Power BI Simple Report and Update

A quick and dirty set of instructions to get you into a simple report build and manual refresh.

Get Your Data File

Download the file you are going to use and store it someplace on OneDrive that you will remember where it is. You will overwrite this file with every download of new data for that file only.

In Excel, (this part is needed for Step 2)c)i) below)

Open the file and click “File” as if to save but don’t save it. Click “Copy Path”

In Power BI Desktop

1. Choose to create a “Blank Report”
2. Choose to “Get Data”
1. Select “More”
2. Select “Web”
3. From Web dialog appears …
1. Paste from “Copy Path” from the instructions above
2. At the end of the URL, erase the “?web=1”
3. Click “OK”
1. If a SharePoint login/access box appears,
1. Click “Microsoft Account”
2. Click “Sign In” when prompted
3. Click “Connect” after signed in
3. Navigator dialog appears …
1. Choose “Report Result-1”
2. Click “Transform Data”
4. Power Query Editor starts
1. Ensure all columns show the correct “Type”
1. This will look like an ABC or a 123, but should not be both
1. If it is both, click it and chose the correct “Type”
1. Text is always safe, unless you know it will always be a number.
2. Click “Close & Apply” (Top Left Button)
3. Wait for data load. Data is loaded when screen is clear and the Data panel on the right shows your report listed.
5. Power BI Desktop ...
1. Choose the “Table” visualization
2. Expand the Data Point
1. In this case it is “Report-Result-1”
2. Drag and Drop fields into your table to customize.
1. The idea is to get it to a point where you will not need to edit it again (very much)
3.  When modifications to the report are complete
1. Save it somewhere you will know where to find it again.
3. Choose “Publish” from the top bar
4. Choose “My Workspace” on the left
5. Click “Select”
1. After publishing is complete, your report is now in the Power BI Service Online.
2. You can edit it there, as if you were editing it in Desktop.

One adjustment will be needed in the Power BI Service.

1. Click “Workspaces” on the left panel
2. Click “My Workspace”
1. You will see your report name listed twice.
2. Hover over the one that is the “Semantic Model”
3. Click the “. . .” menu and choose “Settings”
4. Under “Data source credentials”
1. Choose Edit Credentials
1. Ensure that Authentication method is “OAuth2”
2. Privacy level should be “Organizational”
3. Sign In

To update the data contained in the report in the Power BI Service Online …

1. Download your file again
1. Store the Therap file where you stored it before and OVERWRITE THE FILE.
2. In the Power BI Service ONLINE
3. Click “Workspaces” on the left panel
4. Click “My Workspace”
1. You will see your report name listed twice.
2. Hover over the one that is the “Semantic Model”
1. You should see a circle arrow appear. Click it to “Refresh Now.”
2. To see if it is finished,
1. Click the Semantic Model name
1. Look and see if there are spinning dots by where it says “Refreshed” date and time.