If you’re preparing for the PL-300: Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst exam, one area you need to be clear on is the difference between data transformation tasks and data source-level tasks.
A common point of confusion is what the “Data Source Settings” in Power Query can and cannot do. So, let’s look at a sample exam-style question and explain each option.
Title: PL-300 Practice Question – What Can You Really Do in Power Query’s Data Source Settings?
If you’re preparing for the PL-300: Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst exam, one area you need to be clear on is the difference between data transformation tasks and data source-level tasks.
A common point of confusion is what the “Data Source Settings” in Power Query can and cannot do. So, let’s look at a sample exam-style question and explain each option.
🔍 Tip for Practice:
Open Power BI Desktop → Home → Transform Data → Data source settings → Explore each tab. Get comfortable with what you can actually do there
📌 Question:
You need to make changes to your data sources.
Which three changes are supported by the Data Source Settings in the Power Query interface?
(Each correct answer presents a complete solution. Select all that apply.)
- Adding a column
- Clearing permissions
- Editing permissions
- Modifying the file path
- Renaming a column
✅ Correct Answers:
- ✅ 2. Clearing permissions
- ✅ 3. Editing permissions
- ✅ 4. Modifying the file path
🧠 Explanation:
🔹 What is Data Source Settings in Power Query?
The Data Source Settings option is not used for transforming data (like adding/removing columns), but rather for managing access, file paths, and credentials related to your data sources.
✅ 2. Clearing Permissions
- This is a core feature of Data Source Settings.
- You can clear saved credentials (e.g., Windows, OAuth, Database login), which forces Power BI to prompt you again for authentication.
- Useful when you change users or access levels.
✅ 3. Editing Permissions
- You can edit or update permissions, such as changing authentication methods or updating credentials (e.g., from “Anonymous” to “Organizational Account”).
- This is common when switching from test data to production sources.
✅ 4. Modifying the File Path
- For file-based sources (like Excel, CSV, JSON, etc.), you can modify the source file path directly.
- Power BI lets you update the location if the file has moved or been renamed.
- This is done under “Change Source” in Data Source Settings.
❌ 1. Adding a Column
- This is a data transformation task, done in the Power Query Editor.
- It involves logic and M-code (e.g.,
Table.AddColumn), not data source metadata or settings.
❌ 5. Renaming a Column
- Also a data transformation step.
- This operation modifies the structure of the loaded data, not the connection or permissions.
🏁 Final Thoughts
To sum it up:
| Task | In Data Source Settings? |
|---|---|
| ✅ Clearing permissions | Yes |
| ✅ Editing permissions | Yes |
| ✅ Modifying file path | Yes |
| ❌ Adding a column | No |
| ❌ Renaming a column | No |
When working in Power BI, remember:
👉 Data Source Settings = Connection & Credentials
👉 Power Query Editor = Data Transformation & Shaping
Understanding this distinction will help you ace the PL-300 exam and avoid common confusion in real-world Power BI projects.
🧠 Pro Tip for Exam and Real Life:
If you’re ever confused between where to manage data source connections vs transformations, remember:
Data Source Settings = Connection + Security
Power Query Editor = Transformation + Shaping
So in the PL-300 exam, always match the task description with the correct Power BI interface.