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Power BI Desktop: New Data Connectivity FeaturesSummaryThe purpose of this document is to serve as supporting reference to new data connectivity features added to the Power BI Desktop application. Power BI Desktop is a free business intelligence design and development application containing rich capabilities in data connectivity, transformation, modeling, and report/dashboard development. Business intelligence artifacts created within Power BI Desktop such as datasets and reports can be published to the Power BI Service and consumed by Power BI users.New features and enhancements related to data modeling, transformations, report authoring and general Power BI features are outside the scope of this document.This document will be updated with future Power BI data connectivity updates (e.g. September 2016 Update) and may be enhanced with further details and examples.As of 8/28/16, this document only identifies new data connectivity features and improvements since the September 2015 update.#Feature/ImprovementDetailImageUpdate Month1On-Prem Spark distributionsGet Data – Other ConnectURL of Spark Server and Protocal (Standard or HTTP) Sep-20152SharePoint lists from non-English sitesImprovement of existing SharePoint list connectorUsers can get data from any SP list as long as SharePoint 2013 or newer regardless of site languageSP 2010 and earlier sites still limited to English onlySep-20153MS Exchange connectorNow allowing connections to multiple mailboxesCould specify email address and credentials; could combine data from multiple Exchange inboxesSep-20154Excel ConnectorAutomatic Column Type detections when importing.XLS filesPreviously had column type detection for XLSX (Excel 07+) onlySep-20155Related Tables option when connecting to database sourcesSimilar feature available in Power Pivot for Excel Tables with relationships defined in SSAS or via PK/FK in relational SQL ServerFeature supported in:SQL ServerSQL AzureOracleDB2MySQLPostrgresTeradataSep-20156Enhanced Active Directory connector credentialsAllows alternate Windows credentialsCan impersonate now when writing queries against ADSep-20157Improved function invocation experience when using functions against a sourceWill be prompted for all parameters needed for queryPreviously had to go back and specify function parametersSep-20158Import Excel Workbook Contents not supports external connections to SSAS Tabular modelsConverted to AS live connections in PBI desktopSep-20159New Delete All option in Data Source Settings dialog File – Options and SettingsData Source SettingsSep-201510Option to Enable Relationship Import during Refresh OperationsPBI Desktop automatically creates relationships in local data modelFile – OptionsCurrent File – Data LoadBy default this is turned off now so changes to underlying data source do not impact local data modelSep-201511Azure DocumentDB connectorNoSQL DocumentDB service designed for JSON and JavaScriptMade for Apps that run in the cloudProvide URLOptional – DatabaseOptional – CollectionOptional – SQL StatementPBI will find all tables and expose them to Query Editor, Model and ReportingOct-2015 12Mailchimp connectorNew connectorHas been available as content pack in PBI ServiceCan now benefit from data preparation features in PBI DesktopOther - MailChimpOct-201513DirectQuery for SQL Server and Azure SQL DB (Preview)Users can pick between loading data to PBI Desktop or use direct query to query remote sourcesWill save time waiting for data, save memory/on your local machineLoad or Edit after selecting tablesSelecting Direct Query shows the ‘Create Connections’ – much faster as you’re not loading/moving any dataVisualization commands will be converted into SQL against data sourceIn DQ mode there’s no Data View (no cache)No New Measure or Calc columns as of Oct UpdateCan still use some transforms in QE such as filter rows or remove columns or add derived columns (all in DQ)Oct-201514SSAS Multidimensional SupportFile – Options and settings – Options to enableDirect Connection: ConnectedMust have SQL Server 2012 SP1 CU4 or aboveWill be adding support later for hierarchies, display folders, etcNov-201515SAP HanaVery important enterprise BI sourceAnalytic views and calculation viewsNeed to install SAP Hana ODBC driver on client from SAP marketplaceSupports Direct Query and Import ModeAfter clicking load you get the ‘Import or Direct Query’ Connection Settings dialog boxNov-201516R ScriptGet Data – OtherSpecify the R script to execute against R serverProduces