What Are Data Connectors & Types of Data Connectors in Power BI? 🌐

Posted on by

One of the essential aspects of the work of a data analyst, is working with data coming from different sources. Be it in the case of the Power BI desktop application or the services available through the Power BI cloud, it is important for the user to know the various types of data connectors written and read by core components of Power BI. Here, we will review what types of data connectors are available in Power BI, where to find them, and what functions they perform.

Understanding Data Connectors in Power BI 📊

In Power BI, data connectors are very important because they let the user go out and bring in data from many different sources. It is possible to perform extraction, transformation and loading (ETL) of the data with these connectors so the analysts can build comprehensive reports and dashboards.

Power BI, considering the number of data connectors that it supports is very useful for its users. In this software, no matter if you are injecting data from excel sheets, databases or online services, it does not leave you want. So let’s look at ‘How many types of data connectors are available?’

Power BI Interface Opening

Types of Data Connectors Available in Power BI 🔍

Power BI supports several types of data connectors. Below is a categorized list of the main types:

  • File Connectors
    • Excel Workbooks
    • CSV Files
    • Text Files
    • XML Files
    • JSON Files
    • PDF Files
  • Database Connectors
    • SQL Server
    • Oracle
    • PostgreSQL
    • MySQL
  • Cloud Connectors
    • Azure SQL Database
    • Amazon Redshift
    • Google BigQuery
  • Online Services Connectors
    • Salesforce
    • Google Analytics
    • SharePoint Online List

Each of these connectors serves a distinct purpose and is designed to handle specific types of data. Understanding these connectors can significantly enhance your ability to manage and analyze data effectively.

Get Data Options in Power BI

How to Access Data Connectors in Power BI 💻

It is quite easy to get data connectors in Power BI. To begin data import, adhered to these steps:

  • Launch Power BI Desktop.
  • Locate the top menu and click on Get Data.
  • You will be shown a dialog box with the available options for data sources.
  • Choose which type of data which you want to import (e.g. File, Database, Online Services).
  • Identify which connector you need and press on the next button until you connect to data.

The power of data transformation is now at your fingertips. This and other manipulations will be available in coming sections.

Data Source Options

Exploring File Connectors in Detail 📂

A common tool that is usually utilized in Power BI is the file connectors. They enable users to easily upload information from a file saved in the operating system. Let’s analyze which types of files are supported:

  • Excel Workbooks: Best for tabulated data present in the four MBA spreadsheets.
  • CSV Files: Best used for basic data sets that is often for data which has been downloaded from other software.
  • Text Files: Though rather limited, have the opportunities of importing text data.
  • XML and J son Files: Usually for structures that contain level elements which are mostly associated with the web.
  • PFD Files: Gives the users ability to retrieve some information from the documents.

With every file type, there are benefits that come together with the format, and it is possible for one to know when to use such file types and boost their data analyzing skills.

File Connector Types

Diving into Database Connectors 🔗

It is in the genre of database business where the scope of work is large and measures analysts’ work with these storage technologies. Power BI works with a number of popular databases too:

  • SQL Server: This is the most popular Database Management System.
  • Oracle: Very good and highly reliable in performance and scalability.
  • PostgreSQL: This relational database is free and open source.
  • MySQL: Another open source system which is more often used by coders.

To access the databases mentioned above, usually a username and a passphrase have to be entered and sometimes uplinks have to be set, but these days some applications like business information visualization offer direct connections to databases enabling users to conduct queries without obstructions and at real time.

Database Options in Power BI

Utilizing Cloud Connectors ☁️

Cloud connectors are increasingly vital as businesses move Facts to the cloud. Power BI facilitates connections to various cloud services:

  • Azure SQL Database: A cloud version of SQL Server.
  • Amazon Redshift: A data warehouse service designed for large-scale data storage.
  • Google BigQuery: A serverless data warehouse solution that allows for super-fast SQL queries.

These connectors allow users to leverage the scalability and flexibility of cloud storage, making data analysis more efficient.

Cloud Data Connectors

Exploring Online Services Connectors 🌐

Online services connectors enable integration with various web-based applications and services. Some popular online services connectors include:

  • Salesforce: For CRM data analysis.
  • Google Analytics: For web traffic and performance data.
  • SharePoint Online List: For collaboration and document management data.

Using these connectors, analysts can easily pull in data from different online platforms, enhancing their reporting and analysis capabilities.

The Importance of Data Transformation in Power BI 🔄

Once data is imported using the various connectors, the next step is transformation. Power BI offers a suite of tools for transforming data, including:

  • Power Query: For data cleansing and shaping.
  • Data Modeling: To create relationships between different data sources.
  • Calculated Columns and Measures: For advanced calculations and analytics.

Transforming data is essential for deriving accurate insights and ensuring that reports reflect the true nature of the data.

Creating Dashboards with Data from Various Connectors 📈

The final phase involves developing dashboards after importing and transforming the data.  Another functionality present in Power BI is the creation of various charts, graphs, and tables for data visualization.

Using the various data connectors, it is also possible to build complete dashboards from multiple Facts. This export to other databases exists in Power BI which is one of the strongest design abilities of Power BI.

Conclusion 🎉

Learning the various types of data connectors in Power BI is as important as it gets for every analyst. Data connectors encompass many options like file and database connectors, cloud services, or online servers, all being essential in Facts analysis.

As you advance your knowledge on these connectors, you will be ready to work with various datasets and produce quality reports and dashboards. We will publish more Power BI and analytics content shortly, so stay tuned!