Power Query is a Microsoft data preparation tool used to connect, clean and transform data before it is used in reporting or analysis.
Power Query
Power Query is a Microsoft tool used to connect, clean and transform data before it is used in reports.
Quick facts about Power Query
Data preparation
Power Query helps users prepare data before it is loaded into Power BI, Excel or other Microsoft tools.
Connects to sources
It can connect to many types of data sources, including files, databases, cloud services and business applications.
Transformation steps
Power Query lets users filter, combine, rename, reshape and clean data through repeatable transformation steps.
Used in Power BI
In Power BI, Power Query is commonly used before building reports, measures and visualizations.
How Power Query works
Power Query helps report creators prepare data without manually changing the original source every time. Users can define transformation steps once, then apply them again when the data refreshes.
Power Query is often used to:
- Remove unnecessary columns
- Rename fields
- Combine data from several sources
- Clean and reshape tables
This makes reporting more reliable. When data preparation is handled in a structured way, teams can reduce manual work and build reports from cleaner, more consistent data.
Why Power Query matters in Power BI reporting
Power Query matters because report quality depends on the data behind the report. If data is messy, duplicated or structured poorly, the final report becomes harder to trust.
In Power BI, Power Query supports the preparation stage before reports are built. Skald BI helps with the next step: sharing finished Power BI reports through a secure branded portal for customers, partners and internal teams.
Use cases
See how different types of organisations use Skald BI to share Power BI securely with employees, customers and partners.
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Frequently asked questions
Power Query is used to prepare data by filtering rows, renaming columns, combining sources, cleaning values and reshaping tables.
Is Power Query part of Power BI?
Yes. Power Query is used in Power BI to prepare data before it is loaded into a model or report.
Is Power Query the same as Power BI?
No. Power Query is used for data preparation. Power BI is the broader reporting and analytics platform where reports, models and dashboards are created.
How does Power Query relate to Skald BI?