Integrate C# code in powerbi report

[powerbidev123]

Requirement:
I need to display a downloadable PDF URL link in a Power BI report. The URL should contain an encrypted ID.

Problem Statement:

• The downloadable PDF URL is generated using an ID that is encrypted via a third-party DLL from a cryptography package.
• The encryption and URL generation are implemented in C# code.
• I need to integrate this encrypted URL into my Power BI report so that users can access and download the PDF.

Query:

• What is the best approach to include this encrypted PDF URL in Power BI?
• How can I generate and display this URL dynamically in the report while ensuring proper encryption is applied?
• Are there any Power BI limitations or best practices I should consider when handling such encrypted URLs?

Would appreciate any guidance on the best way to implement this. Thanks in advance!

[Sahir_Maharaj · Accepted solution]

Hello @powerbidev123,

Since Power BI cannot run C# code natively, the best approach is to:

1. Host the C# encryption logic in an Azure Function, API, or Power Automate connector.
2. Call this API from Power BI to dynamically generate the encrypted URL.

a) So basically, a Power Automate Flow will take the unencrypted ID from Power BI.

using System;
using System.Web.Http;
using System.Security.Cryptography;
using System.Text;

public static class EncryptIDFunction
{
    [FunctionName("EncryptID")]
    public static async Task<IActionResult> Run(
        [HttpTrigger(AuthorizationLevel.Function, "get")] HttpRequest req)
    {
        string id = req.Query["id"];
        if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(id)) return new BadRequestObjectResult("Missing ID");

        string encryptedId = EncryptID(id);
        string url = $"https://yourdomain.com/download?file={encryptedId}";
        
        return new OkObjectResult(new { pdfUrl = url });
    }

    private static string EncryptID(string id)
    {
        using (var aes = Aes.Create())
        {
            aes.Key = Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes("your-32-byte-key");
            aes.IV = Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes("your-16-byte-iv");
            
            var encryptor = aes.CreateEncryptor();
            byte[] encryptedBytes = encryptor.TransformFinalBlock(
                Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(id), 0, id.Length);
            
            return Convert.ToBase64String(encryptedBytes);
        }
    }
}

b) Then, the Flow calls an Azure Function or C# Web API to encrypt the ID.

c)Finally, the encrypted URL is returned to Power BI and displayed in a table.

[Sahir_Maharaj · Accepted solution]

Hello @powerbidev123,

Since Power BI cannot run C# code natively, the best approach is to:

1. Host the C# encryption logic in an Azure Function, API, or Power Automate connector.
2. Call this API from Power BI to dynamically generate the encrypted URL.

a) So basically, a Power Automate Flow will take the unencrypted ID from Power BI.

using System;
using System.Web.Http;
using System.Security.Cryptography;
using System.Text;

public static class EncryptIDFunction
{
    [FunctionName("EncryptID")]
    public static async Task<IActionResult> Run(
        [HttpTrigger(AuthorizationLevel.Function, "get")] HttpRequest req)
    {
        string id = req.Query["id"];
        if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(id)) return new BadRequestObjectResult("Missing ID");

        string encryptedId = EncryptID(id);
        string url = $"https://yourdomain.com/download?file={encryptedId}";
        
        return new OkObjectResult(new { pdfUrl = url });
    }

    private static string EncryptID(string id)
    {
        using (var aes = Aes.Create())
        {
            aes.Key = Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes("your-32-byte-key");
            aes.IV = Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes("your-16-byte-iv");
            
            var encryptor = aes.CreateEncryptor();
            byte[] encryptedBytes = encryptor.TransformFinalBlock(
                Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(id), 0, id.Length);
            
            return Convert.ToBase64String(encryptedBytes);
        }
    }
}

b) Then, the Flow calls an Azure Function or C# Web API to encrypt the ID.

c)Finally, the encrypted URL is returned to Power BI and displayed in a table.

[powerbidev123 · Accepted solution]

Hi @Sahir_Maharaj , let me check this. Will get back to you if this solution works