Managing and maintaining Power BI assets in an organized manner is essential to deliver quality data analysis. A well-structured source control strategy is imperative for this, ensuring efficiency, preventing data loss, and providing version control.
Source control is often overlooked in Power BI projects. Without source control, projects risk losing valuable work, lack traceability to see who made what changes, and cannot ensure stable versions of reports. Additionally, concurrent work on the same report can lead to conflicts and overwritten work. This article recommends adopting a source control strategy using Git and Azure DevOps (formerly Visual Studio Team Services) to enhance your Power BI asset management.
1. Implement Git for local repository
Utilizing a distributed version control system like Git allows users to clone the entire repository containing all project files and history. Enable Git on your local machine and create a GitHub repository for your Power BI project. Here is how to create a Git repository:
# Navigate to the project folder using a command-line interface
cd YourProjectFolder
# Initialize a new Git repository
git init
# Add all files in the project folder to the repository
git add .
# Commit the added files
git commit -m “First commit”
2. Use Azure DevOps for remote repository and collaboration
Storing your Git repository in Azure DevOps facilitates team collaboration, especially when working on the same Power BI reports simultaneously. Azure DevOps supports full integration with Git and provides an interface for repository management. Here is the process to create an Azure Devops repository and push the local Git repository to it:
# Create a new repository on Azure DevOps with the same name as your local repository
# Link the local repository to the Azure DevOps one
git remote add origin https://dev.azure.com/youraccount/yourproject/_git/yourrepository
# Push the local repository to Azure DevOps
git push -u origin –all
3. Branching and Merging
When multiple users are working on the same Power BI reports, we can leverage a branching strategy to prevent conflicts. Each user creates a branch from the main branch (master by default), makes their changes, and commits them to their branch. Once their work is ready to be merged into the main branch, a Pull Request (PR) is created. This PR allows for code reviews and automated validation before the changes are merged into the main branch.
Examples of creating and merging branches in Git:
# Create a new branch
git branch yourbranch
# Switch to the new branch
git checkout yourbranch
# Make changes, commit them to the branch
# Merge your branch into the main branch
git checkout master
git merge yourbranch
By adopting a source control strategy using Git and Azure DevOps, teams can ensure efficient management of Power BI assets, enhance traceability, and prevent conflicts and data loss. This method firmly recommends managing Power BI assets to anyone preparing for the exam DP-500: Designing and Implementing Enterprise-Scale Analytics Solutions Using Microsoft Azure and Microsoft Power BI.
Like any other concept of data science, the best way to master source control strategies for Power BI assets is by implementing them in real-world projects. Explore Git, Azure DevOps, branch management strategies, and resolve conflicts to gain hands-on experience.
Practice Test
True or False: Power BI supports source control.
- True
- False
Answer: True.
Explanation: Power BI supports source control and you can use various version control systems, like Azure DevOps (formerly VSTS), Git, TFS etc. to manage your Power BI files.
Which of the following can be used as version control tool for Power BI development?
- a) Git
- b) Azure DevOps
- c) SVN
- d) Microsoft Teams
Answer: a) Git, b) Azure DevOps.
Explanation: Git and Azure DevOps can be used as version control tool for Power BI. SVN and Microsoft Teams are not used as version control systems.
True or False: Power BI does not allow integration with Azure DevOps.
- True
- False
Answer: False.
Explanation: Power BI allows integration with Azure DevOps to leverage the advantages of source control for Power BI assets.
Which of the following are benefits of using source control with Power BI assets?
- a) Backup and recovery
- b) Versioning
- c) Collaboration
- d) Scheduling
Answer: a) Backup and recovery, b) Versioning, c) Collaboration.
Explanation: Source control offers benefits like versioning, backup and recovery, and collaboration among teams. However, it does not directly help with scheduling.
True or False: Power BI datasets can be source controlled.
- True
- False
Answer: False.
Explanation: Power BI does not currently support source control for datasets. It only supports source control for pbix files.
Power BI Desktop integrates with which source control tool by default?
- a) Git
- b) Azure DevOps
- c) TFS
- d) None
Answer: d) None.
