How to Visualize Model Driven Data in Power BI

Do you know that the Power Apps Model Driven app allows us to see our daily reports? Yes, we can use Power BI to present our model-driven data in a graphical manner.

Well, in this Power Apps tutorial, we will explore how to Visualize Model Driven Data in Power BI with a single click.

Moreover, we will cover the topics below:

• Visualize Data in a view with Power BI Service or How to enable the Power BI Service Settings
• How to enable Power BI quick report visualization in a Model-driven app
• Filter Model-Driven View and Visualize the Data using Power BI
• How to save Power BI Report and Dataset in Model-Driven App
• Limitations in Model-Driven Data Visualisation

Also, Read: How to Get Dataverse Created by in Power Automate

What is Model Driven Data Visualization in Power BI

• By using the model-driven data visualization feature, users can build responsive and interactive visualizations that are based on data models generated in Power BI.
• When creating model-driven visualizations, you can use existing fields, measures, and hierarchies from the data model to create charts, graphs, tables, and other visualizations. You can also add filters and drill-down functionality to your visualizations to allow users to explore the data further.
• Model-driven visualizations in Power BI also support real-time data updates and data exploration, enabling users to monitor and analyze key metrics in real time and make data-driven decisions.

The below-attached image is for your reference.

Visualize Data in a view with Power BI Service

While you are starting with the Model-driven data visualization for the first time, you can not see the Visualize this view feature (at the top) inside the app.

For this, you need to enable a Power BI quick report visualization feature in the Model-driven app settings.

Enable Power BI quick report visualization in a Model-driven app

There are two approaches to enable this Power BI quick report visualization in the Model-driven app. Such as:

1. Enable Power BI quick report visualization from Model-Driven app Settings
2. Enable Power BI quick report visualization from Dataverse Solutions

Approach – 1: [Enable Power BI quick report visualization from Model-Driven app Settings]

If you have created your Model-driven app inside the Power Apps app, then you can easily enable the Power BI quick report visualization from the app settings. Follow the steps below to do it:

• In Power Apps, go to Apps (from left navigation) -> Select your specific Model-driven app (Product Info Tracker) -> Click on ellipses (…) -> Edit.

• On the next screen, click on Settings -> Features -> Toggle on the Enable Power BI quick report visualization on a table -> Click on Save.

• Then, Publish the Model-driven app by using Publish button.

This is how to enable Power BI quick report visualization from Model-Driven app Settings.

Approach – 2: [Enable Power BI quick report visualization from Dataverse Solutions]

The next approach to enable the Power BI feature is from Dataverse Solutions. If your Model-driven app is present inside the Dataverse solution, then you can easily enable this Power BI quick report visualization from the solution itself. Refer to the instructions below:

• In Power Apps, Go to Solutions -> Click on the specific solution (Product Solution) where the model-driven app is present as shown below.

• Next, expand + New button (from top) -> More -> Setting -> Setting environment value.

• Under the New setting environment value page, select Enable Power BI quick report visualization on a table and click on Add.

• In the New setting environment window pane, Choose Yes to Setting environment value and then click on Save.

• After enabling the above feature, you need to refresh the Model-driven app once. Then only, you will be able to view the Visualize this view feature.

This is the second approach to enable Power BI quick report visualization in a Model-driven app from the Dataverse solution.

Check: Power Apps Add Data to Dataverse Table

Visualize Model Driven Data in Power BI

• Once you edit the Model-driven app, you will see the Visualize this view feature option at the top of the page. Just click on it.

• Then it will take a few minutes to load the Dataverse table data and generate the Power BI report. Once the BI report is ready, then the visualization will appear like the screenshot below.

This is how to visualize Model Driven Data in Power BI.

Design Model-Driven Data Visualization

Next, we will discuss how to design the Power BI data visualization in a Model-driven app. Follow the below topics to know more details:

Add Dataverse Data to Power BI Visualization

• When the Model-driven data report generates, it will take two columns from the dataverse table by default.
• But if you want to show some more fields in the Power BI visualization, then you can check the specific dataverse column under the Your data section (from the right side of the page).
• For example, here below I want to display the Name, So I checked the Name field and it reflected in the Power BI Visualization.

