Why Table.Buffer Does Not Cache Power Query Results Across Queries in WPS Office
Question details
The user wants to understand why Power Query Table.Buffer does not work as a workbook-wide cache across queries and how to reduce repeated source evaluation during refresh.
- Product
- WPS Office Power Query
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- A user is working with multiple Power Query queries that depend on the same source or referenced query and expects Table.Buffer to make downstream queries reuse an in-memory result.
- Observed behavior
- Table.Buffer only materializes a table during the current Power Query evaluation; separate or downstream queries may still be evaluated from the source through their preceding steps.
Open the workbook in WPS Office and open Power Query Editor from Data > Queries & Connections. Note which queries share the same source or contain repeated applied steps before changing buffering.
Review query dependencies and refactor shared source logic first
Use this approach when multiple downstream queries access the same source or referenced query, because dependency structure affects refresh performance more than Table.Buffer does.
Power Query evaluates referenced queries through their own steps, so a buffered table in one query is not automatically reused by another query. Reducing duplicate query paths limits repeated source access and gives Table.Buffer a stable role within individual queries.
In WPS Office Spreadsheets, click the Data tab and select Queries & Connections to open the workbook query list.
In Power Query Editor, go to the View tab and choose Query Dependencies to see which queries feed into other queries.
Right-click the repeated source query, create one referenced query for the shared source steps, and point dependent queries at that single source branch.
Apply Table.Buffer only before operations that benefit from materialization
Use this when you need stable row order or predictable behavior within a single query, such as before sorting or removing duplicates.
Push filters and column selection as close to the source as possible
Use this when refresh is slow due to large source data being loaded before transformations, rather than because of Table.Buffer behavior.
Optimize Power Query refresh in WPS Office without relying on Table.Buffer as a cross-query cache
WPS Office lets you open Power Query workbooks, review query dependencies, apply source-side filtering, and use Table.Buffer selectively within individual queries to improve refresh performance.
- 1. Open the workbook: Launch WPS Office, open the .xlsx workbook that contains the Power Query queries you want to optimize.
- 2. Review query dependencies: Click Data > Queries & Connections, open Power Query Editor, and use View > Query Dependencies to locate repeated source branches.
- 3. Refactor shared source access: Create one referenced query for the common source steps and connect dependent queries to that branch instead of each query reading the source independently.
- 4. Add buffering only where needed: Insert Table.Buffer immediately before operations such as sorting or removing duplicates, not as a replacement for proper query structure.
- 5. Refresh and compare: Click Refresh All in the Data tab and compare refresh times to confirm the optimized query structure performs better.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Table.Buffer create a workbook-wide cache in Power Query?
No. Table.Buffer materializes a table only during the current Power Query evaluation. It is not a persistent or workbook-wide cache that guarantees other queries will reuse the buffered result.
Why does my referenced query still read the source after Table.Buffer is used?
Referenced queries can be evaluated from their source through their preceding steps. Even if one table is buffered, separate downstream queries may still trigger their own evaluation path unless you consolidate shared source queries.
Where can I see query dependencies in WPS Office Power Query?
Open the workbook, go to Data > Queries & Connections, open Power Query Editor, and use View > Query Dependencies to see which queries depend on each other.
When should I use Table.Buffer?
Use Table.Buffer only where it helps within a single query, such as stabilizing operations like sorting or removing duplicates. For cross-query performance, focus on query dependencies and source-side filtering first.
Can WPS Office refresh Microsoft Excel Power Query workbooks?
Yes. WPS Office supports opening and working with Microsoft Excel .xlsx files, including Power Query workflows, while keeping the familiar ribbon-based query tools.
