Power BI Weekly

Issue #117 - 6th July 2021

Plenty of content and announcements this week, so make your cup of tea/coffee a large one. Firstly, we've been told about the new Scanner API (Admin REST APIs) enhancements, which now include dataset tables, columns, measures, DAX expressions, and mashup queries. Great for custom governance solutions, dynamic scanning of metadata, amongst many other use cases. Sticking to developer tools - we've been given a Heads up: breaking change coming to Power BI PowerShell Cmdlets, so make sure you prepare your code for the new auth changes. A few other exciting announcements:

Elsewhere this week, Marco Russo has written an updated version of the blog Choosing Azure Analysis Services or Power BI Premium for large datasets taking into account Premium Gen2 enhancements along with various other new features which bridge the gap between the two tools. Adam Saxton has given an overview of Tracing with Log Analytics and Power BI, going through the new capability announced last week. Finally, Parker Stevens has described Small Multiples Custom Sorting and Pagination in Power BI using the ever-popular slicer table trick.

🛠️ Data Prep

Chris Webb (@cwebb_bi) describes Data Type Conversions For SQL Server Sources And Query Folding In Power Query and writes about Dynamic M Parameters, Snowflake Native SQL And Paginated Reports
Gašper Kamenšek (@ExcelUnplugged) describes Turning Product Descriptions into list of attributes with Power Query
Also on the Power BI community blog, Janey Guo describes how to Automatically update data according to the date in the file name
On the Power BI community blog, Henry explains How to transform table in Power Query
On the dev.to blog, Helen Anderson (@helenanders26) writes about 10 ways to transform data in PowerBI
On the Data Bear blog, Mariska Oosthuizen writes about SQL Stored Procedures in Power BI
Andy Cutler (@MrAndyCutler) walks through Creating a Logical Data Warehouse with Synapse Serverless SQL: Part 4 of 4 – Connecting Power BI to the Dimensional Model
Pat Mahoney (@HoosierBi) talks about 445 Calendar Table with 53-Week Years

🧩 Data Modeling

On the SQLBI blog, Marco Russo (@marcorus) discusses Choosing Azure Analysis Services or Power BI Premium for large datasets
Also on the SQLBI blog, Alberto Ferrari (@FerrariAlberto) describes Limiting the number of calculation items selected – Unplugged #26 and shares a few tutorials: SUMMARIZE – DAX Guide, DETAILROWS – DAX Guide and describes GROUPBY, CURRENTGROUP – DAX Guide
Lars Schreiber (@SchreiberLars) describes How to speed up metadata translations in Power BI
Darren Gosbell (@darrengosbell) highlights that DAX Studio v2.16.1 Released
Also on the Enterprise DNA blog, Nick Mone shares a few blogs: Query Performance And DAX Studio Setup, Data Caches In A DAX Calculation and Materialization Ideas For Data Caches In DAX Studio
Sam McKay (@_EnterpriseDNA) shares a DAX Formula Patterns Deep Dive
Belinda Allen (@MsBelindaAllen) describes how to Show Value for the Last Date in Microsoft Power BI
On the Enterprise DNA blog, Jarrett Moore (@BuckeyeJarrett) writes about Power BI Data Transformation and Setting Up Models and Relationships
On the MSSQLTips site, Kenneth A. Omorodion discusses Getting started with DAX in Power BI
On the RADACAD YouTube channel, Reza Rad (@Rad_Reza) talks about the DAX CrossFilter Function in Power BI - Write the Formula both directional but keep the relationship and describes the Basics of DAX Expression in Power BI
Salvatore Cagliari writes 3.3 arguments on deciding if using multiple Date tables is a good idea
Andrzej Leszkiewicz (@avatorl) shares a Power BI report to analyze city property, grocery store etc. neighbors
Bas Dohmen (@HowToPowerBI) talks about Previous Period Comparison in Power BI

📊 Report Authoring and Interactivity

On the SQL Server Central blog, Adam Aspin has provided an Introduction to generic Power BI themes
On the Enterprise DNA blog, Jarrett Moore (@BuckeyeJarrett) talks about Power BI Report Development: Creating Themes, Company Logos, Icons and Backgrounds
Parker Stevens (@PowerBIElite) talks about Small Multiples Custom Sorting and Pagination in Power BI
Reid Havens (@HavensBI) talks about Creative Active/Inactive Bookmark Button Effects in Power BI
On the RADACAD YouTube channel, Reza Rad (@Rad_Reza) shares a Power BI Visualization Tip - Hide or Lock the Filter for Users
On the Burningsuit blog, Alison Box writes Charticulator in Power BI #7, #8 and #9
Matt Allington (@ExceleratorBI) explains how to Compare Any Two of Anything in Power BI
Patrick Leblanc (@GuyInACube) provides an Intro to Python in Power BI
Marc Lelijveld (@MarcLelijveld) blogs about Power BI Icon Library – now includes official icons to use in Draw.io / Diagrams.net
Bas Dohmen (@HowToPowerBI) talks about the Modern Tooltip in Power BI, talks about Dynamic Targets in Power BI and describes how to Swap LEGEND for LABELS | Dynamically Label Line Chart Series in Power BI
Dhruvin Shah (@DhruvinShah16) shares a few videos: Paginated Report Visual in Power BI, Maintain Bar ThicknessWidth in Power BI, How to Export filtered data to Excel/CSV from Power BI button using Power Automate and Area chart transparency sliders
Ruth Pozuelo Martinez (@CurbalEN) talks about the Power BI Desktop Update June 2021 - Highlights
On the Purple Frog Systems blog, Joe Billingham describes How the UNICHAR DAX Function Enhances Power BI Reports

🚀 Deployment, Security and Operations

On the Power BI blog, Yaron Canari (@YaronCanari) announces Scanner API (Admin REST APIs) enhancements to include dataset tables, columns, measures, DAX expressions, and mashup queries
Also on the Power BI blog, Rick Zu writes Heads up: breaking change coming to Power BI PowerShell Cmdlets
Also on the Power BI blog, Anton Fritz (@AntonFritz15) announces Now organizations can require users to set MIP sensitivity labels in Power BI (Preview)
Adam Saxton (@GuyInACube) discusses Tracing with Log Analytics and Power BI
Reid Havens (@HavensBI) discusses Using Power BI to Monitor your Azure Data Platform (with Dave Ruijter)
Maya Raviv highlights the Power BI Template Apps Tool Update
Mara Pereira (@datapears) explains how to Govern content in Power BI - Restrict creation and sharing of reports, datasets and dataflows
On the CSG Pro blog, Rachel Dyer (@rachelrdyer) describes What to Include in Your Power BI Data Governance Framework

🌐 General

On the Power BI blog, Jeroen ter Heerdt (@jeroenterheerdt) announces availability of virtual workshops and training to get started with Power BI
Also on the Power BI blog, Lukasz Pawlowski (@lukasztweets) announces Collaborate faster in Microsoft Teams with Power BI activity feed notifications
On the BIFocal podcast, John White and Jason Himmelstein (@bifocalshow) present Episode 197 - Power BI June 2021 Feature Summary
Adam Saxton and Patrick Leblanc (@GuyInACube) present Power BI tips from the Pros – LIVE (July 3, 2021)
Kevin Chant (@kevchant) writes about One Power BI report for both Azure Boards and GitHub
The Hima Bindu talks about What is a Power BI Dashboard? Power BI interview questions and talks about What is self-service BI? Power BI interview questions