Import data by using a native query

Applies to: SQL Server 2017 and later Analysis Services Azure Analysis Services Fabric/Power BI Premium

For tabular 1400 and higher models, the new Get Data experience in Visual Studio Analysis Services projects provides immense flexibility in how you can mashup your data during import. This article describes creating a connection to a data source and then creating a native SQL query to specify data import.

Create a data source connection

If you don't already have a connection to your data source, you need to create one.

1. In Visual Studio > Tabular Model Explorer, right-click Data Sources, and then click New Data Source.
2. In Get Data, select your datasource type, and then click Connect. Follow any additional steps required to connect to your data source.

Enter a query as a named expression

1. In Tabular Model Explorer, right-click Expressions > Edit Expressions.
2. In Query Editor, click Query > New Query > Blank Query
3. In the formula bar, type

   = Value.NativeQuery(#"DATA SOURCE NAME", "SELECT * FROM ...")
   

4. To create a table, in Queries, right-click the query, and then select Create New Table. The new table will have the same name as the query.

Example

This native query creates an Employee table in the model that includes all columns from the Dimension.Employee table at the data source.

= Value.NativeQuery(#"SQL/myserver;WideWorldImportersDW", "SELECT * FROM Dimension.Employee")

After importing, a table named Employees is created in the model.

See also

Impersonation