How can you ensure that Power Query transformation steps are processed by SQL Server?

To ensure that Power Query transformation steps are processed by SQL Server, the most effective method is to use a native query. A native query allows you to directly write SQL statements that execute on the database server itself. This means that the transformations are handled by SQL Server's processing engine instead of being executed in Power Query. By utilizing a native query, you leverage the full capability of SQL Server, benefiting from its optimization features and performance advantages.

In scenarios where you enable folding, while it can help in optimizing where possible, it doesn’t guarantee that all transformation steps will be processed on the SQL Server. Folding depends on the compatibility of the transformations with the SQL language and the capabilities of the underlying data source. Optimizing query execution primarily focuses on improving the performance of the queries rather than directing transformation processing to the server. Stopping folding, on the other hand, would explicitly prevent Power Query from sending transformation steps to SQL Server, which is counterproductive.