Power BI Weekly

Issue #75 - 8th September 2020

Big news for those of you using multi-dimensional models - DAX-based clients (e.g. Power BI Desktop) can now use 'SuperDAX' functions to boost performance. Read more in this blog: Improving Power BI performance when querying multidimensional models. This week we've also been given the Power BI Paginated Reports August 2020 Update including changes to authentication, data sources and parameters. We've also been told that the Azure S8 and S9 Analysis Services SKUs are retiring on 31 August 2023 and that the Power BI Workspace Collection is being retired on 31 August 2021.

Elsewhere this week, Didier Terrien has described how to Compare DAX and M formulas in Visual Studio Code using the Power BI Sidetools external tool, Reid Havens has given a nice introduction to the Azure Map Visual in Power BI, and Philip Treacy has written a detailed introductory blog on Power Query Custom Functions.

🛠️ Data Prep

Chris Webb (@cwebb_bi) writes about The M Behind The New Power Query Data Types In Excel
Ben Gribaudo (@bgribaudo) shares Power Query M Primer (Part 19): Type System IV – Ascription, Conformance and Equality’s “Strange” Behaviors
Gilbert Quevauvilliers (@GilbertQue) describes How to automate your data to always store the last 2 years of data using Power Query
Lars Schreiber (@SchreiberLars) writes about Fast table construction with Table.FromColumns and lists with metadata records
On myOnlineTraininghub, Philip Treacy (@OnlineTrainingH) covers Power Query Custom Functions
Vivek Ranjan (@imvivran) shares Three Tips for a Better Experience – Power Query
On the Excel Basement YouTube channel, Rahim Zulfiqar Ali (@rahimzulfiqar) talks about DataFormat.Error, DateTime value (Import, Append, Split, Merge Columns) Power Query - Ideas Feature
On the Enterprise DNA blog, Sam McKay (@_EnterpriseDNA) talks about Organizing Your Queries: Power BI Query Editor Tutorial, writes about Advanced Transformations in Power BI and describes Creating A Date Table In Power BI

🧩 Data Modeling

On the SQLBI blog, Alberto Ferrari (@FerrariAlberto) covers Using calculation groups to selectively replace measures in DAX expressions
Lars Schreiber (@SchreiberLars) shares a Chat with Marco Russo
Chandeep Chhabra (@chandeep2786) blogs about Understanding DAX ALLSELECTED Function
On the BI Power blog, Didier Terrien explains how to Compare DAX and M formulas in Visual Studio Code
On the Business Intelligist blog, Business Intelligist (@bizintelligist) discusses Working with Inventory, Balancesheet and Headcount Type Data (Semi-additive measures and LASTNONBLANKVALUE() Power BI DAX Tutorial), explains How to Use Correlation Plot to Improve Storytelling and Analysis in Power BI and covers CONTAINSROW() vs. INTERSECT() Power BI Functions: Pros and Cons and When to Use
Belinda Allen (@MsBelindaAllen) blogs about Renaming and Hiding Fields in Microsoft Power BI
On the Forsight BI blog, Zainab Balogun provides A Step By Step Guide To Creating A Custom Calendar Table In Power BI (Part 3)
On the Enterprise DNA blog, Brian Julius describes How To Date Harvest In Power BI Using DAX
Also on the Enterprise DNA blog, Nick Mone talks about Format Currencies In Power BI Using DAX
Also on the Enterprise DNA blog, Sam McKay (@_EnterpriseDNA) shares a Staff Turnover Calculation In Power BI Using DAX – HR Insights, and on YouTube, describes how to Showcase Top Five Customer This Period vs Last Period - DAX Insights Using TOPN and describes How To Work Through Extensive DAX Formulas In Power BI - Formatting Tips Included
Parker Stevens (@PowerBIElite) talks about DAX for Power BI - Understanding Filter Context
On the RADACAD YouTube channel, Reza Rad (@Rad_Reza) explains how to Stop DAX Cumulative Total Calculation in Power BI
Dhruvin Shah (@DhruvinShah16) explains how to Exclude Blank Records from Distinct Count in Power BI
The SQL Data Partners podcast team (@sqldatapartners) presents Episode 205: Data modeling for Power BI

