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Five Minutes to Wow
Five Minutes to Wow

In this article, I reflect on the subjective similarities between using AI-assistive coding tools to make software and using Tableau and Power BI to make dashboards and reports. This is a more anecdotal story than a formal article.

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Recover Power BI reports or models that you can’t download
Recover Power BI reports or models that you can’t download

In this article, I explain several approaches to recover models and reports from a Power BI workspace when the Download this file (.pbix) option is greyed out. These methods involve use of either external tools or a Fabric notebook.

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Fix visuals, replace fields, and mass-format reports in Power BI
Fix visuals, replace fields, and mass-format reports in Power BI

In this article, I explain several use-cases for semantic-link-labs with reports, which involves programmatic modifications to report metadata to streamline certain report management tasks. This article explains how to do this with standard reports; future articles will elaborate about using the methods available for PBIR.

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Managing Power BI reports or models using semantic-link-labs
Managing Power BI reports or models using semantic-link-labs

In this article, I introduce semantic-link-labs, a library based upon semantic-link that you can use in Microsoft Fabric notebooks to help you build, use, manage, and audit not only semantic models, but also reports and other items or parts of Fabric.

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 POWER BI ALCHEMY INDEX

Below are all the articles I have written in the past, organized by topic.

 
 

These articles are about data ETL in Power BI, for example Power Query in datasets, dataflows & data marts, as well as how to connect to and load special data sources.

Connect & transform articles:
How to use Tableau with Power BI and Fabric
How to use Tableau with Power BI and Fabric
Overview of new Microsoft Fabric Power BI Announcements
Overview of new Microsoft Fabric Power BI Announcements
How to manage “Reporting Objects” in a Power BI Dataset
How to manage “Reporting Objects” in a Power BI Dataset
“It Depends” - Power BI Best Practices & Optimizations
“It Depends” - Power BI Best Practices & Optimizations
Power BI Dataflow Checklist
Power BI Dataflow Checklist
Adding tables in Power Query using Tabular Editor
Adding tables in Power Query using Tabular Editor
How to Analyze YouTube & YouTube Music History with Power BI (or Excel)
How to Analyze YouTube & YouTube Music History with Power BI (or Excel)
Visualizing Microsoft Planner & Tasks data in Power BI
Visualizing Microsoft Planner & Tasks data in Power BI
 
 

These articles are about data modelling in Power BI, and external tools like Tabular Editor which make managing a Power BI data model more scalable and efficient.

MODEL & ANALYZE ARTICLES:
Managing Power BI reports or models using semantic-link-labs
Managing Power BI reports or models using semantic-link-labs
The Quality Problem: A Call-to-Arms
The Quality Problem: A Call-to-Arms
Case-sensitive models in Power BI: consequences & considerations
Case-sensitive models in Power BI: consequences & considerations
Format Power Query in Power BI (Updated)
Format Power Query in Power BI (Updated)
DAX.do quiz
DAX.do quiz
Overview of new Microsoft Fabric Power BI Announcements
Overview of new Microsoft Fabric Power BI Announcements
How to unlock new features in Power BI datasets managed with Tabular Editor
How to unlock new features in Power BI datasets managed with Tabular Editor
How to manage “Reporting Objects” in a Power BI Dataset
How to manage “Reporting Objects” in a Power BI Dataset
Learn Tabular Editor with a Quiz (using a C# Script / Macro!)
Learn Tabular Editor with a Quiz (using a C# Script / Macro!)
“It Depends” - Power BI Best Practices & Optimizations
“It Depends” - Power BI Best Practices & Optimizations
Check & Query Data from Tabular Editor
Check & Query Data from Tabular Editor
Run Tabular Editor Macros with Keyboard Shortcuts & Toolbar Buttons
Run Tabular Editor Macros with Keyboard Shortcuts & Toolbar Buttons
Count Measures in Power BI Datasets with Tabular Editor
Count Measures in Power BI Datasets with Tabular Editor
Learn Power BI with Sample Datasets: Part 2 - Personal Data Projects
Learn Power BI with Sample Datasets: Part 2 - Personal Data Projects
Learn Power BI with Sample Datasets: Part 1 - Contoso Data Generator
Learn Power BI with Sample Datasets: Part 1 - Contoso Data Generator
Measure Selection in Power BI
Measure Selection in Power BI
Converting a Power BI Dataset .bim to a .pbix with pbi-tools
Converting a Power BI Dataset .bim to a .pbix with pbi-tools
Power BI Dataset Checklist
Power BI Dataset Checklist
Visualize Power BI Dependencies with Tabular Editor and Mermaid
Visualize Power BI Dependencies with Tabular Editor and Mermaid
Adding tables in Power Query using Tabular Editor
Adding tables in Power Query using Tabular Editor
Assess an Existing Dataset with Tabular Editor 3 - Part 3: Extend DMVs with C# Scripts & Macros
Assess an Existing Dataset with Tabular Editor 3 - Part 3: Extend DMVs with C# Scripts & Macros
Assess an Existing Dataset with Tabular Editor 3 - Step 2: Query DMVs
Assess an Existing Dataset with Tabular Editor 3 - Step 2: Query DMVs
Analyze a Dataset with Tabular Editor 3 - VertiPaq Analyzer
Analyze a Dataset with Tabular Editor 3 - VertiPaq Analyzer
View & Edit Power Query in Tabular Editor
View & Edit Power Query in Tabular Editor
Track Changes in Power BI: Part 3 - Workspace Mode
Track Changes in Power BI: Part 3 - Workspace Mode
Track Changes in Power BI: Part 2 - Tutorial
Track Changes in Power BI: Part 2 - Tutorial
Track Changes in Power BI: Part 1 - Introduction
Track Changes in Power BI: Part 1 - Introduction
A Beginner's Guide to Tabular Editor 3: UI Customization & Code Assist Features
A Beginner's Guide to Tabular Editor 3: UI Customization & Code Assist Features
Tabular Editor - Which License is Right for You? An Interactive Guide.
Tabular Editor - Which License is Right for You? An Interactive Guide.
Tabular Editor – Supercharge your Power BI Development
Tabular Editor – Supercharge your Power BI Development
 
