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edwardrmiles's avatar
edwardrmiles
Helper III
10 years ago
Solved

Source / Version Control for PBIX files

Does anyone have any suggestions for version cotrolling PBIX files?  

 

My primary need would be describing the changes when I check it in.  In a perfect world I'd also be able to compare file elements side by side (e.g. the BIM model and each visual configurtaion)

 

Thanks!

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  • Anonymous's avatar
    Anonymous
    10 years ago

    edwardrmiles Well, I can speak to how it acts in VS 2015. (but I would imagine it works just as well in other versions)

    Create a folder under a solution, add your PBIX files.
    Double click on your PBIX file, and the Power BI Desktop opens.

    Make Changes, and the PBIX file acts like other VS objects and is marked as altered and must be checked back in.

     

14 Replies

  • Anonymous's avatar
    Anonymous
    Not applicable
    10 years ago

    edwardrmiles I don't know about other tools, but you could use Team Foundation Server (TFS) combined with Visual Studio to track and add comments to changes in a check in/ check out procedure.

    • syvargas's avatar
      syvargas
      Microsoft Employee
      8 years ago

      The problem is not placing the PBIX file in source control.  The issue is to compress the PBIX file when it contains data (ie. Import Data Connectivity mode).

      Any ideas? 

    • edwardrmiles's avatar
      edwardrmiles
      Helper III
      10 years ago

      Thanks Anonymous. Would you be able to explain how I can do that? I can't edit a PBIX file directly in Visual Studio (at least I don't think I can) so I'm not sure how would it work? 

      • Anonymous's avatar
        Anonymous
        Not applicable
        10 years ago

        edwardrmiles Well, I can speak to how it acts in VS 2015. (but I would imagine it works just as well in other versions)

        Create a folder under a solution, add your PBIX files.
        Double click on your PBIX file, and the Power BI Desktop opens.

        Make Changes, and the PBIX file acts like other VS objects and is marked as altered and must be checked back in.

         

  • kodonnell's avatar
    kodonnell
    Frequent Visitor
    8 years ago

    This currently works, though the UI hasn't been designed, and it's probably not production ready. Feel free to submit some PRs!

    • realquo's avatar
      realquo
      Advocate I
      8 years ago

      Hi Kodonnell,

      I'm trying to install your solution but I'mstuck at 

      pip install .

      with error

      Spoiler
      Directory '.' is not installable. File 'setup.py' not found.

       

      Could you please provide some help? It would be very appreciated!

       

      TYA,

      SG

      • kodonnell's avatar
        kodonnell
        Frequent Visitor
        8 years ago

        Ah, I don't know if it's actually ready to install yet (need to make that clear in the readme). Just copy the files and run them - no need to install anything.

         

        Can you post on the github issues page in future? Thanks

  • alwyng's avatar
    alwyng
    Regular Visitor
    9 years ago

    We use TFS in conjunction with GIT to source control. Unfortunately the PBIX files aren't text/xml based as you would find in for example SSRS rdl files. But GIT allows us to add a commit message documenting what the change was. Multiple changes=multiple commits. GIT also allows us to source control outside of VS.