Power BI Tips & Tricks Session at DataBISummit
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This document contains a summary of tips and tricks for working with Power BI. It discusses modeling best practices like denormalizing data and using meaningful names. It also provides tips for optimizing model size, filtering data early, using incremental loading, measures as dimensions, emoji support, dynamic security, calendar tables, parameters, barcode scanning, scaling PBIX files, rebinding reports, embedding, real-time data, governance, and more. The session aims to share many useful techniques through over 20 fast-paced demonstrations to help people work more efficiently in Power BI.
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Power BI Tips & Tricks Session at DataBISummit
- 1. #DataBISummit Power BI Tips & Tricks Rui Romano DevScope
- 3. #DataBISummit Session Overview • Power BI Tips & Tricks • Modeling • Eficiency • Governance • Integration • Automation This session is not • Intro to Power BI • Full of tips on DAX/M • Deep-Dive on anything ☺ This session is • Fast-paced, full of demos (+20) • Learn useful techniques • To Lazy People
- 4. #DataBISummit Power BI: experience your data Any data, any way, anywhere
- 5. #DataBISummit Tip - Think like a Modeler (not a DBA ☺) • Entities not Tables • Power BI is not MS Access! • Denormalize as much as possible => Star Schema • Only load what you really need
- 6. #DataBISummit Tip - Naming • Be coherent • Use business meaningful names => Less friction from Users
- 7. #DataBISummit Tip – Optimize your model size • Focus on columns w/ high distinct count • Use Status Bar, DMV’s or tools like VertiPaq Analyser • Split column for less distincts (ex: DateTime Columns) • Separate queries for distinct counts (ex: Transaction Count)
- 8. #DataBISummit Tip – Filter first, Transform later • Know “Query Folding” concept • Some transformations don’t “fold” the query • Filter ASAP (as second step if possible)
- 9. #DataBISummit Tip – “Incremental Loading” w/ Power BI • Loaded on first refresh • Useful for Static Data (history) • *Alternative to “Incremental Loading” • Not Perfect • Use DAX to avoid duplicating tables • If there’s attributes to slice on the fact, then use UNION Learn more: link1
- 10. #DataBISummit Tip – Measures as Dimension • One dashboard for multiple measures • Build Scorecards • Reusability: YTD, LY,… over all the measures • *Performance hit
- 11. #DataBISummit Tip – Emoji Support • UNICHAR(<number>) • https://emojipedia.org + HexConverter
- 12. #DataBISummit Tip – Dynamic Security • Evaluate your scenario, probably the basic approach is enough • Simple to manage • Versus standard security model with relationships • Don’t work w/ DirectQuery Standard Security Model Lookup Security Model Users Table DAX Expression in the Roles
- 13. #DataBISummit Tip – Calendar/Date table • Generate your calendar table with M Script or DAX • Use Relative *Period fields => Dynamic Filter Reports over Time Learn more: link1
- 14. #DataBISummit Tip – Parameters • Scenarios • PBIX Templates • Change the values after Publish • Change the Database without Re-Publish • Change the Query without Re-Publish • Set the Type (don’t use “Any”) • Change values on UI or REST API (PS) • Set-PBIDatasetParameters Learn more: link1
- 15. #DataBISummit Tip – Use the Barcode Scanner • Little effort, big impact • IOS only • Use PowerApps
- 16. #DataBISummit Tip – “Grow up” your PBIX • Why? • Need more space (pbi.com limited to 1GB/file) • More control => partitioning, scripting, source control • Model merging & centralization • Developer Collaboration • Convert to Analysis Services (SQL or Azure) • Using WebDesigner in Azure Portal • Using PowerBIPS.Tools - Convert-PowerBIToASTabular
- 17. #DataBISummit Tip – Power BI Report Rebind • In a conversion there could be hundred of existing reports • Created by BI Team or End-User • Power BI Desktop • Remove all queries => Get-Data => Tabular (live) • Power BI Service • PowerBIPS • Set-PBIReportsDataSet -sourceDataSetName “DS1" -targetdatasetName “DS2" Learn more: link1, link2
- 18. #DataBISummit Tip – Know Power BI Embedding • See Ted Pattinson github • Why? • Integrate w/ your apps • Lower development costs • Extend Power BI capabilities
- 19. #DataBISummit Tip – Power BI + Real Time! • Multiple ways => Choose the best for you! 1. Streaming DataSets 2. REST API 3. Power BI Embedded + DirectQuery / AS Learn more: link1, link2
- 20. #DataBISummit Tip – Real-Time Session Voting https://tinyurl.com/pbivoting https://bit.ly/2HVi5ej
- 21. #DataBISummit Tip – Power BI *DevOps • Create Multiple Workspaces from file system • Sync between Workspaces: Dev => Prod Learn more: link1
- 22. #DataBISummit Tip – Export Power BI Reports from Workspaces • Easily export all your PBIX => Backup? Governance? Learn more: link1
- 23. #DataBISummit Tip – Governance – DataSet Refresh Monitoring • Use RESTAPI to collect the refresh history • Build a Power BI Report over that data
- 24. #DataBISummit Tip – Governance – Use AuditLogs • Who see’s what, when and how? • Activate Tenant setting of Office365 • Export & Explore with PowerBI
- 25. #DataBISummit Tip – Explore Power BI Desktop w/ Excel • Great for data validation & table export • PBIDesktop has an Analysis Services Instance • Discover the TCP Port using netstat, powershell, DaxStudio • Connect with any OLAP client (Excel, SSMS, PowerBIDesktop…)
- 26. #DataBISummit Tip – Get Data from PowerBI.com • Not Supported! But it works ☺ • Get the connection string from “Analyse in Excel” • Remove the “ClaimsToken” • Use “Get-Data” from OLEDB w/ DAX query • Only works w/ Personal Gateway?
- 27. #DataBISummit Tip – Export Data from Power BI Desktop • *one-time-only scenarios • Export to CSV / SQL Server • Very handy for one-time-only scenarios • ex: Data Science data wrangling Learn more: link1