In fact, many of the topics covered here can apply to other relational database management systems and even other types of data sources. The examples are based on the AdventureWorks2017 database, running on a local instance of SQL Server, but the principles apply to any SQL Server database. The article also covers some basic transformations. This article walks you through the process of retrieving data from a SQL Server instance, using different methods for returning the data. You can also call stored procedures, including the sp_execute_external_script stored procedure, which allows you to run Python and R scripts. With Power BI Desktop, you can retrieve SQL Server data from entire tables or run queries that return a subset of data from multiple tables. Although the Power BI service provides connectors to Azure SQL Database and SQL Data Warehouse, it does not offer one for SQL Server. One data source available to Power BI Desktop that is not available to the service is SQL Server.
Power BI Desktop supports more data sources and offers more tools for transforming the data retrieved from those sources.
Power BI Desktop provides a far more robust environment for developing business intelligence reports than the Power BI service.
Power BI Introduction: Working with SQL Server data in Power BI Desktop - Part 5.Power BI Introduction: Working with Parameters in Power BI Desktop - Part 4.Power BI Introduction: Working with R Scripts in Power BI Desktop - Part 3.Power BI Introduction: Working with Power BI Desktop - Part 2.Power BI Introduction: Tour of Power BI - Part 1.Power BI Introduction: Working with SQL Server data in Power BI Desktop - Part 5 - Simple Talk Skip to content