 

These articles are about building good reports & dashboards in Power BI, or other Power BI data solutions, and their distribution within the organization.

visualize & distribute articles:
Fix visuals, replace fields, and mass-format reports in Power BI
Fix visuals, replace fields, and mass-format reports in Power BI
Managing Power BI reports or models using semantic-link-labs
Managing Power BI reports or models using semantic-link-labs
Fix Power BI “Something is wrong with one or more fields”
Fix Power BI “Something is wrong with one or more fields”
The Quality Problem: A Call-to-Arms
The Quality Problem: A Call-to-Arms
KPIs and cards in Power BI
KPIs and cards in Power BI
Basic Line Charts in Power BI
Basic Line Charts in Power BI
Bar Charts in Power BI
Bar Charts in Power BI
Overview of new Microsoft Fabric Power BI Announcements
Overview of new Microsoft Fabric Power BI Announcements
How to manage “Reporting Objects” in a Power BI Dataset
How to manage “Reporting Objects” in a Power BI Dataset
“It Depends” - Power BI Best Practices & Optimizations
“It Depends” - Power BI Best Practices & Optimizations
Learn Power BI with Sample Datasets: Part 2 - Personal Data Projects
Learn Power BI with Sample Datasets: Part 2 - Personal Data Projects
Learn Power BI with Sample Datasets: Part 1 - Contoso Data Generator
Learn Power BI with Sample Datasets: Part 1 - Contoso Data Generator
Measure Selection in Power BI
Measure Selection in Power BI
Power BI App Checklist
Power BI App Checklist
Power BI Dashboard Checklist
Power BI Dashboard Checklist
Power BI Data Visualization - Ideas & Wishlist
Power BI Data Visualization - Ideas & Wishlist
Exploring App Audiences in Power BI
Exploring App Audiences in Power BI
Power BI Report Checklist
Power BI Report Checklist
“We need this report in Power BI”
“We need this report in Power BI”
Disable Auto-scaling in Power BI Visuals
Disable Auto-scaling in Power BI Visuals
Visualize Power BI Dependencies with Tabular Editor and Mermaid
Visualize Power BI Dependencies with Tabular Editor and Mermaid
Fix Visuals or Replace Measures in Power BI Reports using pbi-tools
Fix Visuals or Replace Measures in Power BI Reports using pbi-tools
Track Changes in Power BI: Part 5 - Using pbi-tools
Track Changes in Power BI: Part 5 - Using pbi-tools
Track Changes in Power BI: Part 4 -Reports
Track Changes in Power BI: Part 4 -Reports
How to hide blanks in Cards & KPI visuals in Power BI, easily
How to hide blanks in Cards & KPI visuals in Power BI, easily
Automated Regression Monitoring in Power BI
Automated Regression Monitoring in Power BI
Visualizing Microsoft Planner & Tasks data in Power BI
Visualizing Microsoft Planner & Tasks data in Power BI
How to make effective slope charts in Power BI
How to make effective slope charts in Power BI
How to make a Waffle chart without custom visuals in Power BI
How to make a Waffle chart without custom visuals in Power BI
How to label the latest data point in a Power BI line or area chart
How to label the latest data point in a Power BI line or area chart
 
 

These articles are about topics that relate to the governance & administration of Power BI, including how to manage self-service, monitoring, training, etc.