one or multiple tables Could perform additional transformations before loading if necessaryNov-201517Direct Query for:SQL ServerAzure SQL DatabaseAzure SQL Data WarehouseNot a preview feature now, Generally AvailableSame experience for Azure SQL Data WarehouseImproving publish experience using Direct QueryImprovements to PBI Gateway allowing users of PBI Service to use DQ Nov-201518Azure Data LakeProvide URL for Azure Data Lake storePreview all tables, navigate, explore, transformNov-201519MarketoHave had content pack against Marketo beforeNow use PBI desktop to create reports against sourceIn Other Categories oNov-201520SSAS Multidimensional Hierarchy SupportEnhancing preview feature to support hierarchiesWill need to have Preview Feature turned on for explore liveJust click Geography hierarchy and drill up/down buttons enabledFull support for all drill down capabilities (drill all or drill down mode (specific leaf) Dec-201521Stripe ConnectorEasily manage online payments for businessesConnect to Stripe AccountGet Data – Other - Stripe Dec-201522SmartSheet ConnectorGet Data – Other – SmartsheetSmartsheet accountsWorkspaces, worksheets, reports, collaboratorsDec-201523‘Enter Data’Paste or enter data to create a table manuallyPreviously had to create table in Excel and import from Excel or use M or DAXSometimes need a very small static table to support report or modelSpecify headers and name of tableLoads table into data modelCan also just Ctrl+C from external Excel workbook and Ctrl+VLoad or Edit to perform additional transformsModify source table and transforms just like any other data source tableDec-201524Direct Query ImprovementsAll data types of T-SQL and SAP Hana supportedPerformance Improvements for Azure SQL and SQL ServerDec-201525ODBC ConnectorUser and System DSNsSelect from list of DSNsUse any DSN from your machineSpecify Could use ‘none’ option to fully specify connection stringPreviously had to fully specify connection stringDec-201526CSV ConnectorAbility to specify Column Delimiter in the Source dialogDec-201527Create measures in Direct Query modeWill be enabling other Modeling features in DQ mode over the next few monthsClick ellipsis or right-click – New MeasureSome DAX measures are not recognized/enabled by default as they could be expensive on source system Have option of enabling unrestricted measures in OptionsJan-201628GA support for SSAS Multidimensional Exploration ModeJan-201629Enhanced Hierarchies supportWas previously all or nothing with hierarchiesCan now specify level(s) of hierarchies (for SSAS Multidim)Jan-201630GA for SAP Hana connectorFully supported in PBI DesktopJan-201631Append Multiple TablesPreviously had to append two tables at a time; multiple steps required for unioning many tablesCan now specify Three or More Tables to append allCan also control order and append same table multiple timesDisable load for intermediate tables, only load final outputJan-201632Refresh Data for Individual Tables (Report & Data Views)Previously, clicking Refresh on Home tab from Report view would refresh all tables (could be time consuming)Just refresh single tableJan-201633Option to disable data previews Background evaluation can sometimes consume CPU resourcesFile - Options – Data Load Allow data previewSetting is scoped to the given file Jan-201634DirectQuery support for Oracle and Teradata databasesPreview feature for now for these Must enable preview in PBI DesktopPreviously DQ sources are GA (SQL Server, SSAS, Azure) Feb-201635DirectQuery support for Calculated ColumnsLast month was calc measures, now calc columnsExpect more improvements to DirectQuery soonFeb-201636Support for publishing SSAS Live ReportsSpecify which gateway you want to use for the given report to hit the on-prem databasePreviously, if you had multiple gateways the report didn’t know which one to useFeb-201637JSON File ConnectorSpecify the JSON fileExpand option in Query Editor to parse fileAny Rest API or URL that returns JSON fileFeb-201638SQL Sentry ConnectorAllows you to monitor performance of SQL Server (health, availability, disk, cpu, memory, etc)Previously available as content packCan now build your own reports via PBI desktopFeb-201639Support for jagged CSV filesFeb-201640Exchange Connector OAuth SupportFeb-201641SharePoint List ConnectorURL validationFeb-201642DB ConnectorsOption to disable navigation columns in Query PreviewsCan uncheck the relationships detection (default is checked) and load..much faster to load data without relationshipsFeb-201643Web ConnectorFine Grained Scoping of