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 combining data from multiple Excel files stored in SharePoint Online. Each file has the same structure but different data. You need to create a solution that automatically includes new files added to the SharePoint folder without manual intervention. What should you use?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use 'Get Data from SharePoint Online Folder' and then 'Combine files' transform.
Option B is correct because the 'Combine files' transform in Power Query from a SharePoint folder automatically detects and combines all files in the folder, and when refreshed, it includes any new files. Option A is wrong because Get Data from SharePoint list does not combine files. Option C is wrong because Power Automate would require additional setup and is not native Power Query. Option D is wrong because merging queries requires manual steps each time.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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 Automate to copy new files to a blob storage, then import from there.
Why it's wrong here
This adds complexity and additional services; the native Power Query approach is simpler.
✗
Use 'Merge queries' to append each new file manually.
Why it's wrong here
Manual merging does not scale and requires updating the query each time a file is added.
✓
Use 'Get Data from SharePoint Online Folder' and then 'Combine files' transform.
Why this is correct
The folder connector with combine files automatically processes all files in the folder, including new ones, on each refresh.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
Use 'Get Data from SharePoint Online List' and load each file separately.
Why it's wrong here
This approach requires manual import of each file and does not automatically include new files.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related PL-300 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Prepare the data — This question tests Prepare the data — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use 'Get Data from SharePoint Online Folder' and then 'Combine files' transform. — Option B is correct because the 'Combine files' transform in Power Query from a SharePoint folder automatically detects and combines all files in the folder, and when refreshed, it includes any new files. Option A is wrong because Get Data from SharePoint list does not combine files. Option C is wrong because Power Automate would require additional setup and is not native Power Query. Option D is wrong because merging queries requires manual steps each time.
What should I do if I get this PL-300 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related PL-300 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Question Discussion
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