PL-300 Prepare the data Practice Question
You are reviewing a Power Query query that loads data from a SQL Server database. The query includes multiple steps that perform data transformation. You want to ensure that the query is optimized by pushing as many transformations as possible to the SQL Server. What should you look for?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse viewing the native SQL query (Option A) with checking query folding indicators, but the native query only shows the final aggregated SQL, not the folding status of each individual step, which is what the question specifically asks for.
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
✓
Check for the 'Query Folding' indicators in the query editor.
Query folding indicators in Power Query Editor show whether transformations are being pushed to the SQL Server source. When a step shows a 'folded' icon (a table with a down arrow), it means the transformation is translated into native SQL and executed on the server, reducing data transfer and improving performance. Checking these indicators directly confirms which steps are folded and which are not, allowing you to optimize the query by reordering or rewriting steps to maximize folding. Option A is incorrect because viewing the native SQL query only shows the final aggregated SQL, not the folding status of each individual step. Option B is also incorrect as the Performance Analyzer helps measure overall report performance but does not indicate folding for each step. Option D is irrelevant because data previews do not show folding status.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
View the native SQL query generated by Power Query.
Why it's wrong here
Viewing the native SQL query shows the final SQL sent to the database, but it does not indicate which transformations are folded into that query. Therefore, it does not directly help identify opportunities to push transformations to SQL Server.
- ✗
Use the Performance Analyzer in Power BI Desktop.
Why it's wrong here
The Performance Analyzer in Power BI Desktop measures the duration of report visuals, DAX queries, and data refresh operations, but it operates at the semantic model/report layer after data has already been loaded. It does not inspect Power Query transformation steps or indicate whether those steps were folded to SQL Server. Since query folding is a data preparation–time behavior, the Performance Analyzer is irrelevant for assessing which transformations are pushed to the source. Consequently, using it would provide no insight into folding opportunities.
- ✓
Check for the 'Query Folding' indicators in the query editor.
Why this is correct
Correct. Query folding indicators in Power Query Editor (a table icon with a down arrow or a fold icon) show whether a step is translated into native SQL and executed on the server. This directly tells you if transformations are being pushed to SQL Server.
- ✗
Review the data preview for each step.
Why it's wrong here
The data preview in Power Query Editor displays a sample of rows after each transformation step, showing the shape and values of the data at that point. However, the preview is generated by executing the current step chain locally in the Power Query engine, and it does not reveal whether the underlying source executed that step via native SQL. A step could be folded and return the same preview as a non-folded step, so the preview gives no diagnostic signal about folding. Therefore, reviewing the data preview cannot tell you if transformations are being pushed to SQL Server.
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