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Microsoft Power BI Updates Blog

Power BI February 2022 Feature Summary

Headshot of article author Jeroen ter Heerdt

Senior Program Manager
17 February, 2022

Welcome to the February 2022 update. We are thrilled to announce a variety of new and highly anticipated features such as new mobile formatting options, Dynamic M Query Parameters support for more data sources, deployment pipeline enhancements and improvements to downloading a PBIX file. There is more to explore, please continue to read on.

Desktop Download button

 

Reporting

Data preparation

Data connectivity

Service

Mobile

Embedded Analytics

Developers

Visualizations

Other

Check out the video below for this month’s summary:

 

Reporting

 

New mobile formatting options 

Have you ever created a mobile-optimized report and struggled with its design? Did you want to change the text size in a visual to better fit the mobile screen but didn’t have a way to do it? Did you duplicate and hide visuals in web layout to have visuals that look good in mobile?

Over the past several months we’ve been working to make it possible for you to format visuals in mobile layout, and to have those formatting changes affect only the mobile-optimized view. Today as part of Power BI Desktop’s February update we are thrilled to announce the public preview of this major improvement to the mobile-optimized report authoring experience.

To enjoy the new mobile formatting experience, please switch on the “Modify visuals settings for mobile layout” preview feature (File > Options and settings > Options > Preview features > Modify visuals settings for mobile layout).

For more details about the new capabilities, check out the full blog post here.

Sensitivity labels downstream Inheritance   

Downstream inheritance enables you to automatically apply a dataset’s or report’s sensitivity label on all downstream reports and dashboards. When a sensitivity label is applied to a dataset or report in the Power BI service, the label will trickle down and be applied to content that is built from that dataset or report as well. Downstream inheritance is now generally available.

Screenshot of lineage view illustrating downstream inheritance.

For example, when a label is applied to the dataset “Customer profitability”, that label gets applied to the dataset’s downstream content.

Sensitivity label downstream inheritance in Power BI – Power BI | Microsoft Docs

Default label policies in Power BI   

Default label policies enable you to define a baseline level of protection to be applied to Power BI files and to artifacts in the Power BI service. This capability is now generally available.

Default labeling applies when you create a new file in Power BI Desktop or a new dataset or report in the Power BI service. The default label is set automatically on the new file or artifact, without interfering with your workflow.

Default label policy in Power BI – Power BI | Microsoft Docs

Mandatory label policy

Mandatory label policies enable organizations to ensure that MIP sensitivity labels will be applied to new content when it is created in or uploaded to Power BI. This capability is now generally available. When a user tries to save a PBIX file in Power BI Desktop, or a Power BI artifact in the service, that doesn’t have a sensitivity label applied, you will be prompted to choose a label before the item will be saved. Also, the option to remove a label isn’t available when a mandatory label policy applies.

New Format Pane   – On by default

The new format pane is now on by default for users upgrading to the February release. We’ve added a notification dialog to call attention to this change.

If you need to turn this preview off, you can find the preview switch from: File > Options and settings > Options > Preview Features > New format pane. Please submit your feedback directly in the comments of this blog post or add to the discussion via our new “share feedback” link next to the preview switch so we can continue to improve!

Improvements added this month include:

  • Outline settings for matrix and table have been re-added, previously missing.
  • Ability to toggle axis title independent of axis has been re-added, previously missing.
  • Ability to add shade area to combo charts has been re-added, previously missing.
  • Ability to customize marker shape by series for scatter charts has been re-added, previously missing.
  • Minor reordering of the field wells within the Build pane to match the order of the new format pane cards for pie chart, donut chart, and scatter chart.

 

Multi row card selection

You can now select rows in your multi row card to cross highlight and cross filter the other visuals in your report! Unselected rows will dim to help you identify which rows you have selected, and you can ctrl or shift click to select multiple rows at once. This brings interactivity in multi row cards closer to parity with our other visual offerings.

