Question

What are the best practices for improving performance when using DirectQuery in Power BI to retrieve data from SQL Server?
I’m looking for strategies to optimize performance in Power BI when retrieving data from SQL Server using DirectQuery. Are there specific techniques to minimize latency and improve query efficiency?

Answer 1

For optimization in Power BI while using DirectQuery with SQL Server, best practices include the following:

Use Query Folding: By pushing transformations back to SQL Server for processing, query folding reduces the load on Power BI and minimizes data transfer.

Optimize SQL Server Queries: Properly index tables, use materialized views, and make sure that SQL queries are efficient so that the execution time is less.

Minimize Data Volume: Only import necessary columns and rows into Power BI. Filter out unnecessary data at the query level.

Limit Visual Complexity: Minimize the number of visuals and avoid complex DAX calculations that call for multiple queries.

Optimize Relationships: Maintain simple relationships and apply single-direction filters to avoid complexity.

Use Aggregations: Incentivize aggregated tables so summarized data can be pulled much quicker; avoid pulling raw data at a detailed level.

These practices help reduce latency and improve query efficiency when using DirectQuery with SQL Server.