Loading External Data into Power Pivot - Microsoft Business Intelligence Tools for Excel Analysts - page 84

2. Specify the name that is used to reference the table in Power Pivot and specify if the first row
is a header.
3. Click OK to import the pasted data into Power Pivot.
At this point, you can adjust the data formatting and create the needed relationships.
Loading Data from Other Data Sources
We've covered the data sources that are most important to a majority of Excel analysts. Still, there are
a few more data sources that Power Pivot is able to connect to and load data from. We touch on some
of these data sources later in this topic, but others are outside the scope of this topic.
Although you're probably not likely to use the following data sources, it's worth knowing they exist
and are available if you need them:
➤ Microsoft SQL Azure: SQL Azure is a cloud-based relational database service some compa-
nies use as an inexpensive way to get the benefits of SQL Server without taking on the full
cost of hardware, software, and IT staff. Power Pivot can load data from SQL Azure in much
the same way as the other relational databases we discuss in this chapter.
➤ Microsoft SQL Parallel Data Warehouse: SQL Parallel Data Warehouse (SQL PDW) is an
appliance that partitions very large data tables into separate servers and manages query pro-
cessing among them. SQL PDW is used to provide scalability and performance for big data
analytics. From a Power Pivot perspective, it's no different from connecting to any other rela-
tional database.
➤ Microsoft Analysis Services: This selection refers to Microsoft's Analysis Services Online
Analytical Processing product. We take a closer look at Analysis Services and using Analysis
Services in Power Pivot in Chapter 13.
➤ Report: The curiously named report data source refers to SQL Server Reporting Services reports.
In a basic sense, Reporting Services is a BI tool used to create stylized PDF-style reports from SQL
Server data. In Chapter 12, you get a feel for Reporting Services as it relates to Microsoft's suite of
BI tools. In the context of Power Pivot, a Reporting Services report can be used as a Data Feed
Service, providing a refreshable connection to the underlying SQL Server data.
➤ From Windows Azure Marketplace: Windows Azure Marketplace is an OData (Open Data
Protocol) service that provides both free and paid data sources. If you register for a free Azure
Marketplace account, you get instant access to governmental data, industrial market data,
consumer data, and much more. You can enhance your Power Pivot analyses by loading the
data from the Azure Marketplace using this connection type.
➤ Suggested Related Data: This data source reviews the content of your Power Pivot Data
Model and, based on its findings, suggests Azure Marketplace data you may be interested in.
➤ Other Feeds: The Other Feeds data source allows you to import data from OData Web ser-
vices into Power Pivot. OData connections are facilitated by XML Atom files. Point the OData
connection to the URL of the .atomsvcs file, and you essentially have a connection to the
published Web service.