UPDATE: This feature did not ship in the February 2022 release. It will be coming in the March release instead.

Data preparation

 

Dynamic M Query Parameters now supports SQL Server and more data sources   

When Dynamic M Query Parameters was released, the feature supported M-based data sources (such has Azure Data Explorer, Databricks, BigQuery, Snowflake and more) but did not support other sources like SQL Server. This month we’re excited to announce that Dynamic M Query Parameters now supports more DirectQuery data sources:

  • T-SQL based data sources: SQL Server, Azure SQL Database, Synapse SQL pools (such as Azure Synapse Analytics), and Synapse SQL OnDemand pools
  • Oracle
  • Teradata
  • Dataflows (enhanced compute engine enabled)
  • SAP Hana Relational

As a refresher, Dynamic M Query Parameters is preview feature that allows report viewers to dynamically set the value(s) for an M Query Parameter using filters or slicers. This feature can be especially useful for query performance optimizations without sacrificing report interactivity.

To learn more about the feature, check out our documentation or video demo.

Data connectivity

 

Amazon OpenSearch Service (New Connector)

We are excited to release the new Amazon OpenSearch Service connector, by Amazon! Below is a short introduction about the connector from the Amazon team.

Amazon OpenSearch Service now supports integrating with Microsoft Power BI, a business analytics service that delivers insights to enable fast, informed decisions. Powered by the OpenSearch ODBC Driver you can now integrate your Microsoft Power BI environment with your Amazon OpenSearch Service domains using the OpenSearch SQL Engine.

The OpenSearch SQL Engine uses Structured Query Language (SQL) to manifest search results in a tabular format. One of the key features of this engine is the Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) driver which enables you to integrate various business intelligence (BI) and analytics applications with OpenSearch. You can now connect Amazon OpenSearch Service with Microsoft PowerBI to create sophisticated and intelligent data visualizations on top of the search results obtained from Amazon OpenSearch Service by leveraging the PowerBI Integration, to provide data insights.

Amazon OpenSearch Service PowerBI integration is powered by OpenSearch, an Apache 2.0-licensed project.

OpenSearch Project (New Connector)

We are excited to release the new OpenSearch Project connector, by Amazon! Below is a short introduction about the connector from the Amazon team.

OpenSearch project now supports integrating with Microsoft Power BI, a business analytics service that delivers insights to enable fast, informed decisions. Powered by the OpenSearch ODBC Driver you can now integrate your Microsoft Power BI environment with your OpenSearch project using the OpenSearch SQL Engine.

The OpenSearch SQL Engine uses Structured Query Language (SQL) to manifest search results in a tabular format. One of the key features of this engine is the Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) driver which enables you to integrate various business intelligence (BI) and analytics applications with OpenSearch. You can now connect OpenSearch with Microsoft PowerBI to create sophisticated and intelligent data visualizations on top of the search results obtained from OpenSearch by leveraging the PowerBI Integration, to provide data insights.

OpenSearch project PowerBI integration is powered by OpenSearch, an Apache 2.0-licensed project.

Digital Construction Works Insights (New Connector)

We are also excited to announce the release of the new Digital Construction Works Insights connector! Here are a few notes from the Digital Construction Works (DCW) team below.

We are very excited to release the first version of the Digital Construction Works (DCW) PowerBi Data Connector! This connector works with data from your DCW Integrations Platform Organizational and Project Data Warehouses. It enables you to query all of your project data via one single source and build impressive visuals and reports. Here’s how:

The DCW Insights connector works using a standard OData V4 connection to your DCW Platform API subscription. This connector allows you to query your project data via one single source. Simply enter the project URL in the connectors configuration screen and click OK.

Secondarily, enter in your unique platform project API key to securely connect to your project. Data will be returned, and you will be able to build impressive visualizations and reports at your leisure. Refresh your reports automatically, keeping your construction and project scheduling dashboards up to date. We hope you enjoy using the connector and value any feedback! Please visit our website for more information on the DCW Integrations Platform.

