Skip to main content

Developer APIs

Under Review

Provide API & Library to create local PBIX files

Vote (154) Share
Marco Russo's profile image

Marco Russo on 18 Dec 2014 07:30:44

Enable ISVs and system integrators to generate "personal" PBIX files that have a ready-to-use data model and set of filtered data so that a user can navigate into an "exported" dataset. It would be very useful in many applications and service. This could be the format to exchange data models and not just data. It can only provide benefit to the Power BI service also in terms of user adoption,

Administrator on 18 Dec 2014 07:56:59

Great idea, Marco. Our Developer APIs are still evolving and this is great feedback. Anyone else think this is an area in which we should invest? Please vote!

Comments (15)
Marco Russo's profile image Profile Picture

bc9ce076 2838-434f-ae2c-f20fc5a534cd on 05 Jul 2020 22:35:02

RE: Provide API & Library to create local PBIX files

Indeed a critical feature!

For a start it would be great with just a description of files (and formats) of the PBIX content. I.E. which compression techniques are used etc.

Marco Russo's profile image Profile Picture

5270d86f 5151-47a5-b23c-d24949ffb1a3 on 05 Jul 2020 22:30:06

RE: Provide API & Library to create local PBIX files

It would be great to programmatically create and modify pbix files!

Marco Russo's profile image Profile Picture

f81e7583 a8ea-4d9b-94b2-658fb3297af7 on 05 Jul 2020 22:30:03

RE: Provide API & Library to create local PBIX files

Please foresee such an API / Object model to edit PBIX. We really need to be able to provision reports and dashboard and just change the connection string in them.

Marco Russo's profile image Profile Picture

3f22f54c 2e70-4e21-b4bc-9dcd79a4f87d on 05 Jul 2020 22:26:58

RE: Provide API & Library to create local PBIX files

Karish: Metadata (data model, queries, and reports ) are already text files (PBIX is an Open XML file - it's just a ZIP). However, the data in the model are compressed and require an API to access that feature.

Marco Russo's profile image Profile Picture

de0bd442 f563-48a2-a19a-42a455915517 on 05 Jul 2020 22:26:58

RE: Provide API & Library to create local PBIX files

Another option would be to make pbix a text format. With Tableau we can edit TDS files (simple XML), so we don't actually need an SDK.

Marco Russo's profile image Profile Picture

68829d9c 6c45-4d20-99dc-44c90b515002 on 05 Jul 2020 22:22:55

RE: Provide API & Library to create local PBIX files

Yes it would be great if there is Power BI SDK that can be use by .Net framework to create/update PBIX files via program.

Marco Russo's profile image Profile Picture

7edacfa1 b4b5-42b3-9a0b-12801b8d7d50 on 05 Jul 2020 22:22:09

RE: Provide API & Library to create local PBIX files

This is a critical feature for ISV adoption of PowerBI Embedded! The ability to programmatically create the PBIX, then publish and embed, is a key enabler.

Marco Russo's profile image Profile Picture

bb3e2ed8 c8c8-42db-88e0-1dabc8e5c3d1 on 05 Jul 2020 22:21:56

RE: Provide API & Library to create local PBIX files

This would allow the ability to programatically add measures to multiple tables. And to reduce human error when doing repetitive tasks. Please add feature/specifications to allow the model to be updated outside of PowerBi. What XML files to edit? etc...

Marco Russo's profile image Profile Picture

8a7ffc87 c2f4-4bc9-a268-60f306ab1bd8 on 05 Jul 2020 22:17:03

RE: Provide API & Library to create local PBIX files

Please!

Marco Russo's profile image Profile Picture

83e78e4e a24d-47bd-b86c-515a57f915c4 on 05 Jul 2020 22:13:05

RE: Provide API & Library to create local PBIX files

It would save a lot of time for us, since we have to create lots of custom reports from many data files and setting up all these data sources are time consuming. Thank you very much in advance for considering this. Any plans to implement it?