Category: Power BI Service

Data Visualisation, Fabric Administrator, Fabric Capacity, Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, Power BI Desktop, Power BI Service

Microsoft Fabric: Unlocking the Secrets to Mastering Shared Semantic Models – Part 2 – Implementation

This blog series complements a YouTube tutorial I published earlier this month, where I quickly covered the scenario and implementation of shared semantic models in Microsoft Fabric. However, I realised this topic demands a more detailed explanation for those who need a deeper understanding of the processes and considerations involved in one of the most common enterprise-grade BI scenarios.

In organisations with strong security and governance requirements, implementing shared semantic models is vital to ensure seamless and secure access to data. These organisations often split roles across various teams responsible for productionising analytics solutions. Typically, they have strict Row-Level Security (RLS) and Object-Level Security (OLS) implemented in their semantic models. The goal is to enable two key groups within the organisation:

  • Report Writers: They must access the semantic models securely. This means having sufficient permissions to create reports while ensuring access is restricted to only the relevant objects and data.
  • End-Users: They need access to trustworthy and relevant information without dealing with underlying complexities. All the heavy lifting should be managed behind the scenes.

The first blog laid the groundwork by covering all the essential core concepts necessary for successfully implementing this scenario. It also provided a clear explanation of the roles involved in the process.

Blog Series Overview

Initially, I planned to cover everything in one post. However, the scope turned out to be too large, so I split it into two parts to ensure clarity and avoid overwhelming readers. Here’s what the series includes:

By the end of this blog, you will apply the understanding from the previous post to a real-world scenario, managing secure access to shared semantic models in Microsoft Fabric, and implement the solution step-by-step.

If you prefer a video format, check out the tutorial on YouTube:

For those who enjoy diving into the details, let’s get started!

Continue reading “Microsoft Fabric: Unlocking the Secrets to Mastering Shared Semantic Models – Part 2 – Implementation” →
Fabric Administrator, Fabric Capacity, Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, Power BI Desktop, Power BI Service

Microsoft Fabric: Unlocking the Secrets to Mastering Shared Semantic Models – Part 1 – Core Concepts

Microsoft Fabric: Unlocking the Secrets to Mastering Shared Semantic Models - Part 1 - Core Concepts

Managing and optimising shared semantic models in Microsoft Fabric, with a focus on securing access, is essential in today’s data-driven world. These models are the backbone of an organisation’s analytics, providing consistent and scalable insights across teams. Whether you’re an experienced professional or just starting with Microsoft Fabric, understanding how to manage access to shared semantic models is key to delivering impactful insights.

This blog focuses on the core concepts that are vital for building a strong foundation. These concepts are pivotal for a correct and successful implementation of shared semantic models. Without a solid grasp of these basics, it can be challenging to navigate the complexities of advanced configurations or ensure secure and efficient use of semantic models within Microsoft Fabric.

I originally planned to cover this topic in one blog, but it turned out to be too much for a single post. Splitting it into two parts allows me to explain everything clearly without making it overwhelming. Here’s what the series covers:

By the end of this blog, you’ll understand the basics of managing and optimising secured access to shared semantic models in Microsoft Fabric.

If you prefer a video format, check out the tutorial on YouTube:

For those who enjoy reading the details, keep scrolling!

Requirements

Before diving into the implementation of shared semantic models in Microsoft Fabric, it’s important to understand the prerequisites. This process has specific licensing and role requirements, which are outlined below:

  • At least Power BI Pro license: This is the minimum required license because Workspace functionality is available only with a Pro or higher license. For large semantic models you will required Power BI Premium Per User (PPU) or a Fabric Capacity.
  • Microsoft Fabric Administrator role: Necessary for configuring semantic model discoverability in the Admin Portal.
  • At least Workspace Member role: Required to set permissions on the semantic models.
  • At least Workspace Contributor role: Needed to assign users and security groups to RLS (Row-Level Security) and/or OLS (Object-Level Security) roles.

Ensure that you have the proper licenses and roles assigned before starting the implementation to avoid any disruptions or limitations in managing shared semantic models.

Continue reading “Microsoft Fabric: Unlocking the Secrets to Mastering Shared Semantic Models – Part 1 – Core Concepts” →
Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, Power BI Desktop, Power BI Service

Microsoft Fabric: Troubleshooting Query Parameters in Published Semantic Models

Microsoft Fabric: Troubleshooting Query Parameters in Published Semantic Models

Power Query is a powerful tool within the Microsoft Fabric environment, enabling users to manage data sources and transform data efficiently. However, a common issue you may face is that after publishing the Semantic Model, the Power Query parameters either do not appear or are greyed out, making them non-editable. In this post and its accompanying YouTube video, I’ll walk you through the steps to diagnose and fix these problems, ensuring that your parameters work as expected in your published semantic models.

Why Do Power Query Parameters Become Unavailable?

There are a few reasons why your Power Query parameters might not appear or be editable after you’ve published your report to Microsoft Fabric. These issues generally relate to either the way the parameters are set up within Power Query in Power BI Desktop or how they interact with the data sources.

Common Cause and Fix

1. Parameter Data Type in Power Query

One of the most common reasons your parameters might be greyed out or non-editable is due to the parameters’ data types defined in Power Query within Power BI Desktop. If your parameters are of type any, then they won’t show up, or they are read-only (greyed out). The fixation is easy:

Continue reading “Microsoft Fabric: Troubleshooting Query Parameters in Published Semantic Models” →
Azure DevOps, GitHub, Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, Power BI Desktop, Power BI Service, Self-Service BI, Source Control

Microsoft Fabric: Source Control Options for Power BI Developers

Source Control Options for Power BI Developers

In Power BI development in Microsoft Fabric, understanding and utilising source control mechanisms is crucial for efficient collaboration and version management. This blog post delves into the essential aspects of source control for Power BI. This blog also includes the recording of my session at Saudi Arabia’s Excel User Group on the 26th of August 2023. The event was organised by Microsoft MVP, Faraz Sheik, where we walked through all the topics discussed in this blog.

Understanding Source Control

At its core, source control is a system that records changes to a file or set of files over time. This lets developers recall specific versions later, ensuring efficient collaboration and error management. It’s particularly vital for development teams, allowing multiple contributors to work on the same codebase without overwriting each other’s work.

For Power BI developers, this means tracking changes made to reports, and data models that are the most crucial components of every Power BI project.

Continue reading “Microsoft Fabric: Source Control Options for Power BI Developers” →