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Welcome to the June update! Loads of updates on connectors this time around. Also, DirectQuery support for Dataflows is now generally available! On top of that, we are happy to announce the preview of the paginated reports visual – we know many of you have been eagerly awaiting it, so take it for a spin and provide your feedback! Our Small Multiples and DirectQuery for Power BI datasets and Azure Analysis Services previews are still ongoing and receiving some updates this month.
There is much more, so read on!
Here is the full list of June updates:
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We’ve also added conditional formatting to small multiple title and background colors. Click the fx button next to their corresponding options in the formatting pane to launch the conditional formatting dialog, where you can set rules by which the chart elements are colored. With this functionality, your small multiple titles and backgrounds can assist in communicating important aspects of your data.
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Let’s look at this improvement in further detail. For ambiguous questions, Q&A assumptions could be based on the model or use of certain syntax, such as implicit aggregations or other derived entities. In the example question below, we see that the question “top products” is too vague, but Q&A made multiple assumptions based off the model and returned the result for Top 10 products by product unit price.
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In the 'Showing results for’ restatement, “10” and “by product unit price” are shown in bold because Q&A made these assumptions to return a useful result. The user can then click on the restatement for the visual to automatically update the question and tweak the question further.
We continue to make optimizations to the underlying connector to support import scenarios as well, such as query folding support for dataset refreshes on top of dataflows. We also plan to make connecting to dataflows easier by bringing a unified Power Platform and Power BI Dataflows connector. Lastly, we plan to bring a Dataflows connector to Excel. Stay tuned for updates!
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How to get started?
As a prerequisite, you’ll need to enable and setup Dynamic M Query Parameters. You can learn more how to do this in our documentation. Once you have the feature enabled and setup a Dynamic M Query Parameter, you can now begin the setup process to support Select all. Let’s use the following scenario as an example.
Within the Model tab of Power BI Desktop, you can see we have a field called Country (list of countries) that is bound to an M parameter called countryNameMParameter:
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You’ll also notice that this parameter is enabled for Multi-select but not enabled for Select all.
When we enable the Select all toggle, we’ll see an enabled input called Select all value:
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The Select all value (which defaults to ‘__SelectAll__’) is used to refer to the Select all option in the M Query. This value is passed to parameter as a list that contains the value you defined for select all. Therefore, when you are defining this value or using the default value, you will need to make sure that this value is unique and does not exist in the field bound to the parameter.
Once you have set the value or used the default value for Select all, you will then need to update the M Query to account for this Select all value.
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To edit the M Query, you will need first launch the Power Query Editor and then select Advanced Editor in the Query section:
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In the Advanced Editor, we need to add a Boolean expression that will evaluate to true if the parameter is enabled for Multi-select and contains the Select all value (else return false). For our example that would look like this:
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Next, we will need to incorporate the result of this Select all Boolean expression into the source query. For our example, we have a Boolean query parameter in the source query called ‘includeAllCountries’ that is set to the result of the Boolean expression from the previous step. We then use this parameter in a filter clause in the query, such that false for the Boolean will filter to the selected country name(s) and a true would effectively apply no filter:
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For reference here is the full query we used:
let
selectedcountryNames = if Type.Is(Value.Type(countryNameMParameter), List.Type) then
Text.Combine({"'", Text.Combine(countryNameMParameter, "','") , "'"})
else
Text.Combine({"'" , countryNameMParameter , "'"}),
selectAllCountries = if Type.Is(Value.Type(countryNameMParameter), List.Type) then
List.Contains(countryNameMParameter, "__SelectAll__")
else
false,
KustoParametersDeclareQuery = Text.Combine({"declare query_parameters(",
"startTimep:datetime = datetime(", DateTime.ToText(StartTimeMParameter, "yyyy-MM-dd hh:mm"), "), " ,
"endTimep:datetime = datetime(", DateTime.ToText(EndTimeMParameter, "yyyy-MM-dd hh:mm:ss"), "), ",
"includeAllCountries: bool = ", Logical.ToText(selectAllCountries) ,",",
"countryNames: dynamic = dynamic([", selectedcountryNames, "]));" }),
ActualQueryWithKustoParameters =
"Covid19
| where includeAllCountries or Country in(countryNames)
| where Timestamp > startTimep and Timestamp < endTimep
| summarize sum(Confirmed) by Country, bin(Timestamp, 30d)",
finalQuery = Text.Combine({KustoParametersDeclareQuery, ActualQueryWithKustoParameters}),
Source = AzureDataExplorer.Contents("help", "samples", finalQuery, [MaxRows=null, MaxSize=null, NoTruncate=null, AdditionalSetStatements=null]),
#"Renamed Columns" = Table.RenameColumns(Source,{{"Timestamp", "Date"}, {"sum_Confirmed", "Confirmed Cases"}})
in
#"Renamed Columns"
Once you have updated your M Query to account for this new Select all value, you can now use the Select all function in slicers or filters:
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Limitations and considerations
Note that Dynamic M Query parameters do not support Exclude / Not in filters; therefore, selecting a value after select all has been pressed will not deselect that value and produce an unsupported exclude filter. Instead, this scenario produces an Include / In filter for that selected value.
