Revolutionize Power BI Queries with OpenAI

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This article is an excerpt from the book, Data Cleaning with Power BI, by Gus Frazer. Unlock the full potential of your data by mastering the art of cleaning, preparing, and transforming data with Power BI for smarter insights and data visualizations

Introduction

Discover the transformative potential of leveraging Azure OpenAI, integrated with ChatGPT functionality, to enhance Power BI's M query capabilities. In this article, we delve into how this powerful combination offers expert guidance, efficient solutions, and insightful recommendations for optimizing data transformation tasks. From generating M queries to streamlining complex transformations, explore how Azure OpenAI with ChatGPT empowers users to boost productivity and efficiency in Power BI.

Using OpenAI for M queries

Azure OpenAI, with ChatGPT functionality within it, can be a helpful tool for generating M queries in Power BI by providing suggestions, helping with syntax, and offering insights into data transformation tasks. In the following example, you will learn about how you can leverage the chat playground within OpenAI to improve your productivity and efficiency when writing M queries. We will do this by asking a series of questions directly within Azure OpenAI.

Complete the next steps to  follow along with the example in your own environment:

1. Click on Deployment on the left-hand side and then select Create new deployment to get started.

2. Select a model from the base models, in this case, select gpt-35-turbo, and then name your deployment. In this example, name it CleaningDataOpenAI.

3. Select Chat playground from the Azure OpenAI Studio home screen or from the Playground tab on the left of your screen. This should open the following view:

Figure 15.4 – Screenshot of the chat playground from within Azure OpenAI

Now that you have set up an instance of OpenAI, here’s an example conversation taken from OpenAI, where the chat functionality has been used to assist with writing M queries in Power BI:

User: Hi, I’m working on a Power BI project, and I need to transform some data using M queries. I have a table with sales data, and I want to calculate the total sales for each product category. Can you help me with the M query for that?

ChatGPT: Of course! To calculate the total sales for each product category, you can use the Group By transformation in Power BI’s Power Query Editor. Here’s a sample M snippet for your scenario:

let
   Source = YourDataSource,
   GroupedTable = Table.Group(Source, {"ProductCategory"}, 
{{"TotalSales", each List.Sum([Sales]), type number}})
in
   GroupedTable

Replace YourDataSource with the actual name of your data source. This code groups the data by the ProductCategory column and calculates the total sales for each group.

User: Thanks! That’s a great starting point. What if I want to filter out products with sales less than $1,000  before calculating the total sales?

ChatGPT: You can add a filtering step before the Group By transformation. Here’s an updated version of the M:

let
   Source = YourDataSource,
   FilteredTable = Table.SelectRows(Source, each [Sales] >= 1000),
   GroupedTable = Table.Group(FilteredTable, {"ProductCategory"}, 
{{"TotalSales", each List.Sum([Sales]), type number}})
in
   GroupedTable

This code filters out rows where sales are less than $1,000 before grouping the data by product category and calculating the total sales.

User: Perfect! This is really helpful. One more thing – what if I want to sort the results in descending order based on total sales?

ChatGPT: You can add a sorting step using the Table.Sort function. Here’s the modified M:

let
   Source = YourDataSource,
   FilteredTable = Table.SelectRows(Source, each [Sales] >= 1000),
   GroupedTable = Table.Group(FilteredTable, {"ProductCategory"}, 
{{"TotalSales", each List.Sum([Sales]), type number}}),
   SortedTable = Table.Sort(GroupedTable,{{"TotalSales", Order.
Descending}})
in
   SortedTable

This code sorts the grouped table in descending order based on the “TotalSales” column.

This interaction represents a simple example of how those who can leverage the power of tools such as OpenAI and C hatGPT will be able to quickly upskill in areas such as coding. It has to be said, though, that while this is still in its infancy, it’s important to always test and validate the answers provided before implementing them in production. Also, ensure that you take precautions when using the publicly available ChatGPT model to avoid sharing sensitive data publicly. If you would like to use sensitive data or you want to ensure that requests are given within a secured governed environment, make sure to use the ChatGPT model within your own Azure OpenAI instance.

In more complex examples, optimizing Power Query transformations could involve efficient interaction with Azure OpenAI. This includes streamlining API calls, managing large datasets, and incorporating caching mechanisms for repetitive queries, ensuring a seamless and performant data cleaning process.