📊 Report Authoring and Interactivity

On the Power BI community blog, Pragati writes about Current & Previous Year Sales Based on a Selection in Power BI and describes how to Toggle Between Charts in Power BI
On the Towards Data Science blog, Nikola Ilic (@DataMozart) describes how to Push Card visuals to a new level in Power BI
Patrick Leblanc (@GuyInACube) talks about A different perspective with Power BI Personalized Visuals
Reid Havens (@HavensBI) introduces the Azure Map Visual in Power BI
Belinda Allen (@MsBelindaAllen) describes Using DAX with Conditional Formatting in Microsoft Power BI
Sam McKay (@_EnterpriseDNA) describes how to Showcase Unique Insights Using Conditional Formatting Within Charts - Power BI Visual Tips and describes how to Dynamically Showcase Ranked Groups Visually Over Time In Power BI
Ruth Pozuelo Martinez (@CurbalEN) describes how to Show last label only on a line chart in Power BI
Marcus Wegener (@PowerBIler) shares Hey Peter! Power BI Visual Interaktionen bearbeiten [German]
Also on LaDataWeb, Bruno Zurita writes Leyes de UX aplicadas a Power Bi - Episodio 2 [Spanish]

🚀 Deployment, Security and Operations

On the Power BI blog, Kay Unkroth describes Improving Power BI performance when querying multidimensional models
Ruth Pozuelo Martinez (@CurbalEN) talks about 9 ways to share your Power BI reports
On the Prologika blog, Teo Lachev (@tlachev) writes about an Organizational Semantic Model
Rafael Mendonça (@rafaelmpsantos) writes Inserindo usuários em lote numa workspace [Portuguese]
On the Power BI community blog, Greg Deckler (@GregDeckler) discusses Power BI Usage Models in Pictures

🌐 General

On the Power BI blog, Swati Gupta shares the Power BI Paginated Reports August 2020 Updates
The Azure updates team highlights that Azure S8 and S9 Analysis Services SKUs retiring on 31 August 2023
The Azure updates team describes how to Start using Power BI Embedded to access, share and distribute content easily
The Knee-Deep in Tech team (@KneeDeepinTech) shares Podcast episode 129
Neil Hambly (@Neil_Hambly) shares some exam resources: DA-100 Power BI Exam Preparation Day 30 of 31 Microsoft Certified: Data Analyst Associate, Power BI Training - DA-100 Exam Cram - Episode 02 and DA-100 Power BI Exam Preparation Day 31 of 31 Microsoft Certified: Data Analyst Associate
Mark Walter (@markwaltercpa) covers Learning from the Power BI Community – Top 10
Adam Saxton (@GuyInACube) shares the recording: Power BI tips from the Pros – LIVE w/ Matthew Roche (Sept 5, 2020) (Member Chat 2nd Half)
Matthew Roche (@SQLAllFather) describes Migrating to Power BI
Gil Raviv (@gilra) writes about the Updates to COVID-19 Power BI App on AppSource
Dhruvin Shah (@DhruvinShah16) describes how to Navigate through Power BI Apps and Report from Power BI Mobile App
Microsoft Power BI shares a number of case studies: How the Wonderful Company is finding a single source of truth with Power BI, How Rockwell Automation is building a world-class Power BI Center of Excellence, How Arla Foods enabled big data and self-service analytics with Power BI, How Electrolux AB is using cloud scale analytics for efficiency with Power BI, How T-Mobile is leveraging business intelligence reporting with Power BI and How Standard Bank is using Power BI and BI+
On the Power BI Community blog, KAHamilton shares Experience innovations that power transformation at the Microsoft Business Applications Launch Event