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Microsoft Power BI Updates Blog

Announcing the New Data Connectors for Excel and CSV for Report Creation in Fabric

Headshot of article author Ikechukwu Edeagu

Senior Product Manager
4 March, 2024

We are thrilled to announce the public preview of our new Excel and CSV data connectors for creating Power BI reports in Fabric. This new feature is a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to providing the most comprehensive, unified, and user-friendly cross-platform experience for Power BI users.

By integrating Excel and CSV file support directly into the report creation experience in Fabric, we are streamlining workflows for data analysts and other information workers while making it easier than ever to access, analyze, and collaborate on data.

Key Features of the New Data Connectors

The new Excel and CSV data connectors are designed with flexibility, efficiency, and ease of use in mind. Here are some of the key features:

  1. Direct Import: With just a few clicks, you can now import Excel and CSV files directly from OneDrive or a local computer folder (via OneDrive) into their Fabric workspace. This eliminates the need for intermediate storage or conversion steps, significantly simplifying the data ingestion process.
  2. Smart Schema Detection: Our connector automatically detects the schema of your Excel and CSV files, including data types and structure. This smart detection saves time and reduces errors in data preparation, allowing you to focus on analysis and insights.
  3. Relationship Detection: While data is being loaded into your report, Power BI automatically detects any existing relationships between tables in your Excel and CSV files and applies those relationships to the semantic model behind your Power BI report. This smart relationship autodetection uncovers hidden connections in your data to ensure that you are getting meaningful insights from their data.

With the new connectors, you can quickly import data from your Excel and CSV files for exploratory analysis or full-fledged report creation in Power BI, speeding up the iterative process of deriving valuable insights from your data.

Getting Started

To get started with the new data Excel and CSV connectors, simply follow the following steps:

  • Navigate to any workspace in Fabric.
  • Select the Create button in the left navigation bar or the New report button

  • Select either the Excel or CSV cards to import data and start building a Power BI report.

  • Select an Excel file to upload to OneDrive, for the best experience.

  • After uploading your Excel file to OneDrive, select Next in the Power Query window to choose tables to be included in your Power BI report.

  • Select Create to load the data into a blank Power BI report so you can start building visualizations and generating insights. You can also use Copilot to autogenerate a report for you in a few clicks.

Looking Ahead

The launch of the Excel and CSV data connector is just the beginning. We are committed to continuously improving the Power BI report creation experience in Fabric to meet the evolving needs of our users by enabling more data connectors.

We welcome feedback on this new feature and look forward to seeing the innovative ways our community will use these data connectors to accelerate their data journey.

Stay tuned for more updates and visit Microsoft Fabric Ideas to suggest new ideas or upvote existing ideas.