Microsoft BI and Power Query

Power Query adds one more arrow to Microsoft's BI strategy. This time around Power Query provides  the hooks to connecting to a variety data sources over encrypted/unencrypted connections. Processing of the raw data from tables can be carried out using the controls on the Query Editor.  Power View if installed can be used to produce dazzling adhoc reports.

Some details of Power Query were posted here:
http://hodentek.blogspot.com/2013/12/what-is-microsoft-power-query.html
http://hodentekhelp.blogspot.com/2013/12/what-is-difference-between-ms-query-and.html

After installing the add-in you can easily connect to SQL Server (in this case SQL Server 2012) and generate a query easily as shown in the next image,

 

You can further process the query with built-in controls and save to workbook. The present MS Excel version is 32 bit and Power View is not installed.

Step-by-step procedure working with Power Query can be found here:

http://hodentekmsss.blogspot.com/2013/12/querying-sql-server-2012-with-power.html