We are excited to announce the release of the Assemble Views connector in Power BI Desktop. Here’s more about the connector from the Assemble Views team:
“Assemble Insight is part of the Autodesk Construction Solutions product family, which enables users to view and leverage building information models (BIM) in the cloud. Allowing users to condition their models using advanced filtering to aggregate, add, and update fields within the model. This conditioning can then be saved as views, relevant to users with various roles on the project.
The Assemble Views Power Query connector allows users to extract this model data in pre-packaged datasets (views). Once imported into Power BI, users can employ these views using the analytics tools available to create complex workflows and reports. Data trends can be quickly identified by including a date parameter that specifies the point in time for which to load the data”
We are also excited to announce the release of the BQE Core connector in Power BI Desktop. Here’s more about the connector from the BQE Core team:
“BQE CORE is proud to offer its Power BI connector directly through the Microsoft Power BI app. This connector gives users the ability to seamlessly import their raw CORE data into the Power BI application, as well as transform it into meaningful, centralized, visual and interactive insights for their business. While the connector was previously offered as a manual integration through our training department, this streamlined installation from the Power BI app will help CORE customers create custom dashboards and reports, and ultimately make more informed business decisions.
Visit the Power BI Forum to learn just how powerful this connector really is – and why you can’t afford to be without it!”
Our third new connector this month is the release of the SumTotal connector in Power BI Desktop. Here’s more about the connector from the SumTotal team:
“This connector will help to launch SumTotal platform OData APIs as datasets within the Power BI Desktop application”.
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Customers can now create reports and dashboards using modern Business Central APIs, including the built-in APIs v2.0 provided with Business Central and also any custom APIs created by partners or makers. This gives users access to better and faster data analytics in Power BI while maintaining full backward compatibility. Learn more about Business Central and Power BI integration.
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As a data owner, when you have a dataset that is trustworthy and that you consider as having data that others can benefit from and use to create their own reports, then you most probably will want to endorse it first (either promote it or certify it).
With this release, as an admin or a member of a workspace, when you endorse a dataset, by default you’ll also be making it discoverable by other users, who can then request access to it if they don’t have access already. In this way you’ll be making data accessible to users while also reducing data duplication in your org by making sure users can find the data they need in Power BI instead of recreating it.
We have taken care to protect this feature, using two layers:
Once you have made the dataset discoverable, other users in your org will be able to find it and request access to it in the Datasets Hub. Soon we will also expose these discoverable datasets in Power BI Desktop, when getting data from Power BI datasets, and in Power BI service, through the Create experience.
In the image below, Account revenues is a dataset without access that was set as discoverable by its owners. Note how it is greyed out.
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Read more about this feature in our documentation.
In many cases, getting access to data goes through a process that is unique to your org and to your dataset. Sometimes end-users are required to go through specific training to get access. Other times, end-users are directed to an organizational app where they can be added as members of an Active Directory security group. Recognizing the variety of processes for requesting and granting access, we allow any dataset owner (workspace admin/member/contributor) to customize per-dataset instructions for how to get access. When an end-user requests access to the dataset, they will be shown a dialog message with details about how to get access.
By default, if no instructions were set, the access request will be sent by email to the user who created the dataset or to the one who assumed ownership.
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Read more about this feature in our documentation.
Power BI mandatory label policy can be configured in the Microsoft 365 compliance center as part of a label policy published to users.
Power BI mandatory label policy is separate from mandatory label policy for Office files and emails, and can be turned on and off independently of the Office settings. Read more in our documentation.
Read more about getting started with dataflows and other content in deployment pipelines.
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This can help Power BI admins handle a situation of an ‘orphaned pipeline’, where there’s no pipeline admin available and no one can access that pipeline. Similarly, Admin can use the APIs to ‘free’ a workspace that is assigned to an ‘orphaned pipeline’.
Read more in our documentation.