governance & administration articles:
How to use Tableau with Power BI and Fabric
How to use Tableau with Power BI and Fabric
Overview of new Microsoft Fabric Power BI Announcements
Overview of new Microsoft Fabric Power BI Announcements
Power BI Analyze-in-Excel Checklist
Power BI Analyze-in-Excel Checklist
Training Power BI End-Users with reporTee
Training Power BI End-Users with reporTee
The Impact Factor of Power BI External Tools
The Impact Factor of Power BI External Tools
Dimensions of Self-Service in Power BI: Part 1
Dimensions of Self-Service in Power BI: Part 1
Monitoring Power BI using REST APIs from Python
Monitoring Power BI using REST APIs from Python
Get Power BI Dataset Refresh History using Python
Get Power BI Dataset Refresh History using Python
Get Publish-to-Web & Org. share links from Power BI API with Python
Get Publish-to-Web & Org. share links from Power BI API with Python
Get Workspaces from Power BI API with Python
Get Workspaces from Power BI API with Python
Get Deployment Pipelines from Power BI API with Python
Get Deployment Pipelines from Power BI API with Python
Extracting Power BI Tenant Settings with Power Automate Desktop
Extracting Power BI Tenant Settings with Power Automate Desktop
Track Changes in Power BI: Part 5 - Using pbi-tools
Track Changes in Power BI: Part 5 - Using pbi-tools
Track Changes in Power BI: Part 4 -Reports
Track Changes in Power BI: Part 4 -Reports
Track Changes in Power BI: Part 3 - Workspace Mode
Track Changes in Power BI: Part 3 - Workspace Mode
Track Changes in Power BI: Part 2 - Tutorial
Track Changes in Power BI: Part 2 - Tutorial
Track Changes in Power BI: Part 1 - Introduction
Track Changes in Power BI: Part 1 - Introduction
Automated Regression Monitoring in Power BI
Automated Regression Monitoring in Power BI

These articles are about the important topic of how to grow a Data Culture in your organization, and drive adoption of your Power BI solution. These topics are generally non-technical.

Adoption & Data Culture Articles:
The Quality Problem: A Call-to-Arms
The Quality Problem: A Call-to-Arms
Solve the Right Problems
Solve the Right Problems
Bar Charts in Power BI
Bar Charts in Power BI
Overview of new Microsoft Fabric Power BI Announcements
Overview of new Microsoft Fabric Power BI Announcements
Learn Tabular Editor with a Quiz (using a C# Script / Macro!)
Learn Tabular Editor with a Quiz (using a C# Script / Macro!)
The Data Café - A Secret Sauce for Adoption
The Data Café - A Secret Sauce for Adoption
Designing Models and Reports for your Future Self: Part 1
Designing Models and Reports for your Future Self: Part 1
Training Power BI End-Users with reporTee
Training Power BI End-Users with reporTee
“We need this report in Power BI”
“We need this report in Power BI”
Dimensions of Self-Service in Power BI: Part 2 - The Dimensions of Learning
Dimensions of Self-Service in Power BI: Part 2 - The Dimensions of Learning
Dimensions of Self-Service in Power BI: Part 1
Dimensions of Self-Service in Power BI: Part 1
The value Power BI could bring to Academic Research
The value Power BI could bring to Academic Research
The Goblin Behind the Model
The Goblin Behind the Model
 
 

These articles are about other stuff. Anything I feel like writing about, from mental health to other tools to general industry topics. Generally, they still have relevance to Power BI professionals, indirectly.

MISC. ARTICLES:
Myths, Magic, and Copilot for Power BI
Myths, Magic, and Copilot for Power BI
Fabric is a team sport
Fabric is a team sport
Need some more goblins?
Need some more goblins?
Does it feel like too much?
Does it feel like too much?
How to set table or matrix column widths in a Power BI report
How to set table or matrix column widths in a Power BI report
Analyze Video Game Data for Personal Data Projects
Analyze Video Game Data for Personal Data Projects
Playing Dungeons & Dragons was the best thing I did for my Power BI career
Playing Dungeons & Dragons was the best thing I did for my Power BI career
DAX.do quiz
DAX.do quiz
Snek! The First Video Game for Tabular Editor 3.
Snek! The First Video Game for Tabular Editor 3.
Smart Buttons & Power BI Reporting
Smart Buttons & Power BI Reporting
Advance Your Career & Learning with Data Communication
Advance Your Career & Learning with Data Communication
You can do this, dammit
You can do this, dammit
Looking for your input for a future session about Mental Health
Looking for your input for a future session about Mental Health
Sci to BI - Similarities between Science & Business Intelligence
Sci to BI - Similarities between Science & Business Intelligence
Can't Enable Audit Log in Office Compliance Portal
Can't Enable Audit Log in Office Compliance Portal
Formatting Code for Blogs & Websites
Formatting Code for Blogs & Websites
Running PowerShell from a Python GUI
Running PowerShell from a Python GUI
How to Analyze YouTube & YouTube Music History with Power BI (or Excel)
How to Analyze YouTube & YouTube Music History with Power BI (or Excel)
How to create an Azure DevOps Repo using Git & Visual Studio
How to create an Azure DevOps Repo using Git & Visual Studio