Questions about SQL applied to Power BI.

[Syndicate_Admin]

Good

I have an important question regarding the knowledge of SQL.

I'm training in Power BI. I'm concentrating on the relationship model, data cleansing in query and the DAX language.

What I don't understand is that I need to know about SQL to apply to Power BI.

Do I need to know all the commands to deal with databases?

Why is this necessary if I can already do it in query? In which cases do I need to use sql and in which do I need to use the query?

What is the most basic thing I should know about SQL to be able to apply to Power BI, besides connecting with these databases?

What steps do you recommend knowing that I want to only apply it to Power BI?

Thank you for your reply. In this case, his experience in data analysis is essential for me.

Best regards.

[v-xuxinyi-msft]

Hi @Pacopil48 

Could you please explain in more detail exactly what situation you are referring to? Could you tell me where it says you need to know SQL?

When you use a database as a data source, you must specify the server and connection mode.

Click OK and you will be able to get the databases and tables to choose according to your needs.

If you need to perform data transformations, such as filtering, grouping, calculating columns, and so on, Power BI tries to translate these operations into query statements (e.g., SQL statements) that the data source understands and sends these queries to the data source. The data source processes these queries internally and then returns the results to Power BI.This process is also called query folding. This is done by the Power Query engine.

Understanding query evaluation and query folding in Power Query - Power Query | Microsoft Learn

Here's a learning path for Power BI for your reference.

Browse all courses, learning paths, and modules - Training | Microsoft Learn

Best Regards,
Yulia Xu

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

[Syndicate_Admin]

Good morning

Thank you for your reply. The reason for asking my question is because I read on some internet sites that SQL is important to apply in Power BI. If we already have Power Query to perform data cleansing and different operations... Why do I need to know how to do the same with SQL? Is it necessary to take a course on how to process information with different functions in SQL, if I only want to apply it to Power BI?

That is the question.

I understand from your answer that it is not necessary. That I just have to know how to connect with that data source and once the information is downloaded, work in query.

That's right?

Thank you very much and forgive me for insisting on the question.

Best regards.

[v-xuxinyi-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi @Pacopil48 

I'm not sure what scenario the document you're looking at applies to. For example, if the data source is a database and the connection mode is not Import, some users may choose to transfer some complex operations to the data source and perform only simple operations in Power Query, because SQL itself has better data processing performance than Power Query. If the amount of data you need to process is not large, or the amount of data is large but the data conversion operations required are relatively simple, you don't really need to learn SQL. My suggestion is that you can first learn according to the Power BI learning path in the official document. 

Browse all courses, learning paths, and modules - Training | Microsoft Learn

Best Regards,
Yulia Xu

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

[Syndicate_Admin]

Understood. Thank you very much for your answer and for clarifying my doubt. Very clear. Thanks also for the suggestion. I will do so.