Power BI is a set of tools developed by Microsoft that offer in-depth analysis and business intelligence capabilities to applications. By embedding Power BI dashboards and tiles into your apps, you can enhance the capability of your app to visualize, analyze, and interact with massive amounts of data in real-time.
Integrating Power BI in Canvas Apps
In Canvas apps, you can integrate Power BI dashboards and tiles to complement the app’s robust and interactive nature. These dashboards and tiles can be embedded directly into the app screens by utilizing the Power BI tile control.
Here are some steps to integrate Power BI dashboard and tiles into a Canvas app:
- Go to the Power Apps Studio and select the screen where you want to add the Power BI tile.
- Click on Insert, then Media, and select the Power BI tile.
- You need to link your Power BI tile to a workspace, a dashboard, and a tile from that dashboard. Make sure you have access rights to all three.
- Choose your desired workspace in the Workspace property, select your preferred dashboard in the Dashboard property, and pick your tile in the Tile property.
After these steps, your Power BI tile will now be part of your Canvas app, ready to present data in an interactive and digestible way.
Embedding Power BI in Model-Driven Apps
Model-driven apps offer deep and easy customization, which pairs perfectly with Power BI capabilities. You can embed Power BI visualizations in two ways: embedding a personal dashboard and embedding Power BI visual in a form.
To embed a personal dashboard into a model-driven app, follow the steps below:
- In Power Apps, go to Model-driven app design, then select Dashboards.
- Click on New, and then select Power BI Dashboard.
- Select the Power BI workspace that contains the dashboard you wish to embed.
- From the list of dashboards in that workspace, select the dashboard and save to confirm your changes.
To embed a Power BI visualization into a form:
- In the model-driven app designer, select Forms.
- Choose the form where you want to add a Power BI visual.
- On the form editor, select Insert, and then choose Section.
- With the new section selected, choose to Control>Add Control.
- From the list, select Power BI visualization and add.
- Configure the control properties by selecting the Power BI workspace, then the report, and finally, the visualization you want to add.
- Save your changes and then Publish the form.
Conclusion
Knowing how to integrate Power BI dashboards and tiles into Canvas and Model-driven apps enhances the overall functionality and user experience of your applications. This integration bridges the gap between raw data analysis and real-time, actionable insights that help your application users make informed decisions faster.
By mastering these skills, you will position yourself as a proficient user of the PL-100 Microsoft Power Platform App Maker tools, which are increasingly important in today’s data-driven decision-making processes.
Practice Test
True/False: You can embed Power BI dashboards in canvas apps.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Power BI dashboards and tiles can be embedded in canvas apps by using Power Apps studio or Power Apps on the web.
Which of the following is needed to embed a Power BI tile in a canvas app?
- A. Power BI license
- B. Canvas app ID
- C. Dashboard ID
- D. Tile URL
Answer: A, C, D
Explanation: To embed a Power BI tile, a Power BI license, dashboard ID, and tile URL are required. The Canvas app ID is not necessary for this process.
True/False: Power BI report cannot be shared with users without an appropriate license even if it has been embedded in a Power Apps canvas app.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Even if a Power BI report is embedded in a Power Apps canvas app, users will still need an appropriate Power BI license to view that report.
Can you embed a Power BI dashboard in a model-driven app?
- A. Yes, directly from Power BI
- B. No, model-driven apps do not support Power BI dashboards
- C. Yes, using a Power Apps component framework
- D. No, only tiles can be embedded in model-driven apps
Answer: C
Explanation: Power BI dashboards can be embedded in model-driven apps using Power Apps component framework (PCF).
Which one of the following is not true about embedding Power BI dashboards in Power Apps?
- A. Dashboards can be embedded using Power Apps studio
- B. Dashboards can be embedded using Power Apps on the web
- C. Dashboards can be directly shared with users without a license
- D. The embedded dashboards are interactive
Answer: C
Explanation: Embedded Power BI dashboards cannot be viewed by users without the appropriate Power BI license.
Which statement is true about embedding Power BI tiles into a canvas app?
