Power BI

Szymon Karpęcki - Dataedo Team Szymon Karpęcki 8th December, 2022
Applies to: Dataedo 10.x versions, Article available also for: 23.x (current)
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Switch to the documentation for Dataedo 23.x (current).

Catalog and documentation

Dataedo imports reports or both reports and datasets available in a selected workspace to which the user has access.

Reports: Power Bi Service reports_in_power_bi

Dataedo Web reports_in_web

Datasets: Power Bi Service reports_in_power_bi

Dataedo Web datasets_in_web

Reports

Overwiev

On the overview page, you will see basic information about the report such as report url, name, and embed url which can you can use to embed the report. You will also be able to peek at the documented report in a live embed view from Power Bi Service.

report_web_view

Visualisations and fields

During the import process, Dataedo will document the following report's elements:

  • Pages
  • Visuals
  • Visuals fields

On the following, sample report which was created and is property of obviEnce, you can see a few pages, while currently active is Market Share. I also highlighted a visual with generated title - % Unit Market Share YOY Change by Rolling Period and Region. It uses three fields Rolling Period, % Unit Market Share YOY Change, and Region.

sample_report

That report will be documented by Dataedo in the following way:

  • Market Share page - field no. 2 with data type Page
  • % Unit Market Share YOY Change by Rolling Period and Region - the field no. 7 under Market Share Page.
  • Used fields - all fields under visual.

sample-report-in-web

Datasets

Overview

The overview tab contains basic information regarding the dataset.

dataset-overview

Columns

Dataedo will document all tables and columns in a dataset in the hierarchical form:

datasets_columns

Data Lineage

Dataedo will identify and create data lineage from Dataset to Report always, for any mode of the dataset (Import, Direct Query, Live connection). Lineage from Datasources to Dataset will be created if:

  • Datasource is SQL Server
  • Datasource was documented in Dataedo. The documentation has to reside in the same repository as the Power BI Documentation

pbi-data-lineage

Currently, Dataedo automatically creates the lineage on an object level. In future releases, column-level lineage will be added. Also, data sources other than SQL Server will be supported.

Business Glossary

You can link a Business Glossary term to any Power Bi object.

Descriptions, aliases, and custom fields

When technical metadata is imported users will be able to edit descriptions of each object and element, provide meaningful aliases (titles), and document everything with additional custom fields.

Lookups / Reference data

You will be able to build Lookups for columns in Power Bi reports and datasets and feed them with distinct values from a column.

Data classification

You will be able to run classification on Power Bi reports and datasets in the repository in a search of columns containing potentially sensitive data. All built-in functions are supported.

Importing changes and schema change tracking

To import changes from Power Bi Service and update metadata in Dataedo simply use the Import changes option. All changes in reports and datasets will be shown under the schema change tracking tab.

Description changes

Changes to descriptions in Dataedo Desktop and Web Catalog are tracked and saved in the repository.

How to connect to Power Bi

Connection requirements

Workspace access

To document the Power Bi workspace, you need to have at least Viewer access to the workspace. To verify it, simply open app.powerbi.com service, and see if the workspace to be documented is available to browse.

XMLA Endpoint

Documenting Dataset is achieved with XMLA Endpoint which is available only for Premium workspaces. You can recognize if your workspace is premium with a little diamond icon next to its name:

premium workspace

Note: Dataedo team is working on alternative Datasets documenting method to provide this also for PRO workspaces

You can find XMLA Endpoint in workspace Settings > Premium > Workspace Connection.

Power BI server name

Dataedo connection

To connect to Power Bi select Add source -> New connection. On the connectors list select Power BI Reports and Datasets.

power-bi-reports

Connection Details

  • Workspaces - you can provide a workspace name by simply typing it or clicking [...] button to log in to your Power Bi account and list available workspaces.
  • Premium Workspace checkbox - check this box if your workspace is in premium capacity, to document datasets.
  • XMLA Endpoint - if you checked Premium Workspace you will also see this box to put the Endpoint. Instruction on how to obtain this value is provided in Connection requirements section.
  • Document only report pages - in case of timeouts, you can check this box. Dataedo will document only reports' pages, which should help avoid timeouts during the import process.

pbi-connection-details

After clicking the [...] button to load workspaces you will need to authenticate and let Dataedo connect to your Power Bi Instance.

First, select the account on the Microsoft authentication screen:

account selection

Then, if it's your first use of Dataedo, you need to accept the license agreement and give the required permissions to Dataedo.

dataedo-permissions

After accepting the agreement you will see a list of workspaces:

worskpaces-list

Select Workspace and provide an XMLA Endpoint if the workspace resides in the premium capacity.

connection-details-filled

Click Connect and go through the import process.

Outcome

Your Power Bi reports and datasets have been imported to a new Dataedo documentation:

power-bi-documentation

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