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3. Getting Data

3.4 Data Source Settings and Credentials

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Start with a problem

Ruhi moved the orders CSV from her Desktop to a shared folder. Refresh now fails, and she starts rebuilding the query.

Explain simply

Data source settings lists every source in the file. Use Change Source when a file moves, Edit Permissions for credentials and privacy levels, and Clear Permissions to forget saved credentials.

Show the data

Source in the file Old path New path
Orders CSV C:\Users\Ruhi\Desktop\visuals_orders_apr_may_2026.csv D:\Shared\QC\visuals_orders_apr_may_2026.csv

About this data: This table uses columns: Source in the file, Old path, New path. This table uses columns: Error. This table uses columns: Data sources in current file. Values shown are the lesson examples already on this page (not a new dataset).

Fictional sample data. Practice file: visuals_orders_apr_may_2026.csv (source: src/practice/).

Demonstrate

  1. Refresh › error.

    Your result should look like this:

    Error
    DataSource.Error: Could not find file 'C:\Users\Ruhi\Desktop\visuals_orders_apr_may_2026.csv'

  2. File › Options and settings › Data source settings › Data sources in current file.

  3. Select the CSV › Change Source… › Browse to the new path › OK.

    Your result should look like this:

    Data sources in current file
    D:\Shared\QC\visuals_orders_apr_may_2026.csv

  4. Edit Permissions › Privacy level Organizational › OK.

  5. Close › Refresh.

    Your result should look like this:

    Card
    ₹2,100 (8 rows)

Show the result

Your result should look like this (fictional sample):

Check Before After
Source path C:\Users\Ruhi\Desktop\… D:\Shared\QC\…
Refresh Error Succeeds
Rows / Total — 8 / ₹2,100

Explain what happened

Change Source rewrote the path in every query that used it, so no query had to be rebuilt.

Explore further

  • A FolderPath parameter (Module 10.3) makes the next move a one-value change.

Detailed reference for this lesson:

  • File › Options and settings › Data source settings shows all sources used in the file. Here you can Change Source (e.g. when a file moves to a new folder), edit credentials, or clear permissions.
  • Privacy levels (Public, Organizational, Private) control whether data from one source may be sent to another source when queries are combined. Setting them correctly avoids Formula.Firewall errors. Module 4.9 explains them with an example.

Practice task

Connect to Products.xlsx (a formatted Excel table) and Blinkit_Orders_2025_01.csv (UTF-8). Use Transform Data for both, check that the ₹ symbol and Marathi product names (if any) display correctly, and change the Excel file path using Data source settings › Change Source.

Ravindra Bagale's Tip

Look, friends: a common refresh failure comes from credentials saved against the wrong path or account. When a source moves or a password changes, open Data source settings and edit or clear permissions there, instead of rebuilding the query from scratch. This matters for both exams and interviews.

Fix common mistakes

Wrong result Reason Correction
Query rebuilt from scratch Did not know Change Source Data source settings › Change Source
Formula.Firewall error after combining sources Privacy levels not set Set levels in Edit Permissions
Old password keeps failing Wrong saved credentials Clear Permissions, then sign in again

Practise independently

Practice task

Two queries use the same CSV path. How many times do you click Change Source?

Hints
  • Data source settings lists each source once.
Solution

Once: the source appears once, and the change applies to both queries.

Think like a professional

Keep sources in shared, stable locations (or parameters) from day one; moving files later is a common refresh breaker.

Ravi Sir's Cards for this lesson

Data source settings and credentials. Refresh fails when a file moves or a password changes. You need one place to fix it.Revision card

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