This article will give an overview of the Fabric user group experience.
If you are a user group leader, see the section "Your Groups Page" below to learn how to request your user group to be created.
How to Access User Groups
You can access the Fabric user group experience by either selecting User Groups in the header (shown below) or by selecting Fabric user groups from the landing page.
From the Fabric Community landing page, you will click the Fabric user groups button.
Note: If navigating to user groups from the Power BI Community header, use the drop down to select Community, then User Groups.
Discover User Groups and User Group Events
The user group landing page is called the "Discover" page and will provide recommended user groups and events.
Here you can search for a user group by location and/or product. You can also select See all for a full listing of user groups. You will be taken to the search page.
While still on the "Discover" page, you can register for a user group event. You can enter a new location in the location field, select a product, a date, or a format (online or in-person) that fits your criteria. You can also click See all under the results rendered and you will be taken to the search page.
If you know that you are looking for a Networking or Learning event, you can scroll to the bottom of the "Discover" page and choose the one you are looking for. You will be taken to the event search page, already filtered by the type of event chosen.
Search groups
When you click the See all button under "Join a Group" or "Sign up for an event" from the "Discover" page, this will take you to the search page. Here you can search for a user group by location or product, and you can sort how the results are displayed.
Note: To display the list of products in the left pane, you must select the carrot icon to expand.
If you do not see a user group in your location, please feel free to create one by selecting the Start a new group button.
When you start typing a new location in the location field, suggested locations will automatically render.
Any time you see a user group card, you can select the name of a user group or "Learn more" on the group card to visit that group, or select Join now to become a member of that user group.
User Group Info Page
Each user group has a "Group info" page that provides the location of the user group, the details, and the names of the group leaders. Clicking on any of the group leaders or members names will take you to their community profile. You can join the group from here, invite other community members, or share externally.
Once you join a user group, you will see the groups upcoming events in the bottom of the right-rail and the "Message Leaders" button under Group leaders becomes available. Clicking this button will send a PM to the user group leader. If there is more than one user group leader, they will all receive the private message.
If you decide you no longer want to be a member of the user group, simply select the drop-down for You're a member, and choose Leave group.
User Group Discussion Page
The "Discussion" page is used for conversations regarding the user group. You can reply to the author of a post, or an individual response and it will be displayed as inline replies.
User Group Member Page
The "Members" page displays all the members of the user group. Just like on the 'Group info' page, clicking on any of the group leaders or members names will take you to their community profile.
Inviting Community Members to a User Group
Anyone can invite other community members to a user group by clicking 'Invite' in the bottom of the members list from any of the user group pages.
Invites are sent via community private message, using community user names. You can add a personal message to the invite, or copy the link to the user group and share via social media, email, text, etc.
When community members are invited via the "Invite" button, invitees can join the user group by clicking "Join this Group Hub" in the private message they receive.
User Group Events Page
The "Events" page will display upcoming events related to this user group. You do not have to be a member of the user group to join an event.
User Group Resources Page
On the "Resources" page user group leaders can share relevant links with group members.
Your Groups Page
You can access all the user groups you have joined by clicking "Your groups." This page is where you can see a thread of all activity related to your user groups, and you can select Start a new group if you would like to create a new user group.
Note: if you are a new user group leader and would like to create a user group, please visit the following support article to learn how: User Group Leader Get Started Guide.
User Group Events
Any time you see a user group event card, the following information is visible:
- Format: Online, In-person, or both
- The name of the event
- Time and date of the event, displayed in your local timezone
- The name of the user group hosting the event
- Description of the event
- Names of the event speakers
- Location. If the event is online, it will say 'Online event' at the bottom of the card. For in-person events, the event location will display.
You can select the name of the user group event or 'Learn more' on the event card to visit that event page, or select Sign up to sign up for the event.
After you sign up for an event, the Register button will change to Registered.
Event Info Page
When you click on an event, all the details will be shown. You can access the user group that the event is linked to by clicking the name of the group in the top-right corner. You can download a .ics file to add to your calendar, you can share the event, and you will be shown other events you might like at the bottom.
On the Discussions tab, you can start or join in on event related discussions. To the right-side of the Event info page, or under the Attendee's tab, you can see the community users that have registered for this event. By clicking on the Resources tab, you can take a look at any event resources that have been uploaded by the user group leaders.
If decide you no longer want to attend an event, you can use the drop-down for "You're Registered", and then select Cancel registration.
Search events
From the Discover page, when you select the See all button under "Sign up for an event," this will take you to the Search page. Here you can choose an event location by typing in the location box, choose a specific event date, meeting format, and/or select events for a specific product. You can also sort results, and change the display view.
Note: To display the list of options in the left pane, you must select each carrot icon to expand.
When you start searching for an event by typing a new location in the location field, suggested locations will automatically render.
Your Events
You can access all of your user group events, current and past, that you have registerd for by clicking Your events.
If you don't have any events, you can choose Browse events to find one.
If you need user group related support, please submit your support request via our community support form: aka.ms/FabricCommSupport
