Power BI Weekly
Issue 370
11th August 2026
Sara Lammini Rodriguez has taken a deeper look at TMDL View on the web, the preview feature (announced a few weeks back) for editing semantic models as code directly in the browser, and it's another step in closing the functionality gap between Power BI Desktop and the Service. Also from the team, we've received the July release of the on-premises data gateway, which brings manageability and governance improvements and now lines up with the latest Power BI Desktop release.
On the community side, there's a pair of DAX performance articles this week. Phil Seamark has shown how swapping DISTINCTCOUNT for COUNTROWS can cut processing time by handling the bulk of single-line transactions more cheaply, reserving the pricier function for the smaller subset that actually needs it. And Carmel Eve has continued the Optimizing DAX series by walking through how the Formula Engine and Storage Engine work together, making the case for pushing more of your DAX logic into the fast, multi-threaded Storage Engine wherever you can.
Finally, Teo Lachev has laid out five ways to pull data from Fabric semantic models into Excel, from simple report exports to PivotTables, Power Query, and Copilot, each suited to a different level of Excel know-how - a useful comparison for reference.
Data Prep
- Watch me Clean Messy Data using Claude The video shows Claude generating and sometimes erroring in Power Query while cleaning LinkedIn post data, stressing the need to review AI-produced code for accuracy.
- Power Query Reconciliations: Match Two Lists and Find Exceptions Power Query simplifies monthly reconciliations in Excel by automating the matching of two lists and identifying exceptions, reducing errors for CPAs and accountants.
- Connecter Power Query à une table d’un modèle sémantique publié dans Power BI Service [French] You can now pull a live, regularly updated sales table from Power BI Service into Excel using Power Query, eliminating the need to rebuild it manually.
Data Modeling
- TMDL View on the web: Edit semantic models as code in your browser (Preview) TMDL View on the Web lets Power BI developers edit semantic models as code in a browser-based rich text editor, enhancing workflow efficiency and providing full visibility into model definitions.
- Creating DAX functions with AI to remove duplicated code This article demonstrates how to use AI to refactor DAX code generated by AI, turning duplicated logic into reusable user-defined functions for more efficient and maintainable measures.
- Using Detail Rows Expressions To Drill To A Different Fact Table In Power BI Rules allow drilling from aggregated SalesSummary to detailed SalesDetail tables in Power BI without separate aggregation tables, enhancing data control and efficiency.
- Optimize Your Power BI Model: Use COUNTROWS for Distinct Counts Using COUNTROWS instead of DISTINCTCOUNT for distinct counts in Power BI models can reduce computational overhead by handling most single-line transactions efficiently while reserving DISTINCTCOUNT for the small subset with multiple lines, potentially cutting processing time and resource usage significantly.
- Optimising DAX: The Formula Engine and Storage Engine Understanding how Power BI’s Formula Engine and Storage Engine work together reveals that optimizing DAX queries by pushing computations into the fast, multi-threaded Storage Engine significantly improves performance.
- How to Find Hidden Measures in Power BI (Even With Live Connection) Power BI users can reveal hidden measures in restricted DirectQuery or live connection modes by toggling a specific right-click setting in the field list.
- Return of the Composite Model - Ep.551 - Power BI tips Composite models help teams break down massive semantic models into manageable hubs and spokes, though they require strict governance to avoid performance issues with DirectQuery.
Report Authoring and Interactivity
- Five Ways to Get Data from Fabric Semantic Models in Excel Five practical methods exist to extract data from Fabric semantic models into Excel, including exporting reports, using PivotTables, Power Query, and Copilot features, each offering unique benefits and constraints suitable for Excel-savvy business users.
- Restoring alternating rows in Power BI matrices with Fluent 2 Although Power BI’s Fluent 2 design removes alternating row colors from matrices by default, you can easily restore them by changing the Style property to “Default” in the Format pane.
- How to Sync Slicers in Power BI This tutorial shows how to configure a single Slicer in Power BI so it updates across multiple report pages instantly, streamlining data exploration workflows.
- PBIP PBIR & Agentic AI Development in Power BI | Fabric Insider Ep. 14 This episode discusses how PBIP and PBIR formats are turning Power BI into a platform for developing agentic AI, allowing real-time semantic model creation and advanced AI skill integration.
- Compare to Forecast Visual This Power BI visual lets users interactively compare actuals with multiple forecast scenarios without clutter, using field parameters, dynamic formatting, and advanced visualization techniques.
- Can Fabric Apps Replace Power BI Reports? Alexander Korn explains how Fabric Apps augment Power BI, detailing use cases, AI impacts on workflow, and practical considerations like security and region setup.
- Dynamic Bins in Power BI Based on User Input | Custom Bin Sizes as Legends (Filipino) Learn how to create dynamic bin sizes in Power BI that adjust based on user input, enabling more flexible visualizations and interactive legends.
- Power BI Field Parameters This Power BI tutorial demonstrates how to create dynamic reports using Field Parameters, allowing stakeholders to switch between metrics and dimensions with one click for enhanced interactivity.
- How Do You Apply Conditional Formatting to a Power BI Line Chart? Learn two methods to apply conditional formatting to Power BI line charts, enabling dynamic line color changes based on data for better trend visualization and report interactivity.
Deployment, Security and Operations
- On-premises data gateway July 2026 release The July 2026 on-premises data gateway release version 3000.326 improves manageability, visibility, and governance for connecting on-premises data sources to Azure Fabric services, including updates for the latest Power BI Desktop version.
General
- When Should You START Using Microsoft Fabric? Discover practical indicators like duplicated Power Query work and increasing analytics complexity that suggest moving from Power BI to Microsoft Fabric can streamline operations reduce manual coordination and scale data solutions more effectively.
- Why AI Won't Replace Your Experience. Ignoring AI Might. Patrick LeBlanc explains that while AI is transforming analytics, experienced professionals’ trust, validation skills, and business context remain crucial for responsible integration of AI tools.
- Microsoft Fabric Apps Tutorial | Build Actual vs Budget Writeback for Power BI This video shows how to create a cloud-native Power BI model with live Actual vs Budget reporting by building a Fabric Data App using Rayfin that writes directly to a SQL database, removing the need for spreadsheets and gateways.
- Power BI Desktop Bridge - Ep.552 - Power BI tips Power BI Desktop Bridge enables external AI agents to modify report files directly, introducing significant governance risks for teams that rely on strict source control.
- Introducing the oceanlib-pbi Repository: Physical Oceanography Calculations for Power BI The oceanlib-pbi Repository offers Power BI users ready-to-use Physical Oceanography calculations such as sound speed, density estimation, salinity conversion, water mass classification, tidal forecasting, and navigation functions all built in Power Query M and DAX for simplified complex ocean data analysis without extra software.