Power BI and SharePoint Integration: A Comprehensive Guide

Disclaimer: This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not intend to substitute financial, educational, health, nutritional, medical, legal, etc advice provided by a professional.

One of the key advantages of integrating Power BI Desktop with OneDrive and SharePoint is the ability to collaborate on reports. With this integration, multiple users can work on a report simultaneously, making real-time updates and changes. This makes it easy for teams to collaborate and share insights.

File save load time

Another benefit of integrating Power BI with OneDrive and SharePoint is the improved file save load time. By storing Power BI files in OneDrive and SharePoint, you can take advantage of the cloud-based storage and computing capabilities, which can significantly speed up the loading and saving of files. This is particularly useful for large and complex reports.

Title bar

The title bar in Power BI Desktop allows you to quickly access and navigate between different reports and dashboards stored in OneDrive and SharePoint. This makes it easy to switch between projects and find the specific report you need.

Version history

OneDrive and SharePoint provide version history functionality, which allows you to keep track of changes made to a report over time. This can be useful for auditing purposes or when you need to revert back to a previous version of a report.

Power BI OneDrive and SharePoint sharing link behavior by license type

The behavior of sharing links to Power BI files stored in OneDrive and SharePoint can vary depending on the license type. It's important to understand these differences to ensure that the sharing and collaboration features work as expected.

Audit logs

OneDrive and SharePoint offer audit logs that provide a detailed record of user activities, including who accessed a report, when it was accessed, and what actions were performed. This can be useful for monitoring and tracking usage.

Sensitivity labels and encryption

OneDrive and SharePoint support sensitivity labels and encryption, which can help protect sensitive or confidential data. You can apply labels to reports to indicate their sensitivity level and configure encryption settings to ensure that data is securely stored and transmitted.

Using different accounts between Power BI Desktop and local OneDrive

When integrating Power BI Desktop with OneDrive and SharePoint, it's important to note that you may need to use different accounts for authentication. This is especially true if you are using a work or school account for Power BI and a personal account for OneDrive and SharePoint. In such cases, you may need to sign in with both accounts to access and collaborate on reports.

Syncing files to OneDrive and SharePoint through the file system

OneDrive and SharePoint allow you to sync files to your local file system, making it easy to access and work on reports even when you are offline. Any changes made to the files will be automatically synced to the cloud when you go online again.

Unable to open document

If you encounter issues when trying to open a Power BI document stored in OneDrive or SharePoint, there are a few possible reasons. First, ensure that you have the necessary permissions to access the file. Additionally, check if the file is being used by another user or if it is locked for editing. If none of these apply, try opening the file in Power BI Desktop directly instead of through OneDrive or SharePoint.

Integrate Power BI reports in SharePoint Online

We've heard from customers that SharePoint Online is a critical part of their company's data communication and dissemination strategy and that to-date it wasn't easy to include Power BI content there. The feature we're announcing today changes all that.

Power Platform

The Power Platform is a set of low-code and no-code tools that allow you to build custom business applications, automate workflows, and analyze data. With Power BI integration in SharePoint Online, you can embed Power BI reports and dashboards directly within SharePoint pages, making it easy for users to access and interact with the data.

Browse

The browse feature in SharePoint Online allows you to easily discover and access Power BI reports and dashboards. You can browse through a variety of content, including recent reports, popular reports, and reports shared with you. This makes it easy to find the information you need without having to search for it.

Downloads

With the integration of Power BI and SharePoint Online, you can download Power BI reports and dashboards directly from SharePoint. This allows you to work with the reports offline or share them with others who may not have access to Power BI.

Learn

SharePoint Online provides a variety of learning resources to help you get started with Power BI integration. You can access tutorials, documentation, and videos that cover everything from basic concepts to advanced features. This makes it easy to learn and master the integration quickly.

Create a report on a SharePoint List in Power BI Desktop

Follow this tutorial to see how to transform your SharePoint List data into a Power BI report.

Part 1: Connect to your SharePoint List

The first step in creating a report on a SharePoint List in Power BI Desktop is to connect to your SharePoint List. This involves selecting the SharePoint Online option from the Get Data dialog in Power BI Desktop and providing the necessary authentication credentials.

Part 2: Create a report

Once you have connected to your SharePoint List, you can start creating your report. This involves selecting the fields and columns from the SharePoint List that you want to include in your report, creating visualizations, and adding filters and slicers to analyze the data.

Power BI - Get Data From SharePoint List / Library

In this article, we will show how to get the data from SharePoint in Power BI. There are two main methods for getting data from SharePoint - using the OData Feed and using the SharePoint List connection.

Using OData Feed:

The OData Feed option in Power BI allows you to connect to SharePoint and retrieve data using the OData protocol. This method provides a flexible and powerful way to access and analyze SharePoint data in Power BI.

Using SharePoint List Connection:

The SharePoint List connection option in Power BI allows you to connect directly to a SharePoint List and retrieve data. This method is simpler and more straightforward, making it ideal for users who want to quickly access SharePoint data without the need for advanced configurations.

PowerBi Desktop: Can't publish to SharePoint list Integration?

If you are experiencing issues with publishing a Power BI report to a SharePoint list, there are a few potential causes and solutions. First, ensure that you have the necessary permissions to publish to the SharePoint list. Additionally, check if there are any network or connectivity issues that may be preventing the publishing process. Finally, make sure that the SharePoint list integration is properly configured in Power BI Desktop.

Power BI can't connect to SharePoint

If you are encountering difficulties when trying to connect Power BI to a data source from a SharePoint folder, there are a few possible solutions. First, ensure that you have the correct authentication credentials and permissions to access the SharePoint folder. Additionally, check if there are any network or firewall restrictions that may be preventing the connection. If all else fails, reach out to your IT department or Power BI support for further assistance.

Educational and Formal

The integration of Power BI and SharePoint offers numerous benefits for educational and formal settings. Educators can use Power BI to analyze student data, track progress, and generate reports. The ability to collaborate and share reports in SharePoint makes it easy for teachers and administrators to work together and gain insights from data. In formal settings, Power BI and SharePoint can be used to analyze business data, track key performance indicators, and share reports with stakeholders.

Millennials

Millennials, who are known for their tech-savviness and preference for digital tools, can benefit greatly from the integration of Power BI and SharePoint. Power BI allows millennials to analyze data and gain insights in a visual and interactive way, while SharePoint provides a centralized platform for storing and sharing reports. This combination of tools empowers millennials to make data-driven decisions and collaborate effectively with their peers and colleagues.