This document discusses automating Power BI using Microsoft Flow. It includes examples of automation scenarios for refreshing Power BI datasets and managing Power BI Premium capacities. The presentation covers creating a custom connector to the Power BI REST API, building flows to trigger dataset refreshes and assign workspaces to capacities, and testing the flows. The goal is to demonstrate how flows can be used to automate administrative tasks in Power BI.

1. Power BI Automation with
MS Flow
@IdaBergum, Data Platform MVP

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2
Graduation
Started using Power BI
First speaker event
Started a blog
2015 2017 2018
• Analytics specialist in MS Data platform
• Avanade 4 years, Analytics TC- Analytics Experience
• Big Power BI fan, speaker and MVP
@IdaBergum / www.idabergumdata.com
2016
Joined
First SQLSat presentation
MS Bus Apps
Summit
2019
UG
Who Am I?

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1. Example Automation scenarios using Flow and Power BI API
2. Demo 1: Flow Custom Connector and Actions for the Power BI API
3. Demo 2: A Flow to trigger refresh of dataset(s) in Power BI
4. Demo 3: A Flow for Power BI Premium Capacity management
Agenda
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Example Automation scenario for refreshing Power
BI datasets
Business user has a
datawarehouse or
similarthat runs
every night to
update some data
When the
datawarehouse or
similar has
completed, we
would like to kick
of a refresh of a
Power BI dataset
When the dataset
has been updated,
we would like to
inform the Team
about the last
refresh
@IdaBergum

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Example Automation scenario for capacity
management
Power BI
admins/CoE needs
to automate the
process of
assigning business
critical content to
Premium Capacities
due to many
manual processes
Business
areas/teams can
submit business
reason for
assignment to
Premium (to
new or existing
workspace)
A request
for approval
is sent to
the
Admin/CoE
Team
When
approved,
the
information
is stored in a
SP list
We get the
capacities
(admin) and
assign
workspace
to capacity
When
assigned, the
record in SP
list is updated
with Capacity
details
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Automate directly from business and productivity apps
Access from O365 or www.flow.microsoft.com
Microsoft Flow
MS Flow is a low-code, no-code automation tool
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Power BI REST API
Power BI REST API provides service endpoints for
embedding, administration, and user resources.
Operation group Description
Admin Operations for working with administrative tasks.
Available Features Operations that return available features.
Capacities Operations for working with capacities.
Dashboards Operations for working with dashboards
Datasets Operations for working with datasets
Embed Token Operations for working with embed tokens.
Gateways Operations for working with gateways.
Groups Operations for working with groups.
Imports Operations for working with imports.
Push Datasets Operations for working with push datasets.
Reports Operations for working with reports.
@IdaBergum

8. Create a Flow Custom
Connector to Power BI
REST API
1

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There is also a swagger definition here instead of using the “Create from blank” option using
the “Import an OpenAPI file” option instead and uploading the Power BI REST API OpenAPI
definition file. Then you do not have to create all the actions from the first demo (Shoutout to
Chris Webb, he has a blog post about it here).
Tips
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https://dev.powerbi.com/apps
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Flow Custom Connector to PBI API
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Add Action to refresh Dataset in «My Workspace»
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Test connector
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Add action for App Workspace Dataset Refresh
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15. A Flow to trigger refresh
of dataset(s) in Power BI
2

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Demo

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Create a new Flow Trigger and Action
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Add Get refresh history from workspace action

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Post Refresh History to Teams
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Test your Flow!
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21. A Flow for Power BI
Premium Capacity
management
3

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Collect information about workspace and business case
Fields you would like to store or update
Premium Capacity
Based on Form submission → Start approval → If approved →
Assign to capacity
Make sure you have the right permissions in Azure AD (read/write to capacities, admin right to capacity and workspace)
@IdaBergum
Create a flow using Template used*. Customize it as you’d like, and add Get capacities from
workspace and add assign to capacity action from the custom connector
* Remember to change from “Approved” to “Approve” in the approval action in the template

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Demo

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Add Action Get Capacities
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Add Action AssignToCapcity (Groups)
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Based on Form submission → Start approval → If
approved → Assign to capacity
Template used
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Test
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28. Summary
Summary

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1. Allow Flow to access the Power BI REST API by Register an App (Azure AD). Remember to
grant permissions (admin rights needed)
2. Create a Custom Connector to PBI API
3. Add Actions to the Custom Connector for PBI API endpoints that you would like to use in
your Flow
4. Test the Custom Connector Action
5. Create Flow(s) with triggers, approvals, conditions and actions
6. Test the Flow
7. Publish!
For all PBI API Flows
The blog with video’s based on this session can be found here:
https://www.idabergumdata.com/home/microsoft-flow-automation-using-power-bi-api
@IdaBergum

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What is your automation scenario?
X X X
@IdaBergum

31. Questions?
Thank you for attending my session! Let’s connect
Twitter: @IdaBergum | LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/idabergum/ | Blog: www.idabergumdata.com