Discussion and demo of Power BI dataflows and datasets. These new capabilities are your keys to data transformations and enabling enterprise-level sharing of datasets for use by multiple reports across multiple workspaces. Senturus offers a full spectrum of services in business intelligence and training on Tableau, Power BI and Cognos. Our resource library has hundreds of free live and recorded webinars, blog posts, demos and unbiased product reviews available on our website at: http://www.senturus.com/senturus-resources/.

1. How to share Power BI datasets:
dataflows and certified datasets
Demo and discussion of how to extend enterprise
sharing in Power BI Desktop
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2. Agenda
• Introductions
• Dataflows
• Shared and certified datasets
• Senturus overview
• Additional resources
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3. 3
Introductions
Andrew Kinnier
BI Solution Architect
Senturus, Inc.
Michael Weinhauer
Practice Area Director / Solutions Architect
Senturus, Inc.
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4. 4
Hundreds of resources
Visit the Resource Library
on the Senturus website
to download this presentation
and explore other assets:
senturus.com/resources
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5. Like what you see?
This slide deck is from the webinar How to Share Power BI
Datasets: Dataflows and Certified Datasets
To view the FREE video recording and download this deck,
go to https://senturus.com/resources/how-to-share-power-bi-
datasets-dataflows-and-certified-datasets/
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6. What is the void that
needs filling?
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7. A cube is a cube is a cube is a
cube (or a dataset)
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8. Enterprise level BI
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9. Power Query Editor demo
9
This demo was great, but it can’t be seen in
SlideShare.
See this demo and the entire webinar at:
https://senturus.com/resources/how-to-
share-power-bi-datasets-dataflows-and-
certified-datasets/

10. Dataflows
•Bridge the gap between enterprise and self-service Power BI
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11. Dataflows
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Power Query Editor in the cloud and separated from
Power BI
Dataflows extract data from the sources and save data
in the cloud
Allows data transformations and mashups
Can be used by others as seeds to a new Dataflow

12. Dataflow demo
12
This demo was great, but it can’t be seen
in SlideShare.
See this demo and the entire webinar at:
https://senturus.com/resources/how-to-
share-power-bi-datasets-dataflows-and-
certified-datasets/

13. Shared and certified
datasets
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14. Shared datasets
Allows datasets to be used in Power BI Desktop and
published to a different workspace
The dataset is not recreated in the new workspace, it has a
link in the new workspace that points back to the published
dataset in the other workspace
Advantage
No more recreating the same dataset and publishing up your Power BI
Service environment
Saves on space and compute power

15. Shared datasets demo
15
This demo was great, but it can’t be seen
in SlideShare.
See this demo and the entire webinar at:
https://senturus.com/resources/how-to-
share-power-bi-datasets-dataflows-and-
certified-datasets/

16. Certified datasets
Gives the organization a way to stamp approval at
multiple levels
Default–potluck
Promoted–anyone can promote their datasets
Certified–only certified administrators can attach this level

17. Answers to your questions
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18. How to share Power BI datasets Q/A
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Q: Can I only create dataflows in Power BI Pro or Power BI Premium and not
the free version?
A: Correct, you cannot create dataflows with the free version, Power BI Service.
Q: Are Power BI dataflows an alternative to implementing the gateway?
A: These are two separate technologies. You can use on-prem data in a
dataflow if you have a gateway installed within the network. But dataflows do
not present another means of accessing on-prem on their own.
Q: Do Power BI dataflows do query folding just like regular Power Query?
A: Yes, if the source allows query folding, then it behaves the same way as
Power BI Desktop Power Query. Some source types such as .csv files do not
allow query folding.

19. How to share Power BI datasets Q/A
19
Q: Can security be applied to specific datasets or database objects based on a
person's role when accessing cloud datasets? For example, a business user
makes a report, grabs a dataset, but is unable to view HR data.
A: Power BI allows for table and row-Level security. If you created a dataset that
only allowed certain groups to see the HR_Salary table, then if a user wasn’t in
a group that had access to that specific table, then the user could still use the
dataset but not see that table. Column-level is currently not available in Power
BI.
Q: Can I do paginated reports with Power BI datasets?
A: Yes. As part of the Power BI Premium subscription you can create and
publish paginated reports using the Report Builder tool. This tool is downloaded
from the Power BI Service portal and can use a Power BI dataset as a data
source.

20. How to share Power BI datasets Q/A
20
Q: Is security setup on the Azure side or the Power BI Service side?
A: Most companies have an on-prem active directory that is synchronized with
their Azure active directory. It is best to use active directory to create groups. As
employees come and go, the company can best manage this in active directory.
Specific groups can be created for Power BI. Once this is established, then
security groups are used within Power BI Service. In the demo we used the
PowerBICertifiers active directory group to give access to the certification
process in the Power BI admin portal.
Q: Can I schedule automatic refresh from SharePoint and from a database for
the same report?
A: Yes. Our example had two different sources: SharePoint file and Azure
database. This dataflow can use a scheduled refresh.

