Dynamic Parameter Setup to Denodo in Power BI

[Vasanthrk]

Hi Team,

I am creating reusable template in Power BI, I want to setup Dynamic parameter connection for Denodo, I tried multiple ways but not able to setup that, able to set for source file.now using ODBC to connect Denodo from POwer BI. please provide clear steps to setup the Parameters.

Thanks

Rk

[rohit1991]

Hi @Vasanthrk ,

Setting up a dynamic parameterized connection to Denodo via ODBC in Power BI can be tricky, especially when building a reusable template (.pbit). While Power BI allows parameterization for file sources easily, ODBC sources—like Denodo—don’t support dynamic parameters directly through the standard UI. However, you can work around this by manually constructing a dynamic connection string in Power Query. Start by creating parameters for ServerName, Port, and DatabaseName using Manage Parameters in Power BI.

Then, in Power Query, add a blank query and define a custom connection string using those parameters. Use a script like the one suggested in the community thread, combining your parameters into a string: "Driver={DenodoODBCDriver};Server=" & ServerName & ";Port=" & Number.ToText(Port) & ";Database=" & DatabaseName & ";UID=your_username;PWD=your_password;". You can then use Odbc.DataSource() with this connection string to initiate the data connection. For security, make sure to store credentials securely using a gateway or Windows Credential Manager instead of hardcoding them. Once configured, export the report as a Power BI Template (.pbit), allowing users to input the necessary parameters upon opening. This approach enables flexible deployment across different environments like Dev, Test, and Prod. For further reference, you can consult the official Microsoft documentation on ODBC and Power Query M.

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[v-kpoloju-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi @Vasanthrk,

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft fabric community forum. Also thanks @Akash_Varuna, for his inputs on this thread. I have identified few workarounds that may help resolve the issue.

Based on your description, it appears you are developing a reusable Power BI template that connects to Denodo via ODBC, and you aim to make the connection dynamic by using parameters for the server, database, etc. Although this approach works well for file-based sources, you are encountering difficulties when trying to implement the same technique with Denodo over ODBC.

Note: Power BI does not support directly parameterizing ODBC connection strings through the standard UI in a dynamic way. As a result, you're unable to switch servers or databases dynamically when connecting to Denodo using parameters especially within reusable .pbit templates.

Create Parameters: Go to Home > Manage Parameters > New Parameter, and create: ServerName (e.g., denodo-dev.company.com). Port (e.g., 9999). DatabaseName (e.g., my_db)

Create a Dynamic Connection String: In Power Query Editor, add a Blank Query and paste the following code:

let

    ServerName = ServerNameParameter,

    Port = PortParameter,

    DatabaseName = DatabaseNameParameter,



    ConnectionString =

        "Driver={DenodoODBCDriver};" &

        "Server=" & ServerName & ";" &

        "Port=" & Number.ToText(Port) & ";" &

        "Database=" & DatabaseName & ";" &

        "UID=your_username;" &

        "PWD=your_password;",



    Source = Odbc.DataSource(ConnectionString, [HierarchicalNavigation=true])

in

    Source

Replace your_username and your_password as needed. For production purposes, it is advisable to store credentials securely using Power BI Gateway or Windows Credential Manager instead of embedding them.

Navigate to Your Denodo Tables: After connecting, expand the source to locate your tables. Apply any necessary transformations.

Save as a Template: Go to File > Export > Power BI Template (.pbit). Upon opening, users will be prompted to enter the parameters, such as those for different environments like Dev, Test, or Prod.

If this post helps, then please give us ‘Kudos’ and consider Accept it as a solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

Thank you for using Microsoft Community Forum.

[v-kpoloju-msft]

Hi @Vasanthrk,

May I ask if you have resolved this issue? If so, please mark the helpful reply and accept it as the solution. This will be helpful for other community members who have similar problems to solve it faster.

Thank you.

[v-kpoloju-msft]

Hi @Vasanthrk,

I wanted to check if you had the opportunity to review the information provided. Please feel free to contact us if you have any further questions. If my response has addressed your query, please accept it as a solution and give a 'Kudos' so other members can easily find it.
Thank you.

[v-kpoloju-msft]

Hi @Vasanthrk,

I hope this information is helpful. Please let me know if you have any further questions or if you'd like to discuss this further. If this answers your question, please Accept it as a solution and give it a 'Kudos' so others can find it easily.
Thank you.

[Akash_Varuna]

Hi @Vasanthrk  After connecting to Denodo via ODBC in Power BI, create a dynamic parameter in Manage Parameters with the required settings. Use the parameter in your query by referencing it in the SQL statement dynamically in Power Query (e.g., SELECT * FROM Table WHERE Column = '" & ParameterName & "').