Taster edition of Power BI Weekly!

Ed Freeman
@endjin

📊 Data Prep

• Watch me Clean Messy Data using Claude by Chandeep Chhabra
  The video shows Claude generating and sometimes erroring in Power Query while cleaning LinkedIn post data, stressing the need to review AI-produced code for accuracy.
• Power Query Reconciliations: Match Two Lists and Find Exceptions by Excel University
  Power Query simplifies monthly reconciliations in Excel by automating the matching of two lists and identifying exceptions, reducing errors for CPAs and accountants.
• Connecter Power Query à une table d’un modèle sémantique publié dans Power BI Service [French] by Audrée Pellerin
  You can now pull a live, regularly updated sales table from Power BI Service into Excel using Power Query, eliminating the need to rebuild it manually.

📊 Data Modeling

• TMDL View on the web: Edit semantic models as code in your browser (Preview) by Sara Lammini Rodriguez
  TMDL View on the Web lets Power BI developers edit semantic models as code in a browser-based rich text editor, enhancing workflow efficiency and providing full visibility into model definitions.
• Creating DAX functions with AI to remove duplicated code by Alberto Ferrari
  This article demonstrates how to use AI to refactor DAX code generated by AI, turning duplicated logic into reusable user-defined functions for more efficient and maintainable measures.
• Using Detail Rows Expressions To Drill To A Different Fact Table In Power BI by Chris Webb
  Rules allow drilling from aggregated SalesSummary to detailed SalesDetail tables in Power BI without separate aggregation tables, enhancing data control and efficiency.
• Optimize Your Power BI Model: Use COUNTROWS for Distinct Counts by Phil Seamark
  Using COUNTROWS instead of DISTINCTCOUNT for distinct counts in Power BI models can reduce computational overhead by handling most single-line transactions efficiently while reserving DISTINCTCOUNT for the small subset with multiple lines, potentially cutting processing time and resource usage significantly.
• Optimising DAX: The Formula Engine and Storage Engine by Carmel Eve
  Understanding how Power BI’s Formula Engine and Storage Engine work together reveals that optimizing DAX queries by pushing computations into the fast, multi-threaded Storage Engine significantly improves performance.
• How to Find Hidden Measures in Power BI (Even With Live Connection) by Valerie Junk
  Power BI users can reveal hidden measures in restricted DirectQuery or live connection modes by toggling a specific right-click setting in the field list.
• Return of the Composite Model - Ep.551 - Power BI tips by Power BI Tips
  Composite models help teams break down massive semantic models into manageable hubs and spokes, though they require strict governance to avoid performance issues with DirectQuery.

📊 Report Authoring and Interactivity

• Five Ways to Get Data from Fabric Semantic Models in Excel by Teo Lachev
  Five practical methods exist to extract data from Fabric semantic models into Excel, including exporting reports, using PivotTables, Power Query, and Copilot features, each offering unique benefits and constraints suitable for Excel-savvy business users.
• Restoring alternating rows in Power BI matrices with Fluent 2 by Marco Russo
  Although Power BI’s Fluent 2 design removes alternating row colors from matrices by default, you can easily restore them by changing the Style property to “Default” in the Format pane.
• How to Sync Slicers in Power BI by Chandeep Chhabra
  This tutorial shows how to configure a single Slicer in Power BI so it updates across multiple report pages instantly, streamlining data exploration workflows.
• PBIP PBIR & Agentic AI Development in Power BI | Fabric Insider Ep. 14 by Reza Rad, Rui Romano
  This episode discusses how PBIP and PBIR formats are turning Power BI into a platform for developing agentic AI, allowing real-time semantic model creation and advanced AI skill integration.
• Compare to Forecast Visual by Bas Dohmen
  This Power BI visual lets users interactively compare actuals with multiple forecast scenarios without clutter, using field parameters, dynamic formatting, and advanced visualization techniques.
• Can Fabric Apps Replace Power BI Reports? by Jasmin Simader, Alexander Korn
  Alexander Korn explains how Fabric Apps augment Power BI, detailing use cases, AI impacts on workflow, and practical considerations like security and region setup.
• Dynamic Bins in Power BI Based on User Input | Custom Bin Sizes as Legends (Filipino) by Dane Belarmino
  Learn how to create dynamic bin sizes in Power BI that adjust based on user input, enabling more flexible visualizations and interactive legends.
• Power BI Field Parameters by Pankaj Namekar
  This Power BI tutorial demonstrates how to create dynamic reports using Field Parameters, allowing stakeholders to switch between metrics and dimensions with one click for enhanced interactivity.
• How Do You Apply Conditional Formatting to a Power BI Line Chart? by Rehan Siddiqui
  Learn two methods to apply conditional formatting to Power BI line charts, enabling dynamic line color changes based on data for better trend visualization and report interactivity.

📊 Deployment, Security and Operations

• On-premises data gateway July 2026 release by Goutham Upadhyaya
  The July 2026 on-premises data gateway release version 3000.326 improves manageability, visibility, and governance for connecting on-premises data sources to Azure Fabric services, including updates for the latest Power BI Desktop version.

📊 General

• When Should You START Using Microsoft Fabric? by Patrick LeBlanc
  Discover practical indicators like duplicated Power Query work and increasing analytics complexity that suggest moving from Power BI to Microsoft Fabric can streamline operations reduce manual coordination and scale data solutions more effectively.
• Why AI Won't Replace Your Experience. Ignoring AI Might. by Patrick LeBlanc, Marthe Moengen
  Patrick LeBlanc explains that while AI is transforming analytics, experienced professionals’ trust, validation skills, and business context remain crucial for responsible integration of AI tools.
• Microsoft Fabric Apps Tutorial | Build Actual vs Budget Writeback for Power BI by Atikant Jain
  This video shows how to create a cloud-native Power BI model with live Actual vs Budget reporting by building a Fabric Data App using Rayfin that writes directly to a SQL database, removing the need for spreadsheets and gateways.
• Power BI Desktop Bridge - Ep.552 - Power BI tips by Power BI Tips
  Power BI Desktop Bridge enables external AI agents to modify report files directly, introducing significant governance risks for teams that rely on strict source control.
• Introducing the oceanlib-pbi Repository: Physical Oceanography Calculations for Power BI by Juliana Smith
  The oceanlib-pbi Repository offers Power BI users ready-to-use Physical Oceanography calculations such as sound speed, density estimation, salinity conversion, water mass classification, tidal forecasting, and navigation functions all built in Power Query M and DAX for simplified complex ocean data analysis without extra software.