Tag: Power BI Desktop

Power BI, Power BI Desktop

Power BI Desktop Versions Demystified: Part 2, Store vs. Download Version – Key Differences and Use Cases

Power BI Desktop Versions Demystified: Part 2, Store vs. Download Version – Key Differences and Use Cases

In a previous blog post, I explored the differences between Power BI Desktop and Power BI Desktop RS (Report Server). These two versions cater to distinct user needs, cloud-based reporting versus on-premises reporting.

But the story doesn’t end there. Within the regular Power BI Desktop, there are also two flavours:

  1. Power BI Desktop (Store Version)
  2. Power BI Desktop (Download Version)

These flavours, though similar in functionality, offer different features and experiences. In this blog, we’ll examine why these two versions exist, how they differ, and which version might suit your needs and why you might want both.

Why Are There Two Versions?

Microsoft introduced the Microsoft Store Version and the Downloaded Version to provide flexibility for different user scenarios. Each version addresses specific challenges related to updates, deployment, and compatibility.

  • Microsoft Store Version: Simplifies the installation and update process by leveraging the Microsoft Store’s automatic update mechanism.
  • Downloaded Version: Offers manual control over updates and compatibility, allowing users to install and retain specific versions.

Key Differences Between the Two Versions

FeatureMicrosoft Store VersionDownloaded Version
UpdatesAutomatically updated via the Microsoft Store.Manual updates; users must download and install new versions.
InstallationSimplified; just one click from the Microsoft Store.Requires downloading an installer from the Power BI website.
Version ControlAlways the latest version available.Older versions can be retained for compatibility.
IT ManagementIdeal for managed environments (e.g., enterprise devices).Provides flexibility for organisations needing control over updates.
System RequirementsRequires Windows 10 or higher.Compatible with older versions of Windows.
Account DependenciesTied to the Microsoft Store account.Independent of any store account.
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Power BI, Power BI Desktop, Power BI Desktop RS

Power BI Desktop Versions Demystified: Part 1, Power BI Desktop and Power BI Desktop RS

If you are a Power BI power user, you may have wondered: how many versions of Power BI Desktop are there? The quick answer is: it depends!

Depending on your organisation’s preferences, data governance requirements, and the platforms you intend to use for report deployment you may use either Power BI Desktop, the “standard version”, or Power BI Desktop RS (Report Server). Power BI Desktop has variations tailored to meet specific needs, such as cloud-based analytics or on-premises reporting. While many users might only encounter the standard version, there’s another important variant for specialised scenarios.

Power BI Desktop comes in two primary versions:

  1. Power BI Desktop:
    This is the standard version most users rely on. It’s the go-to tool for transforming data, creating semantic models, and building interactive reports. This version is designed to seamlessly integrate with the Power BI Service hosted on Microsoft Fabric, enabling cloud-based sharing, collaboration, and advanced features like Direct Lake, AI-driven insights, and more. Regular updates ensure that this version includes the latest features and innovations, such as new Power Query and DAX functions, enhanced visuals, and cutting-edge integrations.
  1. Power BI Desktop RS (Report Server):
    This is a specialised version of Power BI Desktop designed to work exclusively with Power BI Report Server, a locally hosted reporting platform. It is tailored for organisations that prefer to keep their data and reports on-premises due to regulatory, security, or strategic reasons, avoiding reliance on cloud services like the Power BI Service on Microsoft Fabric. Although the two versions look nearly identical in functionality, they serve distinct purposes. Power BI Desktop RS is specifically aligned with the capabilities of Power BI Report Server, supporting features available up to the latest release cycle of the server. For instance, Power BI Desktop RS updates are less frequent; typically released every few months, in line with Power BI Report Server’s update schedule; making it slightly behind the standard version in terms of cutting-edge features. However, it ensures stability and compatibility for on-premises deployments.
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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:

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Copilot, Fabric Capacity, Microsoft Fabric, Power BI

Use Copilot in Power BI Desktop to Create Measures from Numeric Columns

I have been thinking about a mechanism to generate measures from numeric columns on Power BI data models. Of course, we can use Tabular Editor, but it requires some scripting, which is all right. However, the more advanced our requirements get, the more complex the C# script. In real-world development scenarios, it does not make sense to blindly create measures for all numeric columns, such as the key columns used to define relationships between tables, making C# scripting a bit more complex.

In this blog and accompanying YouTube video, I explain using Copilot within Power BI Desktop to create measures from numeric columns. This feature represents a significant advancement in Power BI’s capabilities as of April 2024, enabling data analysts and BI professionals to streamline parts of their data analysis tasks.

Prerequisites

As explained in a previous post here, we first need to enable Copilot on the Fabric Portal. Please note that Copilot in Power BI Desktop requires either Power BI Premium Capacity or AT LEAST an F64 Fabric Capacity. Unfortunately, Copilot is NOT available on PPU, Embedded capacities, Fabric capacities smaller than F64 and Fabric Trial (FT) capacities.

We also need to have the latest version of Power BI Desktop installed on our machine. With that, let’s begin.

YouTube Video

Here is the video on YouTube where I explain the same thing in less than 5 min. But if you are after more details, continue reading.

Introduction to Power BI and Copilot

As Power BI evolves, it incorporates more sophisticated AI-driven capabilities that simplify various aspects of data analytics. The integration of Copilot in Power BI Desktop enhances user interaction with data in many ways. Our focus on this blog is specifically using Copilot to create simple yet crucial measures based on numeric columns that previously required manual effort.

Use Copilot for Measure Creation

Using Copilot is straightforward and demonstrates impressive intelligence in its operational logic. The following steps explain how to do so:

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