Explanation: Power BI Desktop does not integrate with any source control tool by default. You have to manually set up the integration.
Which is recommended for source control strategy with Power BI?
- a) Committing pbix files
- b) Embedding power query scripts in your .NET code
- c) Exporting report definitions and dashboards as Excel files
Answer: a) Committing pbix files.
Explanation: It’s recommended to use a source control system to commit pbix files to track changes and versions of your Power BI reports.
True or False: It’s advisable to frequently commit changes to Power BI files while in development to avoid data loss.
- True
- False
Answer: True.
Explanation: Regular commits during Power BI development are advisable to avoid significant data loss and to maintain a clean history of file changes.
Which approach is recommended for managing collaboration in a Power BI project?
- a) All team members should use a single copy of pbix file.
- b) Each team member should maintain their own copies of pbix files.
Answer: b) Each team member should maintain their own copies of pbix files.
Explanation: It’s advisable to maintain separate copies of pbix files for each team member to avoid conflicts and sync issues.
True or False: DAX scripts can be source controlled.
- True
- False
Answer: True.
Explanation: Even though Power BI does not provide native source control for DAX scripts, you can use tools like Tabular Editor to export these scripts and commit them to a source control system.
Interview Questions
What is an example of a source control system that can be used with Power BI?
Git is an example of a source control system that can be used with Power BI.
How does source control benefit Power BI development?
Source control allows multiple developers to work on the same Power BI project simultaneously, and safely merge their changes and revisions. It also provides a history of changes, making it possible to track and revert mistakes if necessary.
What is a recommended strategy for storing Power BI assets in a source control system?
A recommended strategy is to break down Power BI projects into smaller parts before storing them in a source control system. This enhances collaboration by reducing merge conflicts and making changes easier to understand and manage.
What Power BI assets can be stored in a source control system?
Power BI assets like reports, dashboards, dataflows, and datasets can be stored in a source control system.
Why is it important to implement a good branching strategy in your source control for Power BI assets?
A good branching strategy allows for feature isolation, task-based development, and easy tracking of changes. It also ensures that the main or master branch remains stable and deployable at any given time.
What is the purpose of the ‘master’ branch in a source control strategy for Power BI assets?
The ‘master’ branch serves as the main branch where the source code of HEAD always reflects a stable, deployable state.
Can you use Azure DevOps for source control in Power BI?
Yes, Azure DevOps provides a Git-based version control system that can be used for implementing source control for Power BI.
Should Power BI Desktop files be stored directly in a source control system?
No, because Power BI Desktop files are binary files, they are not suitable for source control. Instead, their components should be exported into textual formats, such as .pbix or .pbit files, which are suitable for source control.
What is a potential issue when multiple individuals are working on a single Power BI file without using source control?
One potential issue is the risk of overwriting changes, as there is a lack of record of who has changed what and when. Source control minimizes this risk by maintaining a history of changes.
What does it mean to “commit” changes in source control in relation to Power BI assets?
To “commit” changes means to save the current state of the Power BI assets to the repository in the source control system. This provides a checkpoint to which you can revert if needed.
What tools or extensions can be used to facilitate the integration of Power BI with Git for source control?
Tools such as Tabular Editor or the Power BI ALM Toolkit can be used to facilitate the integration of Power BI with Git for source control.
How does source control strategy benefit the overall data strategy and data governance in Power BI?
A robust source control strategy improves the overall data strategy and governance by promoting collaboration, tracking changes and revisions, and maintaining the stability of the Power BI project.
How can conflicts be resolved when they arise during the merging of changes in a Power BI source control strategy?
Conflicts can be resolved by manually reviewing and merging the changes. A good source control system provides tools to visualize and manage these conflicts.
What is a ‘Pull Request’ in a source control strategy for Power BI assets?
A ‘Pull Request’ is a process in which a developer makes changes in a separate branch and then requests those changes to be merged into the master branch. It allows for code review and discussion before the changes are integrated.
Can source control strategy be used for versioning of Power BI assets?
Yes, a source control strategy helps in maintaining different versions of Power BI assets, allowing for changes to be tracked and previous versions to be accessed when required.
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