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Comma separated value files, often known as CSV files, are simple text files with rows of data where each value is separated by a comma. These types of files can contain large amounts of data within a relatively small file size, making them an ideal data source for Power BI. You can download a sample CSV file.
If you have a CSV file, it's time to get it into your Power BI site as a semantic model where you can begin exploring your data, create some dashboards, and share your insights with others.
Tip
Many organizations output a CSV file with updated data each day. To make sure your semantic model in Power BI stays in sync with your updated file, save the file to OneDrive with the same name.
Where you save your file makes a difference
Local - If you save your CSV file to a local drive on your computer or another location in your organization, you can import your file into Power BI. Your file actually remains on your local drive, so the whole file isn't imported into Power BI. What really happens is that Power BI creates a new semantic model and loads data from the CSV file into the semantic model.
OneDrive for work or school – If you have OneDrive for work or school and you sign in to it by using the same account you use to sign in to Power BI, this method is the most effective way to keep your CSV file and your semantic model, reports, and dashboards in Power BI in sync. Because both Power BI and OneDrive are in the cloud, Power BI connects to your file on OneDrive about every hour. If Power BI finds any changes, it automatically updates your semantic model, reports, and dashboards.
OneDrive - Personal – If you save your files to your own OneDrive account, you get many of the same benefits as you would with OneDrive for work or school. The biggest difference is when you first connect to your file you need to sign in to your OneDrive by using your Microsoft account, which is different from what you use to sign in to Power BI. When signing in to your OneDrive by using your Microsoft account, be sure to select the Keep me signed in option. This way, Power BI can connect to your file about every hour and make sure your semantic model in Power BI is in sync.
SharePoint – Saving your Power BI Desktop files to SharePoint is much the same as saving to OneDrive for work or school. The biggest difference is how you connect to the file from Power BI. You can specify a URL or connect to the root folder.
Import or connect to a CSV file
Important
You can import files up to 1 GB in size into Power BI.
In a Power BI workspace, select New item. Under Store data, select Semantic model.
In the window that appears, select CSV.
Browse to the file that you want to import from OneDrive or SharePoint, or select Upload file to import a file from your computer.
Select Next.
Preview the data to make sure it looks correct. Select Next.
Select Create a report to create a report based on your data, or select Create a semantic model only to create a semantic model without a report.
Provide a name for your semantic model, and then select Create.
The semantic model or the report built on the model loads in the main pane of Power BI.
Explore and refresh your data
Hover over a semantic model in your workspace to see options for refreshing your data and exploring your data with reports and dashboards.
Refresh now or Schedule a refresh - If you save your file to a local drive, you can schedule refreshes so your semantic model and reports in Power BI stay up-to-date. To learn more, see Data refresh in Power BI. If you save your file to OneDrive, Power BI automatically synchronizes with it about every hour.
Explore your data - After you get data from your file into Power BI, it's time to explore. Select More options (...), and then choose an option from the menu. From this menu, you can create a report, manage your data, and more.