If you’ve come to this blog to learn more about Power BI dataflows, here’s a good place to start.
First of all, here are posts that consolidate and link to dataflows resources available elsewhere online.
Start here:
Dataflows in Power BI: Resources
More Resources: Power BI Dataflows and Azure Data
Power BI dataflows and CDM Sessions from MBAS 2019
Next I have a series of posts designed to provide a meaningful overview of the concepts and capabilities delivered via dataflows in Power BI. This series is a bit dated as it was written and published in late 2018 as dataflows were initially available in preview, but it is still relevant for folks who are new to dataflows. If you read these posts, you’ll have a pretty good starting point for working with dataflows and understanding how they work.
Dataflows in Power BI: Overview Part 1 – Concepts
Dataflows in Power BI: Overview Part 2 – Hands-on
Dataflows in Power BI: Overview Part 3 – Premium
Dataflows in Power BI: Overview Part 4 – CDM Folders
Dataflows in Power BI: Overview Part 5 – Data Refresh
Dataflows in Power BI: Overview Part 6 – Linked and Computed Entities
Dataflows in Power BI: Overview Part 7 – External CDM Folders
Dataflows in Power BI: Overview Part 8 – Using an Organizational Azure Data Lake Resource
Dataflows in Power BI: Overview Part 9 – Lineage and Impact Analysis
I’ve also published a series of “Power BIte” posts, each accompanied by a short (typically 5-10 minute) YouTube video, covering key dataflows topics and concepts, and answering frequently asked questions.
Power BIte: Dataflows vs. datasets
Power BIte: Sharing and reuse with dataflows and datasets
Power BIte: Creating dataflows with Power Query Online
Power BIte: Creating dataflows with linked and computed entities
Power BIte: Creating dataflows by importing model.json
Power BIte: Creating dataflows by attaching external CDM folders
Power BIte: Turning datasets into dataflows
Power BIte: Dataflows enhanced compute engine
Power BIte: Power Platform dataflows
Next, a few articles on how Power BI dataflows relate to other technologies, which is an emerging source of confusion during the public preview of dataflows.
Positioning Power BI Dataflows (Part 1)
Positioning Power BI Dataflows (Part 2)
Are Power BI Dataflows a Master Data Management Tool?
Understanding Power BI dataflows and datasets
Power BI dataflows and Azure Data Factory Data Flows
Next, patterns for applying Power BI dataflows as a tool to solve specific problems.
Power BI Dataflows and World Bank Climate Change Data
Power BI Dataflows and Data Profiling
Power BI Dataflows and Reuse without Premium
Power BI Dataflows and Data Profiling Without Premium
Power BI Dataflows and Slow Data Sources
Authoring Power BI Dataflows in Power BI Desktop
Using Custom Functions in Power BI Dataflows
Power BI Dataflows and Additional Data Sources
Lego Bricks and the Spectrum of Data Enrichment and Reuse
Unlimited dataflow refresh on Power BI Premium
Power BI dataflows enhanced compute engine
Dataflows and API data sources
Power BI dataflows PowerShell scripts on GitHub
Dataflows enhanced compute engine: will it fold?
There’s also an occasional “quick tips” series that presents simple solutions to simple (but frequently encountered) challenges with Power BI dataflows and other aspects of Power BI development.
Quick Tip: Restricting access to linked entities in Power BI dataflows
Quick Tip: Power Query column by example
Quick Tip: Implementing “IsNumeric” in Power Query
Quick Tip: Creating “data workspaces” for dataflows and shared datasets
Quick Tip: Making self-documenting Power BI apps
Quick Tip: Factoring your dataflow entities
Quick Tip: Developing with large dataflows
Finally, resources from dataflows presentations that I have delivered for conferences and user groups.
Slides from SQL Saturday Victoria: Introduction to Power BI dataflows
Slides and recordings: Power BI dataflows and Azure Data Lake integration
Slides and recordings: Guidance for implementing managed self-service BI at enterprise scale
Slides and recording: Patterns for adopting dataflows in Power BI
If you find this content valuable, or if you’re looking for something more, please let me know in the comments here, or on Twitter.
If you’re looking for help on using dataflows, or troubleshooting an error, please don’t post here or on Twitter. Instead, please post on the Power BI community forums, where your question and any answers will be seen by many more people, and can be more easily discovered.
And if dataflows are lacking a feature you need, please let the dataflows team know by submitting ideas or voting on ideas already submitted.
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