21 min read
Fabric Data Agent Accuracy Is a Distribution, Not a Number
I asked a Fabric data agent 24 questions in three wordings, ten times each, on real AEMO data. It scored 82%, but only 39% of wordings were always right.
Power BI
67 articles
8 min read
APPROXIMATEDISTINCTCOUNT in Direct Lake: When 1.6% Error Is Fine
APPROXIMATEDISTINCTCOUNT now runs on Import and Direct Lake models in preview. Decide per measure where about 1.6% error is fine, label it, and test the gain.
8 min read
Apache Ossie and the Portable Semantic Layer: What It Fixes and What It Doesn't
Microsoft backed Apache Ossie at FabCon with a Power BI converter. It makes metric names portable, not DAX semantics, security rules or performance.
9 min read
Fabric IQ Goes GA in Copilot: Your Semantic Model Is Now an Agent API
Fabric IQ is GA in Copilot Chat, Cowork and MCP. Treat each semantic model as an agent endpoint: RLS, OLS, metadata contracts and default-on access.
7 min read
PBIR Is Now the Default: What Changes for Report Source Control
Developer mode and PBIP are GA and PBIR becomes the default report format. Why that makes report review realistic, what breaks, and how to stage the move.
8 min read
Converting Direct Lake Tables to Import: Designing Hybrid Models
Power BI now converts single Direct Lake tables to Import in web modelling, making storage mode a per-table choice with real refresh and governance costs.
8 min read
Synapse Serverless varchar(8000): Fixing Strings for Spark and Power BI
Why Synapse serverless SQL infers strings as varchar(8000), why Spark-created lake tables behave differently, and where Power BI string contracts belong.
9 min read
Publish Only Verified Loads with Fabric Warehouse Snapshots
A write-audit-publish pattern for Fabric Data Warehouse: load, run SQL checks, then roll a warehouse snapshot forward so analysts only see verified data.
8 min read
When Two Fabric Reports Disagree: A Metric Drift Runbook
A triage runbook for disputed numbers in Fabric: check definition, timing, filters and logic in order, using time travel, snapshots and Semantic Link.
8 min read
One Metric, One Home: Ownership Rules That Stop Drift in Fabric
How to stop metric drift in Fabric by giving every metric one home layer and one named owner, then enforcing both rules with schemas, grants and versions.
9 min read
Microsoft Fabric Reality Check: What Holds Up and What Hurts
An honest look at running Microsoft Fabric on an F64: what OneLake and Direct Lake deliver, how throttling really works, and what the bill looks like.
1 min read
AI-Powered Data Exploration with Microsoft Fabric Copilot
Ask questions about your data in natural language and get executable code. Generate complex SQL from natural language descriptions.
1 min read
Power BI Copilot: Natural Language Analytics for Business Users
Use descriptive table and column names that match business terminology. Add measure descriptions explaining what each calculation represents. Create…
1 min read
Power BI Copilot: AI-Powered Business Intelligence
Power BI Copilot makes data analysis accessible to everyone through natural language.
2 min read
Microsoft Fabric Copilot Now Available for All Paid SKUs
This works on F2 and above now. For small businesses, this transforms how reports are built.
7 min read
Natural Language over a Power BI Model: Let the LLM Pick, Not Write
Answer plain-English questions from a Power BI semantic model by having Azure OpenAI choose measures and filters, then run them with semantic link.
7 min read
Reviewing Copilot Output in Fabric: A Workload-by-Workload Guide
Where Copilot in Microsoft Fabric stands in January 2025, what each workload's Copilot gets wrong, and how to review its output before it ships.
1 min read
Q&A Improvements in Power BI: Natural Language Analytics
Power BI Q&A enables users to ask questions in natural language and receive instant visualizations. Recent improvements make it more accurate and powerful.
1 min read
Smart Narratives in Power BI: Automated Data Storytelling
Smart Narratives automatically generate text summaries of your data, transforming numbers into stories. This guide covers implementation and customization.
1 min read
Copilot in Power BI: AI-Assisted Report Building
Copilot in Power BI revolutionizes how we build reports and analyze data. This guide explores how to effectively use Copilot for report creation and data…
1 min read
Power BI April 2024 Updates: AI-Powered Analytics
Power BI continues to evolve with AI-driven features that make data analysis more accessible. Here's what's new in April 2024.
9 min read
Designing a Gold Layer and Semantic Model That Stay in Direct Lake
Design-time rules for Direct Lake in Fabric: size tables to your SKU's guardrails, move logic into Delta, avoid views, and control when models reframe.
7 min read
Tracing a Slow Fabric Report Back Through Every Layer
A diagnose-first workflow for slow Fabric reports: check capacity, the visual, DAX, Direct Lake fallback, Delta file layout and Spark, in that order.
8 min read
Fabric Throttling Explained: Reading Carryforward Before Users Do
How Fabric smoothing, carryforward and the four throttling stages work, how to read them in the Capacity Metrics app, and which levers actually help.
7 min read
Fabric's December 2023 Update: What I'd Act On in January
A practitioner's triage of the Microsoft Fabric December 2023 update: %%configure, Git conflict resolution, KQL in OneLake and what to leave alone.
1 min read
Direct Lake Optimization: Maximizing Power BI Performance
Direct Lake changes the Power BI performance story — but it's not automatic. Over the past months I've seen Direct Lake deliver dramatic improvements when…
1 min read
SemPy Library: Python for Semantic Models in Fabric
Deep dive into the SemPy library for working with Power BI semantic models in Microsoft Fabric notebooks.
1 min read
Semantic Link in Microsoft Fabric: Connecting Data and Analytics
Understanding Semantic Link in Microsoft Fabric for seamless integration between Power BI datasets and Spark notebooks.
1 min read
Row-Level Security in Fabric: Data Access at the Row Level
RLS provides essential data security for multi-tenant and sensitive data scenarios. Tomorrow, I will cover Azure OpenAI function calling patterns.
1 min read
Semantic Models in Microsoft Fabric: Building the Analytics Layer
Semantic models provide the business logic layer that enables self-service analytics. Tomorrow, I will cover Fabric Notebooks.
1 min read
Direct Lake Mode: Power BI Performance Without Import Overhead
Direct Lake is the quiet superpower of Microsoft Fabric, and I think it's underexplained in most of the post-Build coverage. The classic Power BI trade-off…
1 min read
Microsoft Fabric Licensing: Understanding Your Options
Understanding Fabric licensing helps you plan costs and ensure users have appropriate access. Tomorrow, I will cover Fabric Workspace configuration and…
1 min read
Power BI in Microsoft Fabric: Unified Business Intelligence
Power BI in Fabric provides seamless BI capabilities that connect directly to your unified data layer. Tomorrow, I will cover Fabric Capacities and pricing.
1 min read
SSRS to Power BI Migration: A Practical Guide
Self service analytics : Users can create their own reports Modern visualizations : Interactive, mobile friendly reports Cloud first : Scales without…
1 min read
Power BI External Tools: Extending Desktop Capabilities
External Tools transform Power BI Desktop into a professional development environment: Enhanced DAX development Better performance analysis Automated…
1 min read
ALM Toolkit for Power BI: Schema Comparison and Deployment
ALM Toolkit is essential for Power BI DevOps: Visual schema comparison Controlled deployments Integration with CI/CD Environment management ALM Toolkit on…
1 min read
Tabular Editor for Power BI: Advanced Dataset Development
dax\n{m.Expression}\n Tabular Editor transforms Power BI development: Faster editing for large models Automation capabilities Better governance through BPA…
1 min read
Power BI XMLA Endpoints: Enterprise Dataset Management
XMLA endpoints unlock enterprise capabilities: Programmatic dataset management Integration with existing BI tools Advanced refresh strategies Automated…
1 min read
Power BI Deployment Pipelines: CI/CD for Analytics
Deployment Pipelines bring enterprise ALM to Power BI: Controlled content promotion Environment specific configurations Audit trail of deployments…
1 min read
Power BI .NET SDK: Building C# Applications with Power BI
The Power BI .NET SDK provides: Strongly typed API access Simplified authentication Full Power BI API coverage Easy integration with .NET applications SDK…
1 min read
Power BI REST API: Automating Analytics Operations
The Power BI REST API enables: Automated content deployment Scheduled refresh management Administrative automation Custom tooling and integrations REST API…
1 min read
Power BI Object-Level Security: Protecting Tables and Columns
Object Level Security provides an additional security layer: Protect sensitive columns from unauthorized access Hide entire tables from roles Complement RLS…
1 min read
Power BI Row-Level Security: Securing Data at the Row Level
Row Level Security is essential for: Multi tenant applications Regional data access Hierarchical visibility Regulatory compliance Combined with proper…
1 min read
Power BI Embed for Organization: Internal Analytics Integration
Embed for organization leverages existing Power BI investments: Seamless Azure AD integration Respects organizational security policies No additional…
1 min read
Power BI Embed for Customers: Building Analytics Portals
Embed for customers enables powerful analytics in customer facing applications: No Power BI licenses required for end users Complete control over user…
1 min read
Power BI Embedded: Analytics in Your Applications
Power BI Embedded enables rich analytics in any application: Interactive reports and dashboards Secure multi tenant access Programmatic control and…
1 min read
Power Query Online: Data Preparation in the Cloud
Power Query Online democratizes data preparation, enabling business users and data professionals to prepare data without code.
6 min read
Power BI Smart Narratives vs DAX Text: Choosing How Reports Talk
When the Power BI smart narrative visual is enough, when a hand-written DAX text measure is safer, and the limitations that decide it before you publish.
8 min read
Power BI Automatic Aggregations (Preview): When to Let the Service Decide
How Power BI automatic aggregations train on a DirectQuery dataset's query log, what the preview requires, and when hand-built aggregations still win.
8 min read
Power BI Hybrid Tables: A Live DirectQuery Partition on Import
How Power BI hybrid tables add a DirectQuery partition to an incremental refresh policy, what the preview requires, and when Import alone is the better call.
8 min read
DirectQuery for Power BI Datasets: Extending a Certified Model
How DirectQuery for Power BI datasets lets teams extend a certified model with their own data, what the preview limits are, and when not to chain.
8 min read
Power BI Composite Models: Choosing Import, DirectQuery or Dual
How to set storage modes table by table in a Power BI composite model, when Dual earns its place, and how aggregations keep DirectQuery facts fast.
8 min read
Power BI in Early 2022: What's GA, What's Preview, What to Adopt
A status check on Power BI's newer modelling, performance and ALM features as of January 2022, with my view on which to adopt now and which to pilot.
7 min read
Measure Your Azure Carbon Footprint Before You Try to Shrink It
How to use the Emissions Impact Dashboard for Azure to baseline cloud emissions, find the workloads that matter, and cut waste with tools you already have.
1 min read
Power BI Deployment Pipelines: CI/CD for Business Intelligence
Power BI Deployment Pipelines transform how organizations manage their analytics lifecycle. By bringing CI/CD practices to BI, teams can deliver insights…
1 min read
Power BI Premium Capacities: Scaling Enterprise Analytics
Premium capacities offer: Dedicated compute : No sharing with other tenants Larger datasets : Up to 400GB per dataset Paginated reports : Enterprise…
2 min read
Introducing Power BI Goals for OKR and KPI Tracking
Power BI Goals arrived in 2021 as Microsoft's answer to OKR tracking inside the BI platform, and I think it was better conceived than it might sound. The…
1 min read
Power BI Premium Gen2 - Enhanced Performance and New Capabilities
Premium Gen2 introduces several architectural improvements: Autoscale compute resources based on demand No need for capacity management or monitoring v…
1 min read
Power BI Paginated Reports for Operational Reporting
Paginated reports excel when you need: Pixel perfect formatting for print Multi page documents with headers/footers Parameter driven report generation…
2 min read
Power BI Premium Per User - Enterprise Features for Everyone
Power BI Premium Per User launched as the answer to "my team needs paginated reports, deployment pipelines, and large dataset support but we don't have a…
2 min read
Power BI Dataflows - Best Practices for Enterprise Data Preparation
Dataflows are collections of entities (tables) that are created and managed in workspaces in the Power BI service. They allow you to: Connect to various…
8 min read
Power BI Incremental Refresh in Production: Folding, Partitions, XMLA
What breaks once Power BI incremental refresh is live: query folding, change detection, republishing, and managing partitions through the XMLA endpoint.
1 min read
Power BI Embedded: Analytics in Your Applications
"Can my customers get the dashboard inside my product?" is one of the most common questions I get from product teams once Power BI lands internally. Power…
1 min read
Power BI Incremental Refresh: Handle Large Datasets
Right-click table → Incremental refresh Incremental refresh transforms multi-hour refreshes into minutes.
1 min read
Power BI Row-Level Security: Data Access Control
In Desktop: Modeling → View as Roles → Select role → Enter email to test RLS enables true multi-tenancy in Power BI, where one dataset serves many users…
1 min read
Power BI Dataflows: Self-Service ETL
Dataflows bridge the gap between self-service BI and governed enterprise data.
7 min read
Power BI Embedded for Customers: App-Owns-Data with a Service Principal
How to embed Power BI reports in a customer-facing app with a service principal, embed tokens, row-level security and a right-sized A SKU capacity.