Azure Databricks (Connector Update)

This update of the Azure Databricks connector adds the ability to provide custom SQL queries, by using the Power Query function ‘Databricks.Query’.

BQE Core (Connector Update)

The BQE Core connector has been updated. See notes from the BQE Core team below.

What’s new in BQE CORE Connector 3.0?

Access to the budgetId field in Projects, which allows you to identify the budget linked to a project.

MicroStrategy (Connector Update)

The MicroStrategy connector has been updated. See notes from the MicroStrategy team below.

Connector version: 2.4.5 Bug fixes/improvements:

Added support for OIDC authentication

Fixed issue with path detection on Power Bi online when “/“ was not added at the end of MicroStrategy REST API URL.

Starburst Enterprise (Connector Update)

The Starburst Enterprise connector has been updated. See notes from the Starburst team below.

Broken catalogs are ignored when connecting to SEP or Starburst Galaxy. Previously, if any catalogs were broken the whole connection would fail.

Service

 

Power BI Goals

We have a few exciting updates to announce for Power BI Goals. This month, we have updates on Teams notifications integration, the ability to add multiple owners to a goal, and the ability to create scorecards in My Workspace. Additionally, Goals is now available in all US Government clouds.

Notifications

The Power BI Teams notifications integration helps users stay up to date about the goals they’re responsible for without having to leave Teams to view the updates to the scorecard. With this month’s release, you’ll be notified when someone assigns you a goal, mentions you in a note, or when the status of a goal you own gets updated by an automated status rule.

Goal assignment notifications

Goal assignment notifications are sent when an owner is assigned or changed for a goal. The goal owner receives a Teams notification from the user assigning the goal if they have the Power BI app for Teams installed. They’ll get a notification right in the activity feed and as a banner (toast card). When they click the notification, the scorecard opens and the Details pane for the goal is shown. This notification will help users be aware of the goals that are assigned to them immediately, without relying on someone to tell them what scorecard their goals are on.

Notifications for mentions

These notifications help users get someone’s attention on a goal without having to leave the scorecard by tagging them in a note. When a user is @mentioned in a note on a new or existing check-in, they get an activity feed notification from the note creator, which opens the Details pane showing the note.

Status update notifications

This notification helps users get an immediate notification when the status of the goal gets updated by an automated status rule, so they don’t have to rely on checking their goals in the scorecards. The owner of the goal gets an activity feed notification from the user who configured the data connection in the case of connected goals or the user who edited the value in the case of manual goals.

Note that you need to have the Power BI app for Microsoft Teams and the recipient needs to have access to the scorecards to get these notifications. Read the documentation to learn more. We are working on other Teams notifications as well as emails and Power BI mobile notifications. If you have any requests for specific notifications you’d like to see, please share in the comments below.

Multiple Owners

One common request we got from our users is the ability to add multiple owners to a single goal. You will now be able to do just that by typing additional names in the owner field of a goal. You can add up to five owners. These additional owners will also work seamlessly with notifications and Power Automate integrations.

My Workspace

You will now be able to create scorecards in My Workspace in Power BI, making it easier than ever to create and keep personal scorecards and share them out when they’re ready. Free users can author scorecards in My workspace, but a Pro license is required to share them.

Deployment pipelines enhancements

This month we have released highly anticipated features for deployment pipelines

  • Azure DevOps extension (Preview)- automate your deployments and pipeline creation using Tasks in your Azure pipeline.
  • Multiple pipelines working together– sync the connections between items managed in different pipelines.
  • Dataflows GA and support for linked entities

Please find more details in this blog post.

Download .pbix improvements

We have been hard at work enabling the download a .pbix file preview feature in more scenarios. Thanks to everyone who provided input – we know this is an important topic to many of you!

Previously, you were not able to download a .pbix file for reports when the report connected to a single dataset and that dataset was configured for large models, incremental refresh or had been modified by using the XMLA endpoint. Starting with this release, that limitation has been partially removed and we plan to make more improvements in the future.

