Excel Power Pivot and Power Query For Dummies

Chapter 4

Using External Data with Power Pivot

In This Chapter

Importing from relational databases

Importing from flat files

Importing data from other data sources

Refreshing and managing external data connections

In Chapter 2, I start an exploration of Power Pivot by showing you how to load the data already contained within the workbook you’re working on. But as you discover in this chapter, you’re not limited to using only the data that already exists in your Excel workbook.

Power Pivot has the ability to reach outside the workbook and import data found in external data sources. Indeed, what makes Power Pivot powerful is its ability to consolidate data from disparate data sources and build relationships between them. You can theoretically create a Power Pivot data model that contains some data from a SQL Server table, some data from a Microsoft Access database, and even data from a one-off text file.

In this chapter, I help you continue your journey by taking a closer look at the mechanics of importing external data into your Power Pivot data models.

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