Summary  
This chapter covers how to connect to and load external tabular data sources (such as CSV files), preview and transform data with automatic type detection, and integrate the resulting tables into an application’s data model.  

General domain of usage  
Business intelligence

CSV files **lack regional metadata**, causing Power BI to use your **Windows settings by default**, leading to potential import errors. To avoid this, in your report, go to **File > Options and settings > Options**. In the **Current File** section, select **Regional Settings** and change the **Locale for import** to **English (World)**. Click **OK**, and when prompted with a message about pending changes, select **Apply changes**.

Note

Learn how to use the **Get Data** feature in Power BI to load and integrate data from various sources. This tool enables you to connect to multiple data types, including Excel files, SQL Server databases, and web data, forming a solid foundation for creating reports and visualizations.

You can download the **CSV file** used in this chapter by clicking the link below.


Connecting to Data Sources