Specifically, starting with this release you can download a .pbix file for reports, that meet the following requirements:

  • the report was created in Power BI Desktop
  • the report was published or manually uploaded to the Power BI Service
  • the report connects in live mode to a dataset (not using DirectQuery)
  • the dataset that the report connects to is configured for large models, incremental refresh or has been modified using the XMLA endpoint.

Note that downloading a .pbix for such a dataset itself is not supported, nor can a report be downloaded if it was created on the Power BI service and connects to such a dataset.

Please refer to our documentation for more information and an up-to-date overview of considerations and limitations. We have more improvements planned, so stay tuned for more updates in this space.

Mobile

 

Dark mode now available in the Power BI Windows app

The Power BI app for Windows is designed and optimized for viewing and interacting with Power BI content. In this update we’ve added support for dark mode. When the app is in dark mode, all screens and dialogs are presented in a dark theme, reducing the brightness of the screen, and making it easier to view it. The Power BI content itself, however, such as reports and dashboards, does not change – the colors and themes published by the person who created the content remain the same.

You can choose between the light and dark themes in the app’s appearance settings, or you can leave the setting as “System default”, in which case the app will use whatever theme your operating system is using.

Power BI Windows app new look   

The Power BI Windows app new look has now become standard, and the old look is no longer available. Starting with this update, when you open the Power BI Windows app, it will open directly in the new look, and you’ll land on the new home page, where you can easily find and access the most frequent and recent items you usually use in Power BI.

Embedded Analytics

 

Support Power BI dataset as a data source for embedding paginated reports

With Power BI embedded analytics, ISVs and customers can create Power BI content that displays paginated reports in a fully integrated and interactive application. They can embed paginated reports using the solution that works best for you, embed for your customers, or embed for your organization.

Until now, Power BI dataset was not supported as a datasource for those scenarios, and now we’re enabling it.

When embedding a paginated report with a Power BI dataset as a datasource for the embed for your customers scenario, you need a service principal and a multi-resource embed token, that contains a new parameter called “XMLA permissions”. Using this parameter, ISVs and customers can control the access to XMLA endpoints with the embed token. For allowing embedding of paginated report with a Power BI dataset as a datasource a “Read Only” value is required.

Power BI datasets with datasources that require single sign-on (SSO) are not supported yet, but that’s coming soon.

Azure Power BI Embedded A7 and A8 capacity nodes self-service

A7 is like P4 capacity node, carrying 64 v-cores and 200GB RAM. A8 is like P5 capacity node, carrying 128 v-cores and 400GB RAM. Both capacity nodes could be purchased by special request only, and now we’ve enabled their purchase in self-service, either through the Azure Portal or using an ARM API.

Self-service purchase of A7 and A8 in sovereign cloud will be enabled later this year.

New Dataset Permissions APIs

The dataset permissions APIs are a set of APIs that allow you to easily manage the permissions of your datasets to allow users to perform read, reshare and explore (build) operations. This lets you manage your datasets not only through the Power BI service, but also through your application.

The APIs that are currently supported are PUT and POST.

The POST API allows you to grant new permissions to a dataset. It requires having read and reshare permissions for the dataset, and all the permissions you wish to grant. Keep in mind that the POST API cannot be used for deleting permissions, and that calling the API with permissions which the target already has will have no effect.

The PUT API lets you update the target’s permissions to a given dataset. It requires having read, write and reshare permissions for the dataset, and all the permissions you wish to update. The PUT API cannot be used for changing write permissions or any folder level inherited permissions. This API also supports removing all permissions for a dataset for a given target.

Click here for more information, examples, and limitations.

Delete Dashboard API

You can now programmatically delete dashboards from your workspaces using the deleteDashboard and deleteDashboardInGroup APIs.

