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 importing data from a folder containing multiple CSV files with identical structure. You want to automatically combine all files into one table in Power Query. Which connector should you use?
Excel Workbook connector
Why wrong: This is for Excel files, not CSV.
CSV connector
Why wrong: The CSV connector imports a single file.
Web connector
Why wrong: The Web connector imports data from a web page, not a local folder.
Folder connector
The Folder connector allows you to combine multiple files with the same structure.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Folder connector
The Folder connector is the correct choice because it is specifically designed to connect to a folder containing multiple files, and when combined with the 'Combine Files' transformation in Power Query, it automatically merges all CSV files with identical structures into a single table. This connector handles the iterative process of reading each file and appending rows without manual scripting.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Excel Workbook connector
Why it's wrong here
This is for Excel files, not CSV.
CSV connector
Why it's wrong here
The CSV connector imports a single file.
Web connector
Why it's wrong here
The Web connector imports data from a web page, not a local folder.
Folder connector
Why this is correct
The Folder connector allows you to combine multiple files with the same structure.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often choose the CSV connector because they think it can handle multiple files, but it only processes a single file per connection, while the Folder connector is the correct tool for batch combining.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, the Folder connector uses the 'Folder.Files' M function to enumerate all files in the specified directory, then applies a 'Combine Files' template that leverages 'Csv.Document' to parse each file. A subtle behavior is that Power Query automatically generates a sample file parameter to infer the schema, which can cause issues if the first file has a different structure than subsequent files—requiring manual adjustment of the 'Combine Files' logic. In real-world scenarios, this connector is essential for ETL processes where daily CSV exports are dropped into a shared folder and need to be consolidated for reporting.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Prepare the data — This question tests Prepare the data — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Folder connector — The Folder connector is the correct choice because it is specifically designed to connect to a folder containing multiple files, and when combined with the 'Combine Files' transformation in Power Query, it automatically merges all CSV files with identical structures into a single table. This connector handles the iterative process of reading each file and appending rows without manual scripting.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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