Tabular Editor for Power BI: Advanced Dataset Development

Tabular Editor is an essential tool for Power BI professionals, enabling advanced dataset development, DAX authoring, and deployment automation beyond Power BI Desktop’s capabilities.

Why Tabular Editor

advantages:
  - Edit multiple measures simultaneously
  - Better DAX editing experience
  - No data loading required
  - Faster for large models
  - Script automation support
  - Best Practice Analyzer

Installation

# Tabular Editor 2 (Free)
# Download from: https://github.com/TabularEditor/TabularEditor/releases

# Tabular Editor 3 (Commercial)
# Download from: https://tabulareditor.com/

Connecting to Power BI

connection_options:
  # From PBIX file
  file: Open saved PBIX file

  # From Power BI Service (XMLA)
  xmla: powerbi://api.powerbi.com/v1.0/myorg/WorkspaceName

  # From local Analysis Services
  server: localhost:portnumber

DAX Authoring

Batch Measure Creation

// C# Script in Tabular Editor
foreach(var t in Model.Tables.Where(t => t.Columns.Any(c => c.Name == "Amount")))
{
    t.AddMeasure(
        "Total " + t.Name,
        "SUM(" + t.DaxObjectFullName + "[Amount])",
        "Calculated Measures"
    );
}

Format All Measures

// Format all measures using DAX Formatter
foreach(var m in Model.AllMeasures)
{
    m.FormatDax();
}

Best Practice Analyzer

// Custom BPA rules
{
  "rules": [
    {
      "id": "AVOID_INACTIVE_RELATIONSHIPS",
      "name": "Avoid inactive relationships",
      "category": "Performance",
      "description": "Inactive relationships should be reviewed",
      "severity": 2,
      "scope": "relationship",
      "expression": "IsActive == false"
    },
    {
      "id": "NO_DESCRIPTION",
      "name": "Measures should have descriptions",
      "category": "Documentation",
      "description": "All measures should be documented",
      "severity": 1,
      "scope": "measure",
      "expression": "string.IsNullOrEmpty(Description)"
    }
  ]
}

Deployment Automation

# Deploy via command line
TabularEditor.exe model.bim -D "powerbi://api.powerbi.com/v1.0/myorg/Workspace" DatasetName -O -R

# Parameters:
# -D: Deploy
# -O: Overwrite
# -R: Replace connections

C# Scripting Examples

Create Calculation Groups

var cg = Model.AddCalculationGroup("Time Intelligence");
cg.AddCalculationItem("YTD", "CALCULATE(SELECTEDMEASURE(), DATESYTD('Date'[Date]))");
cg.AddCalculationItem("PY", "CALCULATE(SELECTEDMEASURE(), SAMEPERIODLASTYEAR('Date'[Date]))");
cg.AddCalculationItem("YoY", "DIVIDE(SELECTEDMEASURE() - [PY], [PY])");

Generate Documentation

var sb = new System.Text.StringBuilder();
sb.AppendLine("# Model Documentation");

foreach(var t in Model.Tables)
{
    sb.AppendLine($"## {t.Name}");
    foreach(var m in t.Measures)
    {
        sb.AppendLine($"### {m.Name}");
        sb.AppendLine($"```dax\n{m.Expression}\n```");
    }
}

SaveFile("documentation.md", sb.ToString());

Best Practices

workflow:
  - Use source control for model files
  - Run BPA before deployment
  - Document all measures
  - Test changes before production

organization:
  - Use display folders
  - Consistent naming conventions
  - Hide technical columns
  - Add descriptions

Conclusion

Tabular Editor transforms Power BI development:

• Faster editing for large models
• Automation capabilities
• Better governance through BPA
• Professional development workflow

Resources

• Tabular Editor Documentation
• Best Practice Analyzer Rules