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To Enable the Windows app’s new look, get the latest version of the Windows app from the store and open it. Once it’s open, you’ll see the “New look” toggle at the top of the screen. Toggle it on to immediately start enjoying the new look - no need to restart the app!
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Drill Down Combo Bar PRO by ZoomCharts allows you to combine multiple chart types (line, bar, area), stack, and cluster series in multiple ways and apply rich customization options for each series. Explore multiple drill-down levels, set up to 3 thresholds to demonstrate targets or benchmarks, customize axes, legends, stacks, tooltip, fill settings and outlines, and get equal experience on any device. Use the new updated version of Drill Down Combo Bar for an even better experience. Among the main features of our Drill Down Combo Bar PRO you will find:
Learn more about Drill Down Combo Bar Pro.
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The top chart shows the two values (Last Year and Current Year. This allows the user to identify the growing (ie. Adventure Works) versus the shrinking (ie Fabrikam) brands. Optionally the user can include the variance chart (second chart) to increase the emphasis on the difference between the two values.
Don’t hesitate and try the Dumbbell Bar Chart now on your own data by downloading it from the AppSource. All features are available for free to evaluate this visual within Power BI Desktop.
Questions or remarks? Visit us at: https://visuals.novasilva.com.
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The high information density of a graphomate bubble chart results from the mapping of up to five key figures. For example, deviations from a previous year’s value can be plotted on the arc.
Benefit from the seamless integration of our custom visuals and use filters and slicers side by side with the standard visuals. Enhance your visual through the use of conditional formatting, display of small multiples or connect bubbles to represent the development over time. Explore the different bubbles charts here.
Go ahead and try the graphomate bubbles by downloading it from the AppSource. Find the detailed documentation here or try a sample report.
Watch the video to see new functionalities
Smart comments — Adding comments to your reports has never been easier. Simply add your comment data field to the visual to display your comments in a beautiful way. Right inside the visual!
Flexible row formatting — If you want to highlight important elements in your table or when displaying different KPIs in the same table, you can now completely customize the design of each row (font, colors, number format).
Dark mode — No matter what kind of theme you’re using for reports, Zebra BI now fully supports it (works both in Tables and Charts).
For other important new features and improvements in the Zebra BI Tables visual visit Zebra BI for Power BI – 5.0.
Watch the video to see new functionalities
Advanced stacked charts — To bridge the gap in data visualization, Zebra BI launched powerful stacked area and column charts.
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Smart comments — Adding comments to your reports has never been easier. Simply add your comment data field to the visual to display your comments in a beautiful way. It will automatically generate the title based on the category name and even calculate variance for you when applicable.
For more exciting news about the Zebra BI Charts visual visit Zebra BI for Power BI – 5.0.
Until today, after installing a template app update, users also had to go to the template app workspace and re-publish the organizational app to enjoy the update. Many users found this step confusing and were unsure about what to do. The result was that the org app often did not get updated, and thus never included the recent changes and improvements. Now, when you install a template app update, you can choose to update the organizational app as well, enabling you to update the app, navigate to it directly, and continue your work!
The new capability works as follows: When you install an update, you’ll notice a new option in the update dialog:
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Selecting this new option will install the updates and republish the org app.
You will be notified when update and republish finishes successfully – you are all set to go!
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The updated app will now include any updated app branding, such as app name, logo, and navigation, as well as the latest publisher improvements to content. In fact, users who have not made changes to the app’s content can go to the app. Learn more.
Salesforce Analytics for Sales Managers includes visuals and insights for analyzing your marketing performance.
The out of box dashboard provides key metrics such as your sales pipeline, best accounts and KPI's. Drill into the report for more details on each aspect including fully interactive visuals to help you explore your data further.
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The Salesforce analytics app is brought to you by the Power BI team and is available on AppSource – we’ve made sure you can also download the .pbix file after installation - allowing full customization of the report and queries.
Learn more about the app’s functionality in our documentation.
Get Salesforce Analytics for Sales Managers from AppSource.
To give some context to this change, we’re starting the process of making infrastructure changes to start using WebView2 in place of CefSharp. This switch will better optimize our development and release process (which means more time for new and improved features!) and means that you’ll automatically get the latest security patches as the WebView2 team releases them instead of waiting for us to update Power BI Desktop.
We’ll provide more information about the transition and how it may impact the installation process down the line in next month’s blog.
Also, don't forget to vote on your favorite feature this month over on our community website.
As always, keep voting on Ideas to help us determine what to build next.
We are looking forward to hearing from you!
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