Access Token Expiry Callback

Embedding Power BI artifacts requires the use of access tokens, which have an expiration time and must be refreshed before expiration to allow a continuous embedding experience. When using an Azure AD token for the embed for your organization scenario, this can now be done automatically by setting an event hook in your embedding configuration parameters which will call a function responsible for generating new tokens and assign the generated token to the embedded artifact before the expiration of the token.

With this new configuration, all you need to do is provide the token generating function, and the rest will be taken care of automatically so that your users will get a fluent and continuous experience.

Learn more about this here.

Developers

 

New Power BI visuals’ category list in AppSource

You can now log-in to Partner Center and retag your visuals with the new categories. The revised category list has more, easier to understand options to help report authors find a suitable visual easily and quickly.

Please note that you can tag a visual with up to two categories from the list. If your visual was previously tagged with a category that has been removed, update your visual with a new one.

The new categories are:

  • Comparison
  • Correlation
  • Distribution
  • Flow
  • Filters
  • Infographics
  • KPIs
  • Narratives
  • Maps
  • Part-to-Whole
  • R visuals
  • Change over time
  • Other

 

Expand entire level in matrix

With the 4.2 API release you can expand/collapse entire level programmatically. For more details about the new API see this article. Note that if you need to expand a large number of data points, you can use the fetch more data API with the expand/collapse API.

Dynamic format string support

In order to support dynamic format string in your custom visual, add the following definition to capabilities.json

"objects": {
"general": {
"properties": {
"formatString": {
"type": {
"formatting": {
"formatString": true
}
}
}
}
},

It is available from API 4.2.

Visualizations

 

New visuals in AppSource

The following are new visuals this update:

 

The editor’s pick for this quarter

 

Download visual’s sample file from the in-product AppSource

Now you can click on “Download Sample” from the visual page in the in-product AppSource and download sample Power BI report created by the visual publisher.

The sample report demonstrates what the visual looks like and how it can be used. It can also include useful comments, tips, and tricks from the publisher.

Graphical user interface, text, application Description automatically generated

Drill Down Graph PRO by ZoomCharts

Drill Down Graph PRO is the first true graph visual for Power BI. Now you can build networks and explore relations among data points, identify outliers and discover patterns. All while enjoying exceptional navigation, cross-chart filtering, and advanced customization options.

Drill Down Graph PRO keeps the bar high for custom visuals by ZoomCharts through being mobile friendly and supporting interactions, selections, custom and native tooltips, filtering, fetching more data, bookmarks, and context menu.

Main features include:

  • Multiple graph layout options
  • On-chart interactions
  • Focus node support
  • Auras
  • Cross-Chart Filtering
  • Multiple node selection

Most popular use cases:

  • Banking & Finance – transactional data, AML analysis.
  • Information Technologies – asset management, IT infrastructure, IoT monitoring.
  • Cybersecurity & Risk Management – business process analysis, attack vector prevention.
  • Logistics & Transportation – fleet management, stock management, parcel tracking.
  • Sales & Marketing – community detection, commercial account management, web analytics and more.

To evaluate Drill Down Graph PRO on your own, get it now from the AppSource!

Learn More about our Drill Down Graph Pro.

Plotly.js visual by Akvelon

Plotly.js visual by Akvelon Inc., empowers data scientists to create custom sophisticated charts in Power BI using a potent combination of empowers data scientists to create custom sophisticated charts in Power BI using a potent combination Plotly.js and react-chart-editor. Visual allows users to visualize data by using Plotly.js capabilities and provides a chart editor to create and customize more than 40 types of charts in Power BI. Plotly.js community members can start using Plotly.js visual in Power BI with support for new chart types in the Power BI community:

3D charts help visualize complex data, bringing an extra dimension to Power BI’s visualization capabilities.

If you aren’t familiar with the tool or Plotly graphing library you can learn by using official documentation of plotly or tutorials of Chart Studio.

HTML Text Styler 2.0 (Microsoft certified)

The HTML Text Styler is now Microsoft certified. This means that Microsoft has inspected the source code of the visual and confirms that it is safe to use. For the end-user this means that the visual can now be exported to PDF and PowerPoint from Power BI Service and that it is also displayed in e-mail subscriptions.

