Pre-Filtering Data before Importing from xlsx or txt file - no use of #"Filtered Rows"

Hello

I have set up a table score card file for salesmen. At the moment, I retrieve all data from the datasource and then I use #"Filtered Rows" to only select the relevant sales area for the salesman using the file. It is too slow. The datasource (xlsx or txt) is located in a shared directory. The access can be slow using a vpn connection.

The sql native mode is greyed out in the PQ screen. It is probably due to the fact that I do not use a sql server to store the datasource...just a simple file stored on a remote server.

Is there anyway I could pre-filter the data I need and not run the "where" clause using the internal engine of PQ once all data have been imported ?

Thanks for your advice
Pat