Link more than one Power BI Workspace in Azure Synapse Analytics

Let’s call it by accident, that I found out that Azure Synapse Analytics now let’s you to link more than just one Power BI workspace.. There is an entry in the Release notes/Update menu that lists this option.

The past: limit to only one linked Power BI Workspace

In one of my previous blog posts, I referred and mentioned the limitation of having a maximum of one linked Power BI workspace…

The present: Link multiple Power BI workspaces

The process is the same as in the past – Open the Manage Hub in Synapse Studio – Linked Services – and add an additional workspace link.

There is already one Power BI workspace link

Add a new Power BI workspace link

Head over to the Develop Hub and refresh the Power BI section – et voila – there are two Power BI workspaces listed now!

Having multiple Power BI workspace links in Azure Synapse Studio

In my case, the option to add multiple Power BI workspace links is a really required one. In most of our projects – or in all of our projects – we are not only using one Power BI workspace! In the past, this required us to switch to another browser window to open the Power BI portal directly… not more…

Have fun – with the Power BI integration in Synapse Studio!

Wolfgang

Data News – 2021-06-14

I am back after holiday and busy weeks at work with another edition of #WolfisDataNews!

Power BI

• Power BI News from MS Build – Arun Ulag – Enabling intelligent experiences with Power BI for developers, data scientists and data engineers – https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/enabling-intelligent-experiences-with-power-bi-for-developers-data-scientists-and-data-engineers/
• Analyze your personal activity in Microsoft Teams with Power BI – https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/analyze-your-personal-activity-in-microsoft-teams-with-power-bi/
• New developer samples for update data sources and encrypt credentials – https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/new-developer-samples-for-update-data-sources-and-encrypt-credentials/
• On-premises data gateway June 2021 is now available – https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/on-premises-data-gateway-june-2021-update-is-now-available/
• Embed Power B in Salesforce – https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/embed-power-bi-in-salesforce/
• Announcing email notification for non-owners of dataflows – powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/announcing-email-notifications-for-non-owners-of-dataflows/
• What’s new in the June update of Power BI Report Builder – https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/whats-new-in-the-june-update-of-power-bi-report-builder/
• Power BI Windows app has new look (preview) – https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/power-bi-windows-app-has-new-look-preview/
• Power BI Reports Server May 2021 Features Summary – https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/power-bi-report-server-may-2021-feature-summary/

Azure Data

• Change Data Capture for Azure SQL Databases (public preview) – https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/azure-sql/introducing-change-data-capture-for-azure-sql-databases-public/ba-p/2429842
• Query Store Hints Preview – https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/azure-sql/query-store-hints-preview/ba-p/2424378
• Azure Digital Twins Explorer available in public preview – https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/azure-digita-twins-explorer-preview/
• Query Delta Lake files using T-SQL in Azure Synapse Analytics (public preview) – https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/reading-delta-lake-with-t-sql-azure-synapse-analytics-serverless-sql-pools-public-preview/

(Virtual) Events in the next weeks

Have a good start into the week!

Wolfgang

10 Minutes Lightning Talk at DataMinutes about “Power to the Query – Data Integration for the masses”

Today is the day of #DataMinutes – the fastest event in the Microsoft Data Platform space. A day full of 10 minutes sessions – 84 sessions, 2 tracks and two organizers – William and Ben have again prepared a great schedule..

If you have 10 minutes left today, head over into one of the two tracks – the Bar or the Grill and listen to one of the sessions!

The schedule is published here – as are the links to the teams meetings.

If you are new to Power Query and want to know more about it, join my session at 11:30 am!

Power to the Query!

You have not heard about Power Query? You are not sure how this YADI-tool (yet-another-data-integration-tool) can help you?
Let’s see where Power Query already has its place in todays tool landscape and how you can easily start using it.

workingondata blog is featured in the Azure Analytics Portfolio and the Power BI blog Portfolio

Wow – just wow. Thank YOU my dear readers for making my little blog page that huge 😉 More than happy I found out yesterday, that this page – https://workingondata.wordpress.com is now featured in both – the BARC Power BI Blog portfolio and the BARC Azure Analytics Blog Portfolio.

Power BI Blog Portfolio screenshot (taken 2021-05-28) – source: https://bi-survey.com/powerbimap/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/05/Blog-Portfolio-Master-May-2021.pdf

Azure Analytics Blog Portfolio (screenshot taken 2021-05-28 – source: https://azureanalyticsmap.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/05/AzureBlogPPTJune2021.pdf)

Thanks to BARC – especially Stefan Sexl (linkedin) for the effort to collect all the blogs!

With that, enjoy some of my blog posts (Azure Purview or Azure Synapse Analytics anyone..?) and happy learning!

Wolfgang

Azure Purview and SQL Server / Azure SQL Views..

