Dynamics 365 operations reporting

[maverick512]

We are deploying D365 operations /AX7.  I downloaded content packs for D365 operations from LCS. Yet it seems the content packs only support direct query mode, which means I have to develop reports on the ERP server literally. Using direct query mode also means D365 needs to have the entity store (SQL db) set up as well. Am I missing anything here? It seems basically, I can't develop D365 reports using my local PC and desktop tool at all, everything has to be on the ERP server, since entity store is not reachable from my desktop.   

[CahabaData]

I have just assumed that Dynamics is platformed on SQL Server - and that one could connect PBI desktop to Views..... and that Dynamics 365 was the web version and therefore platformed on Azure SQL Server....so much the same....    am hoping this is the case as I expect to get involved in this and would be interested in a preview of linking to the Server views.

[Greg_Deckler]

Can you use the content packs in the Power BI Service?

[maverick512]

Haven't gone that far yet.  You are correct, it is really just reporting against an azure sql server db. 

https://ax.help.dynamics.com/en/wiki/power-bi-content-from-microsoft-and-your-partners/

I'm just following the tutorial above.  When I run the content pack from the BI desktop, I get following error: 

Combining DirectQuery and imported data isn't supported

any ideas how to fix that? 

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Hi @maverick512,

In Power BI Desktop, when using DirectQuery mode to connect to SQL Server data source, all the data must come from same database, and we are not able to combine DirectQuery mode and import mode in a single PBIX file.

If you want to combine data from different SQL Server databases in a single PBIX file, you can switch DirectQuery mode to Import mode by clicking “Direct Query: Enabled (click to change)” on the status bar bottom right corner.

Thanks,
Lydia Zhang

[Anonymous]

Hi, can you please confirm that the route to publish PowerBI content to the Prod environment via LCS is still going to work if the model is changed to an Import Model? 

Thanks, Dan

[ssnapir]

This is not a good solution because then the online reports are not refreshed.

To make the reports work with Direct query you need to do the following:

- Open the report on BI desktop

- go directly to Edit Queries

- From the Edit Queries change the Data Source Settings to the correct one: .\axDW.

- Do Refresh Preview on all queries.

- Apply and close. then the reports will work with direct query mode.

Any other route I've tried of changing the data source ended with errors. this is the only way that worked.

[Rvn86]

I found this thread looking for an answer to another question, but you may have some input to me. 

What is the update frequency of the content packs? With direct query against an entity in D365FO, is it close to live data?

Thank you 🙂

[CahabaData]

use the content packs in the Power BI Service - not desktop

and then a content pack is a content pack - - one can't customize the data modeling (I don't think...)

am no expert in content packs by any means so just parroting back what I've read here......