Before diving into visualizations and dashboards, connecting Power BI to the right data sources is a
fundamental step in the data analysis process. Power BI Desktop offers a wide range of connectors that enable users to import data from various file formats and platforms with ease.

Exploring Common Data Connectors

Power BI’s flexibility starts with its ability to work with different data types. The following connectors were used to demonstrate how to import data into Power BI Desktop:

1. Excel

Excel files are widely used in business environments. Power BI can detect tables, named ranges, and individual sheets, making the import process seamless and straightforward.

2. CSV and Text Files

Comma-separated values (CSV) and text files are common formats for data exports. Power BI allows users to specify delimiters and preview content before loading, which ensures data is imported correctly.

3. PDF

With built-in support for PDF files, Power BI can extract structured tables directly from documents. This feature is especially useful when working with government reports, financial statements, or any tabular data embedded in PDFs.

4. Web

The Web connector allows users to pull data directly from URLs. Whether it’s public datasets, API feeds, or published tables on a website, Power BI can connect and load data dynamically.

Highlights of the Process

• Using the Get Data feature to select from various connectors.
• Previewing and selecting specific data from the source.
• Choosing between Load and Transform Data options based on whether data needs preparation.

What’s Next?

Once the data is connected, the next step is to clean and shape it using Power Query Editor. This ensures the data is accurate, relevant, and ready for analysis.