You already may be familiar with Azure Purview (first look)- the Azure data governance / data catalog service. In the last months, I got the chance to work on PoC projects together with customers and use & test Azure Purview in several demo instances.

SQL Views are not recognized by Purview scanners

There was one big thing missing so far – the scanning of SQL Server / Azure SQL Views. Which – well – in many cases (customer databases) was a huge loss of information in the data catalog.

This known limitation is listed on the documentation page but many of us overread this sentence.. 😦

Source: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/purview/register-scan-on-premises-sql-server#known-limitations

My demo database contains several tables plus two views (depending on tables in the same database – “simple SELECTs”)

demo database (tables plus views)

After a scan in Purview, the list of artefacts looks like this:

Purview asset browser – Azure SQL database without view objects

But…. look what I’ve found today.. SQL Views in Azure Purview

But look what I’ve seen today… there are two more items in the Purview assets list 😉 Azure SQL Views

Purview Asset list (including SQL views)

The View metadata is read – including schema

Purview asset details – schema information for a view

BUT: what Lineage information still missing. This would be the extra bonus piece to have the data lineage for views included. But this is the implementation of today, let’s wait and see what future updates will bring.

Purview lineage for views – currently not available

One step into the right direction – SQL Views are now recognized by Azure Purview scanners. BUT: what really, really, really (@Azure Purview team ;-)) would kick this feature… data lineage for views 😉

With that – happy data cataloging,

Wolfgang

Talking about PowerPlatform Dataflows at #M365Philly 2021

This time of the year it’s almost like: “Another week, another session” – and this week follows this pattern 🙂

On Saturday, 15th May 2021, I will talk about Power Platform Dataflows at M365 Philly Virtual 2021 edition:

https://www.spsevents.org/event/sharepoint-saturday-philly/

The event itself is a two days event, starting Friday the 14th and continuing on Saturday, May 15th 2021.

Registration is free and still open: https://www.spsevents.org/event/sharepoint-saturday-philly/schedule/

Session abstract:

PowerPlatform Dataflows –PowerQuery (and more) in the Cloud

With PowerPlatform dataflows, users can bring PowerQuery functionality to a cloud-only life. Created in the cloud, processed in the cloud and storing results in the cloud, dataflows can be seen as cloud native part of the ETL within the PowerPlatform.
After their initial start in the Power BI universe, they now reached out into other parts of the PowerPlatform and be one of the future options of ETL pipelines to transfer data into data lakes.
In addition to data transformation, dataflows can be enriched with AI functionality to bring more ML power into your ETL processes.
Join this session if you want to learn more about the current feature set available and see what is new and possible with data preparation in the cloud with PowerPlatform dataflows.

Have fun with the Power Platform,

Wolfgang

Data News – 2021-05-10

Welcome to another edition of #WolfisDataNews!

This weeks roundup is focused on the Power BI announcement from the Microsoft Business Applications Summit 2021. The event was virtual this year and the sessions are now available as on-demand sessions (browse to mymbas.microsoft.com).

If you don’t have much time, take an hour and watch the two Power BI keynotes… many, many interesting things have been announced.

Power BI

• Arun Ulag: Driving a data culture with Power BI – Empowering individuals, every team, and every organization – Driving a data culture with Power BI– Empowering individuals, every team, and every organization | Microsoft Power BI Blog | Microsoft Power BI
• Justyna Lucznik: Introducing Goals in Power BI – Introducing Goals in Power BI | Microsoft Power BI Blog | Microsoft Power BI
• Microsoft Business Applications Summit Recap – Microsoft Business Application Summit Recap | Microsoft Power BI Blog | Microsoft Power BI
• Announcing the new sharing experience – Announcing the new sharing experience | Microsoft Power BI Blog | Microsoft Power BI
• Announcing support for backup and restore of Power BI datasets – Announcing support for backup and restore of Power BI datasets | Microsoft Power BI Blog | Microsoft Power BI
• Query Plan Visual for Power Query Online – Query Plan Visual for Power Query Online | Microsoft Power BI Blog | Microsoft Power BI

Sessions, Events, Recordings

• One of my goals for 2021 is to be more active on Youtube and as a first step I created a Playlist containing some of my available session recordings: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLyrxmFd-qmk4-wWwL6w7ww

• If you like the content, please follow for updates. Appreciate your feedback!

(Virtual) Events in the next weeks

Reading is fun, but (virtual) conferences too…

Microsoft Build is scheduled for Max 25 through 27, 2021 – Microsoft Build Conference Confirmed May 25 Through 27, 2021 (onmsft.com)

Have a good start into the week!

Wolfgang

Data News – 2021-05-03

Welcome to another edition of #WolfisDataNews!

