Now integrated into Power BI, Power Query offers a seamless way to connect to your Databricks data. Here’s how you can do it:

Methods to connect Power BI to Databricks:

1. Databricks Connector (Recommended):
   • This is the official and native way to connect. It offers both Import and DirectQuery modes.
   • Import Mode: Loads data into Power BI for faster analysis but may not reflect real-time changes in Databricks.
   • DirectQuery Mode: Queries data directly from Databricks, ensuring up-to-date results, but can be slower for large datasets.
2. Azure Databricks Connector:
   • If your Databricks instance is on Azure, use this connector. It functions similarly to the standard Databricks connector.

Steps to Connect using the Databricks Connector:

1. Get Data: In Power BI Desktop, click “Get Data” and search for “Databricks.”
2. Databricks or Azure Databricks: Choose the appropriate connector based on your Databricks instance location.
3. Server Details: Enter the Server Hostname and HTTP Path from your Databricks SQL Warehouse.
4. Authentication: Choose your preferred authentication method (username/password, personal access token, or OAuth).
5. Navigator: Once connected, the Navigator will display the available data sources in your Databricks warehouse. Select the tables or views you want to import.
6. Transform (Optional): Use the Power Query Editor to clean, transform, and shape your data before loading it into Power BI.
7. Close & Apply: Load the transformed data into Power BI.

Key Resources:

• Microsoft Documentation:
  • Databricks Connector: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-query/connectors/databricks
  • Azure Databricks Connector: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-query/connectors/databricks-azure
• Databricks Documentation:
  • Connect Power BI to Databricks: https://docs.databricks.com/en/partners/bi/power-bi.html

Additional Tips:

• Native Query Support: The Databricks connector supports native SQL queries, giving you more flexibility in retrieving data.
• Custom SQL Queries: Use the “Databricks. Query” function to create custom queries directly within Power Query.
• Performance Optimization: Consider using DirectQuery mode or optimizing your queries to improve performance for large datasets.