CredentialsPick any level from hierarchy (not just URL or domain)To manage privacy levelsFeb-201644Enter Data User Experience improvementsAutomatically detect headsFeb-201645SAP HANASingle Sign-on with Windows Authentication (PBI Desktop only)Feb-201646SAP HANASupport for Field LabelsWill show up in navigator; supported in query Feb-201647SAP BW Connector (Preview)Settings – Options – Global – Preview FeaturesSAP Business Warehouse connecotrRequired: SAP BW Client Tools installed on local machineMar-201648R Scripts Connector now Generally AvailableUnder Get Data – OtherRequired: R installed on local machine to run R scriptsRequired: data source supports RMar-201649Command Timeout in the UXUnder Advanced Options when connecting to database sourcesMar-201650Privacy Level Setting at Machine LevelCan now specify the privacy level (public, Org, private) for each data source. Privacy sometimes required local transforms (slow)Currently per file, per user setting – Current File - PrivacyNew option: Always combine data according to privacy level settings for each source (whether current file privacy setting is enable disabled)Mar-201651Direct Query for Oracle and Teradata now GAPreview for DQ to Oracle and TD in February; now has become GASupport for DQ for Oracle and Teradata now in Enterprise GatewayMar-201652New ConnectorsSharePoint FolderWebtrendsSparkPosttyGraphApr-201653New ‘Online Services’ category in Get Data dialogMoving online services to separate tab reduces list of sources under OtherOther sources now:Web,SP ListHDFS FileActive DirectoryMS ExchangeODBCRSparkBlank QueryApr-201654Direct Query vs Import SelectionSpecify DQ or Import mode in data source dialogsApr-201655New data connectorsIBM InformixcomScore Digital AnalyticsTrouxPlanview EnterpriseIBM Informix available via Database category in Get DatacomScore Digital Analytics available via Online Sources categoryTroux available via Online Sources categoryPlanview Available via Online Sources categoryMay-201656Improved DB2 ConnectorNow have the choice to use the Microsoft driver for IBM DB2 which is automatically included in the PBI Desktop installationMay-201657Data Source Settings EnhancementsCan now modify the location of a data source for all queries using that data source within a PBIX file.Eliminates need to update data source for each queryNow a Current File scope in Data Soruce SettingsMay-201658Improved relational database connectors with Display Schema informationAvailable as an Advanced Option in all database connectorsMay-201659‘Save As’ a Power Bi TemplateFile – Save As dialog to create PBIT fileStores only the definitions of queries, model, parameters and visualizations not the dataMay-201660Azure Enterprise Data ConnectorRetrieve info about Azure accountsJune-201661Enhanced SAP BW and HANA connectorsMulti-Select of values for variables/parametersSupport for Hierarchies in SAP BWJune-201662Enhanced OData connector Imports Open Type columnsAvailable in Advanced OptionsJune-201663Enhanced MS Access DB ConnectorSelect Related Tables buttonSame behavior as other database sources. Will select all tables that have a direct relationship with the table selected.June-201664Amazon RedshiftPreview FeatureImport and Direct Query supportedIf enabled as preview feature, will see option under Get Data – DatabaseJuly-201665ImpalaPreview FeaturePreviewConnect to Impala clusterImport only nowDirect Query supported soonJuly-201666Command Timeout option via the UX for Web connectionEliminates the need to customize the M queryAvailable in Advanced Mode for Web connectorJuly-201667CSV/Text – Support for Fixed-Width delimited filesSpecify a list of positions to split by in the Table preview dialog (if fixed width)first columnJuly-201668SAP BW improvementsSupport for Netweaver driverAbility to specify a language when connecting to an SAP BW serverError messages now localized to the PBIX install languageNeed to ensure this driver is configured in your machine in order to continue running existing reports, both via PBIX and PBI gatewayJuly-201669Impala DirectQuery SupportStill in Preview but was import mode only last monthAug-201670Snowflake ConnectorAvailable in preview featureSnowflake is cloud-native data warehouseAug-201671GA of SAP BW connectorNow GA, available without any preview switchAug-201672Improved Web connectorGet Data – WebPaste URLPreviously had to select tables from a listDon’t have to guess or use process of elimination to determine the table you wantAug-2016 ................
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