Forum Discussion

akj2784's avatar
akj2784
Post Partisan
8 years ago

Data model development using PBI Desktop or Web designer ?

Hi All,

 

We have Azure Analysis Servicers(AAS). I want to understand whether developer should use Web designer to develop the data model or should continue using PBI desktop.?

 

Lets say I have huge data in some of the tables, if I use import method to develop the model in PBI desktop, it takes a lot of time to import and have size limitation of 1 GB.

 

In this scenario can we directly develop on web designer so that we dont have to import such big tables in Power BI file. ?

 

But when I see web designer, I dont see the option to import the tables from Oracle database.

 

Basically I want to understand best practice before I jump in to the development.

 

Regards,

Akash

Need Help

2 Replies

  • TomMartens's avatar
    TomMartens
    Super User
    8 years ago

    Hey,

     

    developing for Azure Analysis Services I would urgently recommend to develop the model using

     

    SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT)

    https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/ssdt/download-sql-server-data-tools-ssdt?view=sql-server-2017

     

    You might also consider to use some kind of source code repository like git or TFS.

     

    Please be aware that SSDT takes some time to get familiar with it, at least if you just developed your models using Power BI Desktop. The Web Development UI is still under construction, so maybe sooner or later it will become as mature as SSDT already is today.

     

    Talking about large tables, it is a good practice to wrap a query around your source table that contains someting like this
    SELECT

    TOP 1000

    ...

    FROM

    SCHEMA.TABLE
    After deploying your model you just have to make sure that you get rid of the TOP 1000 part :-)

     

    Regards

    Tom

    • akj2784's avatar
      akj2784
      Post Partisan
      8 years ago

      Thanks Tom. I understand for developer it is recommended to use SSDT for creating data model.

       

      However, there are business users who are not so technical and may not prefer SSDT.

      Rather Power BI Desktop is user friendly and may be easier for them.

       

      So for them what you suggest is create the data model in PBI desktop by fetching top 1000 records .

      With this we have to change each of the table as SQL based source, create the model, import the desktop file on AAS ?

       

      Or in the Edit Query we just bring top 1000 records and once we import it to AAS, is there any easy way to remove the filter of top 1000 ?