What makes the HTML Text Styler so powerful?

With the combination of DAX and HTML it is possible to create all kind of dynamic and cool elements in Power BI. It can be used for custom KPI cards, fully formatted tables, dynamic text, animated GIFs and much more.

In this video, we walk you through our sample report which contains just a couple of examples of elements that can be created with the visual.

To get started, we recommend downloading the sample report and taking a look at the online knowledge base. For users that prefer a private one-on-one session, free demo sessions can be scheduled here.

To learn more about the visual, visit kteam.ch/text-styler.

Multiple Sparklines by Excelnaccess.com

Many new features were added to “Multiple sparklines” after its initial release in May 2021.

1. Combo Chart menu

Now you can add a line plus column chart or a double line chart as a micro chart (sparkline). If you choose “Chart Type” as “Double Line” you can also conditionally color the area between them.

2. Conditional coloring

3. Waterfall Chart

You can insert a vertical waterfall sparkline. You can set a bar as “pillar“ or “variance” by right clicking the cell as shown in the image below.

4. Dumbell Chart

Dumbbell or Range Bar graph is useful for illustrating change and comparing the distance between two groups of data points. You can create this chart just like a bullet chart. You need to have 2 columns (start values and end values) against each category.

5. Waffle Chart and Ratings Chart


6. Customized headings

Now you can add customized heading for “Combo chart” and “Bullet Charts”

Download this visual from APPSOURCE

For more information visit https://www.excelnaccess.com/sparklines/

Merged Bar Chart by Nova Silva

On the surface the Merged Bar Chart has a lot of similarities with small multiples. The key difference is the way these charts allow you to compare values. The Merged Bar Chart focusses on comparing multiple measures (like EBITDA & Marketcap in the example below) within one specific categorical variable (here Industries of S&P 500 stocks).

Based on your excellent feedback we have added several exciting features to this visual:

  • Conditional formatting: bars within a measure can change color (the example above shows the EBITDA/FTE in red when it concerns a negative revenue growth)
  • Data Labels: besides the bar you can show the data label. You can even change the location of the labels.
  • Partial highlighting: when your selection results in a partial match (in the example above this is the selection of Washington State) the partial highlight will display this with the highlighted color.

Do you want to compare multiple independent measures?

Try the Merged Bar Chart now by downloading it from the AppSource. All features are available for free to evaluate this visual within Power BI Desktop.

Please visit us: https://visuals.novasilva.com for questions or remarks.

Financial Reporting Matrix by Profitbase

With the Financial Reporting Matrix you can develop and maintain your reports in one place using JSON, embed formulas, styling and formatting in a JSON-string, speeding up the process of building your reports, while requiring a minimum of DAX.

This is particularly useful if you want to ensure consistency across multiple reports with the same layout.

JSON allows you to centrally control reports across your organization:

  • Reports have the same structure
  • KPI or Ratios calculations are consistent
  • Correct format strings per row
  • Highlight important rows using styling

Change all reports at once

  • Add a new KPI or Ratio in the source à it appears in all reports
  • Change a calculation à change happens in all reports

 

After the groundwork is done using JSON, you are still free to build on top of that using the full flexibility of the Financial Reporting Matrix:

  • Adding custom rows
  • Applying company/customer specific themes
  • Expand/collapse columns
  • Conditionally hide columns
  • + much more

And all files used in the video are available from our GitHub, if you’re curious!

Please watch the below videos about highlighted new features:

Get the visual from AppSource and find more videos here!

Inforiver premium edition by Lumel

Inforiver delivers the fastest way to build reports in Power BI.

The Inforiver premium edition includes everything available in Standard and Professional editions (such as number formatting, calculated rows & columns, notes & annotations, conditional formatting and in-cell visualizations), and additional new capabilities such as manual data capture / inputs for budgets/forecasts, advanced what-if simulations, formatted & paginated exports to PDF & excel, blended measures, and more.

