Quick Tip: Use Recent Sources to Add New Tables

If you are like me, you get in the habit of doing the same thing the same way over and over. For example, when I add tables from my SQL Server, I type in the Server and Database name. Then, of course, about 5 minutes into my project I realize I need another table, so out of habit I add the new table the same way, which is more typing.

I’ve been trying to force myself to use the “Recent Sources” menu in Power Query. It allows me to just point to the recent data source and it fills in all of the necessary info. All I have to do is pick the new table(s). It works for any data source, so you can quickly get back to a SharePoint site for files or lists, to a local network path for some CSV or Excel files, or even web pages to get a different HTML table.

The fastest way is to just use the Recent Sources button on the Home ribbon, but I tend to create new data sources by right-clicking on one of the folder groupings I use so the query goes exactly where I want it once it is created. It also has a Recent Sources option and that is where I select what I need.

You can see Power Query retains about 15 recent sources, some of which are repeated. Clicking More at the bottom of that list will bring up a dialog box with an even larger list to browse through.

This can also be useful if you don’t exactly recall where your data was coming from if you are in a different PIBX or Excel file.