Show data table in Power BI Visualization

• For example, if you wish to display the Power BI data table in the visualization, the model-driven app has the option to “Show data table” which allows you to view all of the table’s data or record details.
• Click on the Show data table.

• At the bottom of the page, We will see a Data table (Active Product Sales) with all the records shown below. If you want to hide the data table, click on the Hide data table option again.

Personalize Power BI Data Visual

• Next, suppose you want to customize any visual inside the Power BI report, then Model-driven provides some of the main visualization properties like
  • Visualization type
  • Y-axis
  • X-axis
  • Legend
  • Small multiples
  • Tooltips
• For example, I want to change the visualization of a specific BI report, for this, Select the report -> Click on the Visualization icon -> Select Visualization type -> Select Pie chart (you can select any chart as per your choice).

• Then the visual will change into a Pie chart including all the data.
• If you want to customize any value on it, then select Values and select the field (Quantity) that you want to display in the Pie chart.

• In case you want to view a particular report, then you can just click on a part of the chart. For example, if I want all the sales information of the iPod (Sum of Sales by Name), then I will just click on that specific portion from that chart. And you will get all the information about iPod.

In this way, we can customize or design Power BI Data Visualization in the Model Driven app.

Filter the Model Driven view and Visualize the Data using Power BI

Now we will see how to filter the Model-driven view and display the data using Power BI Visualization.

• Let’s say, we want to filter Model-driven data by Name and Customer Location. To filter the particular field, expand the column (Name) -> Click Filter by -> Apply condition (Equals Laptop) -> Click on Apply.
• Similarly, filter the Customer Location equals to Australia.

• Now, you can see all the filter values (Laptop and Australia) in the Model-driven app.
• Click on the Visualize this view option to generate the report of filtered values.

• After a while, you can see the Model-driven app will generate the Power BI reports with those particular filtered records (Laptop and Australia) as shown below.

This is how to filter the Model Driven view and visualize the Data using Power BI.

Check out: How To Get Row by ID From Dataverse Table

Save Power BI Report and Dataset in Model Driven App

• Finally, we will save the generated Power BI report and Dataset in the Model-driven app.
• Click on the Save button -> Provide a name to your file in Power BI (Product Tracker) -> Select the workspace to save the report (My workspace) -> Click on Continue.

• Now the report is saved and we are ready to view the Power BI report in the Power BI Online service. Click on the Open the file in Power BI to view, edit, and get a shareable link.

• You can view your Model-driven Power BI report in the Online service below.

This is how to save Power BI Report and Dataset in Model Driven App.

Model-Driven Data Visualization Limitations

• The report produced with this function is transient. The experience times out after a certain period of time if you don’t choose to store it. If you want to continue reviewing your data after that, you must close and restart the report. The timeout is currently set to one hour.
• The report may contain more columns than the initial view allows. These fields may be URLs utilized in the original view for purposes other than columns, such as foreign keys for the columns or hierarchy.
• The information in this report is available for download. The data you may download, however, is only the data you have permission to see in Dynamics because Power BI leverages single-sign-on and Direct Query for the automatically created report. Information that you wouldn’t typically be able to see is not accessible.
• By controlling it via the Power BI admin interface, Power BI admins can limit downloads to Excel on the Power BI side.

Additionally, you may like some more Dataverse tutorials:

• Dataverse Error – Please configure your pop-up blocker to allow this site to create pop-up windows
• Power Apps Modern Dropdown Control [Complete Tutorial]
• How to Get Dataverse Created by in Power Automate
• Power Automate Dataverse Add New Row
• How to Export Dataverse Table to Excel
• How to Delete Power Apps Customize Form from SharePoint List

Well, in this Power Apps tutorial, we explored how to Visualize Model Driven Data in Power BI with a single click.

Moreover, we covered the topics below:

• Visualize Data in a view with Power BI Service or How to enable the Power BI Service Settings
• Power BI Features available in the Model-Driven App
• Filter Model-Driven View and Visualize the Data using Power BI
• How to save Power BI Report and Dataset in Model-Driven App
• Limitations in Model-Driven Data Visualisation