Inputs Section:
Import Worksheet
Above is the Imports worksheet to our 3 way model example. It contains one table downloaded using Power Query. The table contains (fictional) actuals from our ERP system.
At the end of this section you will know the role of imports.
Imports
One of the best ways to eliminate errors in spreadsheets is to eliminate user entry. Importing data eliminates a lot of user entry.
Importing data also adds an easy way to keep models updated with current information. For example, if we are working for a multinational, our clients may want to see results in various currencies at today's conversion rate. We can manually copy/paste those values or use Power Query to import them from the web and automatically keep our models current.
Each Power Query import creates its own table. I usually place imported tables in their own worksheet; but, if know that we won't be adding columns to tables, it is okay to place all imported tables side by side on one worksheet.
Power Query is easy to learn for basic importing.