Power BI

• On-Premises data gateway April 2021 update – https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/on-premises-data-gateway-april-2021-update-is-now-available/
• MBAS 2021 – Microsoft Business Applications Summit is THIS week – https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/join-us-for-microsoft-business-applications-summit-may-4th-2021/
  • including some Power BI customer stories – https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/announcing-the-amazing-power-bi-customer-stories-sessions-at-the-microsoft-business-applications-summit/
  • Power BI / SSAS Development – Community and third-party tools for developing enterprise-level Power BI and Analysis Services models – https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/community-tools-for-enterprise-powerbi-and-analysisservices/
  • Premium Gen 2 timeline update – Capacity size enforcement and autoscale charges coming up – https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/premium-gen-2-timeline-update-capacity-size-enforcement-and-autoscale-charges-coming-up/

Azure Data, Databricks, Azure Purview

• Is the DataLake dead? – https://www.qlik.com/blog/is-the-data-lake-dead
• Did you know? There are quotas for resources with Azure Purview – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/purview/how-to-manage-quotas
• Always important – How to set up access control for your Synapse workspace – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/synapse-analytics/security/how-to-set-up-access-control

Sessions, Events, Recordings

• Tuesday, 4th May: The Business Applications Summit 2021 – virtual and one day – takes place on May 4th, 2021 – Register for free and get all the news about Power BI and the Power Platform tools – https://mymbas.microsoft.com/home
  • Power BI Features sessions – Join us for Microsoft Business Applications Summit! May 4th, 2021 | Microsoft Power BI Blog | Microsoft Power BI
  • Tuesday, 4th May: Power BI User Group Cologne – How to start with Azure Synapse Analytics (Power BI Edition) – https://www.meetup.com/de-DE/Koln-Business-Intelligence-Meetup/events/275579387
  • Thursday, 6th May: This week – SQLServerGeeks – Virtual Symposium – including my session about Synapse Analytics – https://www.sqlservergeeks.com/virtual-symposium-sql-server-azure-sql-may-2021/

One of my goals for 2021 is to be more active on Youtube and as a first step I created a Playlist containing some of my available session recordings: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLyrxmFd-qmk4-wWwL6w7ww

• If you like the content, please follow for updates. Appreciate your feedback!

(Virtual) Events in the next weeks

Reading is fun, but (virtual) conferences too…

Power BI Summit – 19 to 23 April – organized by our New Zealand Friends Leila and Reza – Power BI Summit (globalpowerbisummit.com) or Join us! Power BI Summit April 19-23 | Microsoft Power BI Blog | Microsoft Power BI

Microsoft Build is scheduled for Max 25 through 27, 2021 – Microsoft Build Conference Confirmed May 25 Through 27, 2021 (onmsft.com)

May 4th, (Microsoft Business Applications Summit and Starwars Day.. could be worse – MyMbas – Your home for MyMbas (microsoft.com)

Have a good start into the week!

Wolfgang

I thought Power BI Premium per User (PPU) is only 10$? How to purchase the add-on to Power BI PRO

After the initial announcement of the competitive price for Power BI Premium per User (PPU) (20$/user/month) AND the add-on price for existing Power BI PRO users ($10/user/month) the questions from our customers how to purchase the add-on arrived.

This blog post is here for future Wolfi – How to quick and easy find the Power BI Premium per User add-on license.

Initially I told my customers, purchase the PPU license in the Microsoft 365 portal and thought that it should be an easy deal.. but hey – it’s licensing, Microsoft licensing involved…

The place where to buy the PPU add-on is not that obvious as it looks like.

• Let’s start and browse to the Microsoft 365 admin center (https://admin.microsoft.com/#/homepage) and open the Billing section – menu entry Purchase services.

• In the services catalog, let’s search for “Power BI” and have a look at the result list. The result list only contains one entry for the PPU license which is the “full” PPU license, not the upgrade.. hmmm…

• Clear the search results.

• Select the Add-ons category and search for Premium. Et voila – here it is .. the Add-On license for your existing Power BI PRO license..

If you know the answer where to find the upgrade license, it’s easy…

Happy Premium-ing…

Wolfgang

Power BI für Dummies – die 2. Auflage ist verfügbar!

Ich muss es nicht schönreden – das Gefühl, sein eigenes, gebundenes, fertiges Buch in den Händen zu halten ist schon ein schönes 😉

Die erste Ausgabe von Power BI für Dummies erschien im Dezember 2019 und irgendwas dürften wir richtig gemacht haben – der Lagerbestand der ersten Auflage neigte sich dem Ende zu und außerdem erfuhr Power BI sehr viele Updates und neue Features, dass der Verlag gemeinsam mit uns die Entscheidung traf: Es ist Zeit für eine 2. Auflage!

Nach dem Veröffentlichungsdatum am 14. April 2021 war es heute endlich soweit: das Paket von Wiley lag vor der Haustür… darin enthalten: meine Autorenexemplare!

mein erstes unpacking “video” 😉

Mehr Infos zum Buch gibt’s hier: Wiley-VCH – