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The Three Four Modes of Power BI DesktopPeter MyersBitwise Solutions

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Presenter introduction

Peter Myers▪ Principal at Bitwise Solutions

▪ BBus, SQL Server MCSE, Data Platform MVP (since 2007)

▪ Experienced in designing, developing and maintaining Microsoft database platform solutions (since 1997)

▪ Focuses on consulting, mentoring and training

▪ Based in Melbourne, Australia

peter.myers@bitwisesolutions.com.au

http://www.linkedin.com/in/peterjsmyers

Introducing Power BI Desktop

Power BI Desktop is a data modeling and/or reporting tool

▪ A freely downloadable 32- or 64-bit

desktop application

▪ Companion application designed for use

with the Power BI service

▪ Integrates proven Microsoft technologies

▪ Excel add-ins: Power Query and Power Pivot

▪ Updated (at least) on a monthly basis

▪ Different installation for Power BI Report Server

Power BI Desktop is a versatile tool

Supports four development modes:

▪ Live Connection

▪ Import (cached)

▪ DirectQuery

▪ Mixed

Introducing Power BI DesktopDevelopment modes

Development modesLive Connection

Use Live Connection mode to develop a report that directly

queries an existing data model

Supported data sources:

▪ SQL Server Analysis Services (tabular or multidimensional)

▪ Azure Analysis Services (only tabular mode is available)

▪ Power BI dataset

Measures (DAX) can be added to the report for tabular models

Development modesLive Connection

Report only

Development modesLive Connection

Limitations

▪ Supported by SQL Server 2012 SP1 CU4, or later

versions

▪ Cannot add measures to reports for

multidimensional models (cubes)

▪ Cube actions and named sets are

not exposed

▪ Certain cube calculated members

on user hierarchies are not exposed

▪ Cube cell-level security—where cells

are restricted—will not enable Power BI

to connect to the model

Development modesLive Connection

Benefits

▪ Exploits existing data assets—helps to deliver

a single version of the truth ☺

▪ Allows connecting to the base model, or a

perspective

▪ The user’s identity is passed through to

enforce role permissions

▪ Measures (DAX) can be added to the report

(for tabular models only)

▪ For Power BI datasets, separates model

development from report development

▪ Dashboard tiles automatically update

automatically (15 minutes – 1 week)

Working in Live Connection mode

1

Development modesImport

Use Import mode to develop a data model that imports data from

one or more supported data sources

Data is cached from any

supported data source type:

▪ Files

▪ Databases

▪ Azure or online services

▪ ODBC and OLE DB sources

Development modesImport

Model and Report

ERP CRM LOB DW

Development modesImport

Development modesImport

Benefits

▪ Enables data integration

▪ Supports all Power BI data source types

▪ Supports entire DAX functionality, including

calculated tables

▪ Supports Q&A

▪ Supports Quick Insights

Limitations

▪ Service imposes a maximum model size

▪ Generally 1GB

▪ Can upload up to 3/6/10GB with Power BI Premium P1/2/3

license, which can increase in size with data refresh up to 12GB

(for P3) – this limit is planned to be removed in the future

▪ Model requires periodic data refresh

▪ Data refresh reloads the entire table (no partitioning)

▪ Power BI Premium provides incremental refresh (in preview)

Working in Import mode

2

Development modesDirectQuery

Use DirectQuery mode to develop a data model that directly

queries a single supported data source

Supported data sources (typically relational databases):

SQL Server

Azure Data Bricks

Azure HDInsight Spark (Beta)

Azure SQL Database

Azure SQL Data Warehouse

Amazon Redshift

Google BigQuery (Beta)

IBM Netezza (Beta)

Impala (version 2.x)

Oracle Database (version 12+)SAP Business Warehouse Application Server

SAP Business Warehouse Messenger Server (Beta)

SAP HANA

Snowflake

Spark (version 0.9+) (Beta)

Teradata Database

Vertica (Beta)

Development modesDirectQuery

Model and Report

Development modesDirectQuery

Development modesDirectQuery

Benefits

▪ Import model maximum sizes do not apply

▪ Enables reporting over large volumes of data

▪ Does not require data refresh

▪ Delivers near real-time data to reports

▪ Great for “what-if” analysis, writing changes to the data

source

▪ Dashboard tiles automatically update

automatically (15 minutes – 1 week)

Limitations

▪ Does not support integration of data sources

▪ 1M row retrieval limit

▪ Model queries (M) cannot be overly complex

▪ Limited DAX function support, especially for

measure and Time Intelligence expressions

▪ No calculated tables

▪ No Q&A or Quick Insights

▪ Can be slow

▪ Can negatively impact data source performance

▪ Can deliver inconsistent results (especially over

volatile data sources)

Working in DirectQuery mode

3

Development modesMixed

Use Mixed mode to develop a composite data model that combines import and DirectQuery tables

Supports multiple data sources, with tables configured with different storage modes:

▪ Import

▪ DirectQuery (not supported for analytic data sources)

▪ Dual

Currently in preview, requiring the feature to be enabled in Power BI Desktop—not supported yet by the Power BI service

Development modesMixed

Model and Report

ERP CRM LOB DW

Development modesMixed

Non-calculated tables have a storage mode property:

Development modesMixed

Benefits

▪ Mix modes in a single model to leverage

benefits of each mode on a table basis

▪ Combine multiple DirectQuery sources

▪ Can add calculated tables

Limitations

▪ Relationships between different mode tables must

be many-to-many

▪ Performance issues

▪ Power BI may query granular data to aggregate by the

service

▪ Multiple queries must be sent for each total and subtotal

▪ Data from one source may be sent to a different

source to perform filtering—it may be possible

that administrators could see this data

▪ Use encrypted data sources

▪ Cannot be combined with Live Connection mode

▪ Analytic data sources (multidimensional) are not supported

Working in Mixed mode

4

Development modesDecision flow (not considering Mixed mode)

Does a model already exist?

Project Design

Live Connection

Do I need to

integrate sources?

Do I have

complex business

logic?

Is DirectQuery

mode the right fit?

Direct QueryImport

Development modesUser experience: Power BI Desktop views

Questions?

Resources

https://powerbi.microsoft.com/desktop/

▪ https://docs.microsoft.com/power-bi/desktop-analysis-services-tabular-data

▪ https://docs.microsoft.com/power-bi/desktop-ssas-multidimensional

▪ https://docs.microsoft.com/power-bi/desktop-use-directquery

▪ https://docs.microsoft.com/power-bi/desktop-directquery-data-sources

Composite models in Power BI Desktop (Preview)▪ https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/desktop-composite-models

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