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Add "Reading View" to Power BI Desktop

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Kyle Sean Jacobs's profile image

Kyle Sean Jacobs on 03 Mar 2016 05:15:54

Please add the Reading View mode in Power BI Desktop (currently in Power BI online). Also, it would be great if there was a setting to "Open Power BI Desktop report in Reading View". That way users who open the PBI workbook would automatically view it in Reading View.

Comments (6)
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7bbbd119 1929-403d-9d41-071332029469 on 10 Jul 2020 17:21:23

RE: Add "Reading View" to Power BI Desktop

Totally agree with this!

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c6e19264 1e7c-4723-bf25-fa4cbe6da55c on 05 Jul 2020 23:53:34

RE: Add "Reading View" to Power BI Desktop

This would be great! Please MS, take a look!

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eb9c47bc aa86-4172-95a6-1bc01ad7866a on 05 Jul 2020 23:41:04

RE: Add "Reading View" to Power BI Desktop

Yes. It forces to use PBI Service for demoing work in progress of PBI reports

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65386cf3 4bd8-48fa-8a23-ba7a4f535dca on 05 Jul 2020 23:27:06

RE: Add "Reading View" to Power BI Desktop

PLEASE! Irritating to have to remember to turn on LOCK OBJECTS, etc when viewing/checking on desktop.

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65386cf3 4bd8-48fa-8a23-ba7a4f535dca on 05 Jul 2020 23:19:49

RE: Add "Reading View" to Power BI Desktop

I was just wishing I could "hide visual header" someway in desktop. This is especially irritating when you are hovering over/clicking on a button or slicer - no need for this!

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4693ea06 4df3-4510-a3a0-18a299ee5d0f on 05 Jul 2020 22:38:10

RE: Add "Reading View" to Power BI Desktop

The idea "Open PBIX file as read-only" is similar.

I am not sure if this idea goes against MS strategy to encourage users to pay for Power BI Online. By making Power BI desktop more usable outside of Power BI online, perhaps MS thinks it will cause less conversions to the online service.

In my case I think this strategy might be short-sighted. Right now, there still isn't a commercially obvious on-premise server solution offered by Microsoft (not as obvious as the Power BI brand) - not the Pyramid Analytics solution. Without that, Power BI adoption in my org stalls out, as using Power BI online is not an option.

Microsoft would be getting more traction with desktop features such as a reading view mode, in my case, because until such time as a fully branded and obvious on-premise server solution is available, we could be using the desktop version as a complete desktop solution (minus server sharing). I'd be throwing more support and weight behind Power BI personally if such a feature existed. Other desktop features like, a printable view, export to PDF or image, etc. would be along those lines.

Power BI keeps getting better and better though, so don't see my comments as ungrateful! I'd pay a small reasonable license fee for the desktop if it had more of these features - in the short run - until a fully-branded, supported, great on-prem server solution exists.