- A
Use Power Query to read the CSV from a local folder, but schedule the refresh using a personal gateway.
Why wrong: Personal gateway is not for production; also not easy for beginners.
- B
Import the CSV file directly into Power BI Desktop, create the report, and publish to Power BI Service. Manually re-import the CSV each week.
Why wrong: Manual process is not automated.
- C
Enable incremental refresh on the dataset to only load new data each week.
Why wrong: Incremental refresh requires a date range and is overkill.
- D
Create a Power BI dataflow that reads the CSV file from a SharePoint folder, transforms the data (e.g., change data types), and then load the dataflow as a dataset into Power BI. Schedule the dataflow to refresh weekly.
Dataflows provide easy automated refresh and transformation.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to create a Power BI dataflow that reads the CSV file from a SharePoint folder, transforms the data, and schedules a weekly refresh. This approach is ideal because dataflows perform data preparation and storage in the Power BI Service, eliminating the need for a personal gateway and allowing the scheduled refresh to run entirely in the cloud. When you point a dataflow at a SharePoint folder, it automatically picks up new CSV files or new rows—such as new campaigns—without manual intervention, making it perfect for automating a weekly CSV refresh in Power BI with dataflow. On the PL-300 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of when to use dataflows versus datasets or gateways; a common trap is choosing a solution that requires a gateway for a cloud-based file source. Remember the key distinction: dataflows are for cloud-based data transformation and refresh, while gateways are for on-premises sources. Memory tip: “Dataflows in the cloud, gateways for the crowd.”
PL-300 Prepare the data Practice Question
This PL-300 practice question tests your understanding of prepare the data. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
You are a business analyst at a marketing agency. You receive a weekly export from a web analytics platform as a CSV file. The file contains columns: Date, Campaign, Impressions, Clicks, Conversions. You need to create a Power BI report that shows trends over time, with the ability to filter by campaign. The CSV file is updated weekly and you want to automate the refresh. You also want to ensure that any new campaigns are automatically included in the report. You have limited experience with Power BI. What should you do?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Create a Power BI dataflow that reads the CSV file from a SharePoint folder, transforms the data (e.g., change data types), and then load the dataflow as a dataset into Power BI. Schedule the dataflow to refresh weekly.
Option D is correct because it uses a Power BI dataflow to read the CSV from a SharePoint folder, which supports scheduled refresh without a personal gateway. The dataflow can automatically include new campaigns as they appear in the folder, and the scheduled weekly refresh ensures the report stays up to date. This approach is ideal for users with limited Power BI experience because dataflows handle transformation and refresh centrally in the Power BI Service.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use Power Query to read the CSV from a local folder, but schedule the refresh using a personal gateway.
Why it's wrong here
Personal gateway is not for production; also not easy for beginners.
- ✗
Import the CSV file directly into Power BI Desktop, create the report, and publish to Power BI Service. Manually re-import the CSV each week.
Why it's wrong here
Manual process is not automated.
- ✗
Enable incremental refresh on the dataset to only load new data each week.
Why it's wrong here
Incremental refresh requires a date range and is overkill.
- ✓
Create a Power BI dataflow that reads the CSV file from a SharePoint folder, transforms the data (e.g., change data types), and then load the dataflow as a dataset into Power BI. Schedule the dataflow to refresh weekly.
Why this is correct
Dataflows provide easy automated refresh and transformation.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose incremental refresh (Option C) thinking it automates new data loading, but they overlook that incremental refresh requires a properly configured date column and does not inherently handle new campaigns unless the source folder structure supports it, whereas a dataflow with a SharePoint folder is the simpler and correct solution for this scenario.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Power BI dataflows use the Power Query engine in the cloud to connect to data sources like SharePoint folders, enabling scheduled refresh without on-premises gateways. When a CSV is stored in a SharePoint folder, the dataflow can combine all files from that folder, automatically picking up new files or rows as they are added, which ensures new campaigns are included. Under the hood, dataflows store data in Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2, allowing for efficient incremental refresh if configured, but even without it, a full refresh of a small CSV is trivial.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PL-300 question test?
Prepare the data — This question tests Prepare the data — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a Power BI dataflow that reads the CSV file from a SharePoint folder, transforms the data (e.g., change data types), and then load the dataflow as a dataset into Power BI. Schedule the dataflow to refresh weekly. — Option D is correct because it uses a Power BI dataflow to read the CSV from a SharePoint folder, which supports scheduled refresh without a personal gateway. The dataflow can automatically include new campaigns as they appear in the folder, and the scheduled weekly refresh ensures the report stays up to date. This approach is ideal for users with limited Power BI experience because dataflows handle transformation and refresh centrally in the Power BI Service.
What should I do if I get this PL-300 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This PL-300 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the PL-300 exam.
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