These additional capabilities go beyond reporting, visualization & analysis, and unlock new use cases such as sales planning, financial budgeting, operations forecasting and more.

For additional information see the blog  on Inforiver and the feature preview video.

Zebra BI Tables version 5.2 by Zebra BI

The 5.2 version of Zebra BI Tables visual brings the ability to look at multiple plans and forecasts, bookmark most of the settings, and other improvements that empower you to create even more actionable and insightful reports!

With Multiforecast and Multiplan functionality of Zebra BI Tables 5.2, you can simply add up to three measures for Forecast and/or Plan and compare several values against your performance to always stay flexible and agile.

  • Zebra BI automatically adds calculations for absolute and relative variances for each value that you add.
  • Everything remains completely flexible.
  • Visualize each measure with a different chart type where Zebra BI distinguishes between the measures with slight moderations of the chart pattern.

Bookmarkable settings

From now on, you can select the settings you want to bookmark and save the view to make it easier for the report viewers to check the report page most relevant to them. Apply this to different chart settings, layouts, titles, data labels, and design options.

For other important new features and improvements in the Zebra BI Tables visual, visit Zebra BI for Power BI – 5.2. and watch the video to learn about new functionality in details.

Other

 

WebView2 now required

As announced in October last year, starting with this release, we will require WebView2 to be installed on your machine.

Please refer to this blog post to learn more about how to install WebView2 if you have not done so already.

Also, please refer to the troubleshooting information available here in case you are having any issues.

Find out new features releasing in Power BI by using Power BI Release Plan app.

We are very excited to announce a new template app that describes new features releasing in Power BI!

The Power BI Release Plan app visualizes features from the Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Power Platform release plans, making it easy for organizations to track monthly releases and to stay up to date with upcoming features! With searchable text and direct links to feature details, organizations can now easily share the excitement of each Power BI release!

Power BI Release Plan Report report.

The Power BI Release Plan app is brought to you by the Power BI team and is available on AppSource.

Learn more about the app’s functionality in our documentation.

Optimize your processes and gain deep insights with Process Mining

Now with the preview of process mining in process advisor, which leverages Power BI Embedded, you can use your business data to produce analytics and detailed process maps, gleaning new insights into ways to optimize your business processes.

Learn More about how to Optimize your Processes and Gain Deep Insights with Process Mining.

New settings to enable or disable Map and Filled Map visuals

Back in October, we announced that we were introducing a tenant-level setting to enable or disable Bing Maps visuals for all users signed in on that tenant. This setting was made available in the Admin Portal on the Service, and new tenants from then on were required to explicitly opt-in to the Bing Maps service before the Map and Filled Map visuals can be used. We mentioned that these changes would make their way to Power BI Desktop in a future release, and that until then, report authors may see inconsistencies between what they can see in Power BI Desktop and what their users can access on the Service.

This release aligns the behaviors between Desktop and Service. When a user is signed in on Power BI Desktop, the Map and Filled Map visuals will be enabled or disabled based on their organization’s Admin settings. If a user on Power BI Desktop attempts to view a Map visual when their tenant has not enabled the feature, they will be prompted to ask their admin to enable it:

When a user is not signed in, the visuals will be enabled based on a new setting in File -> Options and Settings -> Options -> Global -> Security named “Use Map and Filled Map Visuals.”

Just like with new tenants, new Power BI users will need to explicitly opt in to using these visuals. Otherwise, attempting to create a map visual will prompt users to enable them in their settings.

That is all for this month! Please continue sending us your feedback and do not forget to vote for other features that you would like to see in Power BI! We hope that you enjoy the update! If you installed Power BI Desktop from the Microsoft Store, please leave us a review.

Also, don’t forget to vote on your favorite feature this month over on our community website. 

As always, keep voting on Ideas to help us determine what to build next.

We are looking forward to hearing from you!

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