Extracting Tables, columns, expressions and datatypes from dataflow

[Anonymous]

Hi community,

I have a dataflow with many tables and columns in them and I want to document everything about them specially, table names, columns, data types and if possible the expression behind a column which is created or changed. Is there a way or tool to do that?

Thank you in advance...

[ibarrau · Accepted solution]

Hi. Because dataflows can only be access by PowerBi Desktop, that's your only tool to get information like that.

You can connect to the dataflow and navigate to the list of tables. You can connect to one table and go to advanced editor to remove the last step that opens the table to view the list of tables.

Then add a new column asking for schema. That will be your key code to get the info 

Table.Schema ( [Table here] )

 You can do it for the "Data" column that contains the tables to read schema.

Once you do that, remove all columns except entity and the new one. Then expand the tables at Schema column just created. You will get something like this:

You can then close and apply and create a document at power bi with that info that can be updated 🙂

I hope that helps,