data from your SQL database.

Article link: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/connect-data/desktop-use-directquery

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Hi shah007 

You can reduce refresh time by using incremental refresh. With incremental refresh, the service dynamically partitions and separates data that requires frequent refreshes from data that can be refreshed less frequently, which can significantly reduce the amount of data that must be refreshed.

For more details, you can read related document link: 

Incremental refresh for semantic models and real-time data in Power BI - Power BI | Microsoft Learn

Configure incremental refresh and real-time data for Power BI semantic models - Power BI | Microsoft Learn

Best Regards,
Yulia Xu

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