As we begin to explore the use cases where this technology can be most effective, there are a number of clear early winners:

• Optimizing query plans: ChatGPT’s natural language understanding can assist in formulating more efficient Power Query plans. By describing the desired transformations in natural language, users can interact with ChatGPT to generate optimized query plans. This involves selecting the most suitable Power Query functions and structuring transformations for performance gains.
• Caching strategies for repetitive queries: ChatGPT can guide users in devising effective caching strategies. By understanding the context of data transformations, it can recommend where to implement caching mechanisms to store and reuse intermediate results, minimizing redundant API calls and computations. The following is an example of just this, where I have asked Azure OpenAI to verify and optimize my query from the Power Query Advanced Editor. The model suggested I use the Table.Buffer function to help cache the table in memory and optimize the query.

Figure – An example request to OpenAI to help optimize my query for Power Query

                                                        Figure – An example response from OpenAI to help optimize my query for Power Query

Now as we highlighted in Chapter 11, M Query Optimization, Table.Buffer can indeed improve the performance of your queries and refreshes, but this really depends on the data you are working with. In the previous example, the model doesn’t take the characteristics, size, or complexity of your data into consideration as it isn’t plugged into your data at this stage. Also linking back to the example you walked through in Chapter 11, the placement of where you add Table.Buffer can really impact how your query performs. In the previous example, if you were connecting to a small dataset, you would likely cause it to run slower by adding the Table.Buffer function as the second variable in the query.

Lastly, it’s worth mentioning that how you prompt these models is crucially important. In the previous example, we didn’t specify what type of data source we were using in our query. As such, the model hasn’t provided an insight or overview that using Table.Buffer on a data source supporting query folding will cause it to break the fold. Again, this is not so much of a problem if Table.Buffer is placed at the end of your query for smaller datasets, but it is a problem if you add it nearer to the beginning of the query, like in the previous example.

• Handling large datasets: Dealing with large datasets often poses a challenge in Power Query. OpenAI models, including ChatGPT, can provide insights into dividing and conquering large datasets. This includes strategies for parallel processing, filtering data early in the transformation pipeline, and using aggregations to reduce computational load.
• Dynamic query adjustments: ChatGPT’s interactive nature allows users to dynamically adjust queries based on evolving requirements. It can assist in crafting queries that adapt to changing data scenarios, ensuring that Power Query transformations remain flexible and responsive to varied datasets.
• Guidance on complex transformations: Power Query oft en involves intricate transformations. ChatGPT can act as a virtual assistant, guiding users through the process of complex transformations. It can suggest optimal function compositions, advise on conditional logic placement, and assist in structuring transformations to enhance efficiency. The best example of this can be seen in the following two screenshots of an active use case seen in many businesses. The example begins with a user asking the model for a description of what the query is doing. OpenAI then provides a breakdown of what the query is doing in each step to help the user interpret the code. It helps to break down the barriers to coding and also helps to decipher code that has not been documented well by previous employees.

                                                     Figure – An example request to OpenAI to help translate my query

Figure – An example response from OpenAI to help describe my query

• Error handling strategies: Optimizing Power Query also entails robust error handling. ChatGPT can provide recommendations for anticipating and handling errors gracefully within a query. This includes strategies for logging errors, implementing fallback mechanisms, and ensuring the stability of the overall data preparation process.

In this section, you learned how to optimize Power Query transformations with Azure OpenAI efficiently. Key takeaways include using ChatGPT for natural-language-based query planning and effective caching strategies. Insights include handling large datasets through parallel processing, early filtering, and aggregations. This knowledge equips you to streamline and enhance your Power Query processes effectively.

In the next section, you will learn about Microsoft  Copilot, how to set up a Power BI instance with Copilot activated, and also how you can use this new AI technology to help clean and prepare your data.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Azure OpenAI with ChatGPT presents a game-changing solution for maximizing Power BI's potential. From query optimization to error-handling strategies, this integration streamlines processes and enhances productivity. As users navigate complex data transformations, the guidance provided fosters efficient decision-making and empowers users to tackle challenges with confidence. With Azure OpenAI and ChatGPT, the possibilities for revolutionizing Power BI workflows are endless, offering a glimpse into the future of data transformation and analytics.

Author Bio

Gus Frazer is a seasoned Analytics Consultant focused on Business Intelligence solutions. With over 7 years of experience working for the two market-leading platforms, Power BI & Tableau, has amassed a wealth of knowledge and expertise. Gus has helped hundreds of customers to drive their digital and data transformations, scope data requirements, drive actionable insights, and most important of all, cleanse data ready for analysis. Most recently helping to set up, organize and run the Power BI UK community at Microsoft. He holds 6 Azure and Power BI certifications, including the PL-300 and DP-500 certifications. In this book, Gus offers readers invaluable guidance on ingesting, preparing, and cleansing data for analysis in Power BI. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.