- A. Only one tile can be embedded in a single canvas app
- B. Tiles can be embedded within a model-driven app
- C. Tiles can be embedded within a canvas app
- D. Power BI tiles cannot be embedded into Power Apps
Answer: C
Explanation: Power BI tiles can indeed be embedded within a canvas app using Power Apps studio or Power Apps on the web.
Is it possible to display data in real-time in Power BI dashboards embedded in Power Apps?
- A. Yes
- B. No
Answer: A
Explanation: Power BI dashboards embedded in Power Apps can display real-time data by maintaining a live connection to the data source.
True/False: The Power BI tile embedded in canvas apps is non-interactive.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: The Power BI tile embedded in canvas apps is interactive. It provides a rich set of capabilities like drill through, tooltips, etc.
What is the primary usage of embedding Power BI dashboards?
- A. Sharing dashboard without license
- B. Sharing dashboard with multiple users
- C. Provides a way to interact with data
- D. All of the above
Answer: C
Explanation: The primary usage of embedding Power BI dashboards is to provide a way for app users to interact with the data.
In the context of Power BI and Power Apps integration, what is the purpose of the “TileURL” function?
- A. It provides a direct link to the Power BI tile
- B. It extracts the underlying data from the Power BI tile
- C. It generates a unique ID for each Power BI tile
- D. It configures the layout of the Power BI tile
Answer: A
Explanation: The TileURL function returns a direct URL to the specified Power BI tile. This URL can be used to display the tile in a Power Apps canvas app.
Interview Questions
What are the types of embedding methods provided by Power BI for canvas apps?
Power BI provides two types of embedding methods for canvas apps – User-owns-data and App-owns-data.
How can you add a Power BI tile in your canvas app?
You can add a Power BI tile in your canvas app by adding “Power BI Tile” control to your screen and setting its Workspace, Dashboard and Tile properties.
How can you filter data in a Power BI dashboard embedded into a canvas app?
You can set up dynamic filters using the TileURL property with URL filtering capability of Power BI to filter data in your dashboard.
Can we embed Power BI dashboards and reports into model-driven apps?
Yes, we can embed Power BI dashboards and reports into model-driven apps using Power BI integration with model-driven app forms.
What are the prerequisites of embedding a Power BI dashboard in a canvas app?
The prerequisites include a Power BI Pro license, access to at least one Power BI dashboard that you want to display, and knowing the Power BI tile’s Dashboard ID, Group ID, and Tile ID.
What is the default refresh rate of Power BI tile embedded in a Canvas app?
The default refresh rate for a Power BI tile embedded in a Canvas app is one minute.
How can you use a Power BI report in a model-driven app?
You can use a Power BI report in a model-driven app by enabling the “Power BI Integration” toggle during the creation or editing of the form.
What user permissions are required to display the Power BI tile in a canvas app?
The user must have the “View reports” permission in the Power BI workspace that contains the tile’s dashboard.
How can you change the size of the Power BI dashboard or report in a model-driven app?
You can change the default size of the Power BI dashboard or report by going to the Power BI section properties and adjusting the default size in the form designer.
Can an administrator control access to Power BI data in canvas apps and model-driven apps?
Yes, an administrator can control access to Power BI data in canvas apps and model-driven apps by managing access rights at entity level and field level within the data source.
Can we use Power BI dashboards and reports in an offline mode within canvas or model-driven apps?
No, to view Power BI dashboards and reports, the user must have an internet connection.
Can we refresh Power BI tile data in a canvas app dynamically according to user input?
Yes, by using the Refresh function of the Power BI Tile control, data can be dynamically refreshed according to user input.
Can we embed Power BI visualizations in a Power Apps portal?
Yes, Power BI visualizations can also be embedded in a Power Apps portal using the Power BI component in the portal designer.
What is the purpose of TileURL property in the Power BI Tile control of Canvas Apps?
The TileURL property is used for URL filtering of a Power BI tile in a canvas app for dynamically filtering the tile data based on user inputs.
Can we export data from Power BI reports embedded in canvas or model-driven apps?
Yes, if the report author has enabled the Export Data option, users can export data from the embedded Power BI reports.