In this blog series, we’ll explore some easy ways to reduce the size of a Power BI model.
Our previous blog posts:
- How to check a model’s size
- How to remove hidden date tables
- How to delete unneeded columns
- How to split columns
Merging tables
In a relational database, the aim is to store data in separate tables as much as possible. This keeps the data consistent: since there are no duplicates, changes only need to be carried out in one place. The downside is that relational models are often large and complex.
Power BI databases don’t focus on storing data efficiently; first and foremost, these models are made for efficient reporting.
My model currently looks like the screenshot below:
In deze serie van blogposts bekijken we hoe we op een aantal eenvoudige manieren de grootte van een model kunnen beperken.
Our previous blog posts:
- How to check a model’s size
- How to remove hidden date tables
- How to delete unneeded columns
- How to split columns
How to split columns
In a relational database, the aim is to store data in separate tables as much as possible. This keeps the data consistent: since there are no duplicates, changes only need to be carried out in one place. The downside is that relational models are often large and complex.
Power BI databases don’t focus on storing data efficiently; first and foremost, these models are made for efficient reporting.
My model currently looks like the screenshot below:
The original file was about 7.3 MB large. Our optimised model is only 1.4 MB, which is a size reduction of about 80%.
Originally, our model’s size was 19.8 MB. Our optimised model is only 2.2 MB, which is almost 90% smaller!
