PL-300 Prepare the data Practice Question
You are preparing an Excel workbook for import into Power BI. The workbook contains one worksheet named 'SalesData' with a well-formed table named 'tblSales' that includes headers in the first row. You want the most reliable way to import only this table so that column names and types are detected correctly. What should you do?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is selecting the worksheet instead of the named table, which imports extra cells and can confuse header and type detection.
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
✓
Use Get Data > Excel workbook, select the workbook, and choose the 'tblSales' table in the Navigator.
Choosing the named table in Navigator gives Power Query a precise, stable reference to the structured range. Headers and data types come through cleanly, and the query adapts as the table grows. Importing the whole worksheet or using connectors meant for other file types introduces detection problems and unnecessary complexity.
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 Get Data > Folder, point to the directory containing the workbook, and combine the files.
Why it's wrong here
The Folder connector is intended for combining multiple files with a consistent structure. Using it for a single workbook adds unnecessary steps and can misread the file depending on its contents. It does not target the named table and is overkill for this requirement.
- ✓
Use Get Data > Excel workbook, select the workbook, and choose the 'tblSales' table in the Navigator.
Why this is correct
Selecting the named table in Navigator imports the defined table range, so headers, column names, and data types are recognized reliably. Named tables are stable references, so adding rows or columns within the table updates the query without reconfiguration, making this the most dependable approach for a well-structured worksheet.
- ✗
Use Get Data > Text/CSV and point to the .xlsx file, then set the delimiter to Tab.
Why it's wrong here
The Text/CSV connector is designed for delimited text files, not Excel workbooks. Pointing it at an .xlsx file will not parse the binary workbook format correctly and can produce garbled or failed imports. This is the wrong connector for the source type.
- ✗
Use Get Data > Excel workbook, select the workbook, and choose the 'SalesData' worksheet in the Navigator.
Why it's wrong here
Selecting the worksheet imports the entire used range, which may include stray cells, notes, or formatting below the data. Column detection can be less reliable if blank rows or extra content exist. It works but is not the most dependable method when a properly defined table is available.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Microsoft exam blueprint
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.