21. How to share Power BI datasets Q/A
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Q: Can I use a dataflow as a source for Power Query in Excel to populate a
table on an Excel sheet?
A: Not yet. Use this link to vote for this feature and also track progress to when it
will be added: https://ideas.powerbi.com/forums/265200-power-bi-
ideas/suggestions/37479172-connect-to-dataflows-from-excel-s-power-query
Q: Can data in a dataflow be manually or scheduled to get refreshed?
A: You can do both. You can manually refresh from the portal and you can
create a repeating schedule from the portal.
Q: If we need an hourly report updated, how can we schedule that? Last time
we tried there was a limit of six times per day?
A: Power BI Premium allows for up to every half hour. Power BI Pro lets you
schedule refresh up to eight times per day. Check out the refresh schedule:
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/refresh-scheduled-refresh

22. How to share Power BI datasets Q/A
22
Q: Can a ready dataset can be published as a dataflow?
A: Not at this time. But this is a good idea as you can use existing Power Query
models. Vote for this idea: https://ideas.powerbi.com/forums/265200-power-bi-
ideas/suggestions/39015112-connectivity-to-power-bi-datasets-in-dataflows
Q: When I have a live connection, does it reduce the DAX calculations that can
be applied to the data?
A: In live connection mode, you cannot edit the model that you’re connected to.
But within Power BI, using live connection allows you to create calculated
measures for the report. For instance, we can connect to an existing dataset
using Power BI and add a Month To Date calculation using an existing [Amount]
measure within the model. The new measure is only available within your Power
BI .pbix file. It does not update the original dataset.

23. How to share Power BI datasets Q/A
23
Q: Wat are the main differences between dataflow and dataset? Which is better
to use for self-service BI?
A: They are two different technologies that satisfy different use cases. Dataflows
allow you to transform data and save it to the cloud as Entities or tables. You
can then use that dataflow in a downstream process that uses as a data source
to more data sources and transformations. These dataflows can be used as a
source to Power BI Desktop. Within Power BI you can create relationships,
more transformations and calculated measures. This Power BI Desktop file can
then be published to Power BI Service to create a dataset. This dataset includes
both the source data from the dataflows as well as the relationships,
transformations and measures that were created within Power BI. A dataflow
can produce data to be included in a data model. The published data model
becomes a complete dataset ready for analytics.

24. How to share Power BI datasets Q/A
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Q: How do I edit an existing dataset?
A: In Power BI Service, click on the dataset. Go to File menu and choose
Download report. This will open it in Power BI Desktop.
Q: Are the cloud servers based in the U.S.?
A: Microsoft operates in the geographical (geo) global locations. Here's a link to
Microsoft's trust center site which provides the worldwide locations:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/TrustCenter/CloudServices/business-
application-platform/data-location
Q: Currently, when do we need to have on premise gateway and reporting
server versus Power BI online?
A: If your company’s security policies are not comfortable with a cloud
environment, it may want to use the on-prem version.

25. How to share Power BI datasets Q/A
25
Q: With the cloud solution, does the Power BI gateway also get hosted on a
cloud server as well?
A: The Power BI gateway creates the connection between Power BI cloud-
based data analysis technology and the data source located on-premises.
Gateway is an application that can be installed on any server in the local
domain.
Q: After I create a Power BI report using a shared dataset, can I change it to a
different shared dataset? (DEV vs. PROD)
A: No, Power BI doesn’t allow you to change datasets while maintaining the
visuals in the reports. You would have a dev workspace and prod workspace.
When the dev testing process is completed, you can publish the dataset and
reports to the prod workspace.

26. How to share Power BI datasets Q/A
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Q: How do I add a table to our sales dataset?
A: In Power BI Service, click on the dataset. Go to File menu and choose
Download report. This will open it in Power BI Desktop. You can add a table to
the model, save it and publish it back up to Power BI Service.
Q: Will this session be available for download to be viewed later?
A: Yes, you can download the presentation and recording from our website at:
https://senturus.com/resources/how-to-share-power-bi-datasets-dataflows-and-
certified-datasets/

27. Power BI assistance many ways
27
Training
• Transforming data in Power BI on February 26
From desktop to enterprise
Get on the path to efficient, accurate, shareable dashboard reporting
Bucket of hours
Support you need, how you need it

28. The authority in
Business Intelligence
Exclusively focused on BI,
Senturus is unrivaled in its
expertise across the BI stack
28

29. Decisions & actionsBusiness needs
Bridging the data & decisioning gap
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Analysis-ready data

30. Full spectrum of BI services
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• Training and mentoring
30

31. A long, strong history of success
• 19+ years
• 1300+ clients
• 2500+ projects
31

32. Expand your
knowledge
Find more resources
on the Senturus website:
senturus.com/senturus-resources
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33. Upcoming events
•Connecting to and Prepping Data in Power BI
•Pros and cons of four different data connection scenarios
•Thursday, Mar. 12, 2020, 11am PT/2pm ET
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34. Complete BI training offerings
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35. Additional resources from Senturus
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Product demos Upcoming eventsMore on this subject

36. © 2020 by Senturus, Inc. This presentation may not be reused or distributed without the written consent of Senturus, Inc.
www.senturus.com 888 601 6010 info@senturus.com
Thank You
Andrew Kinnier
Akinnier@Senturus.com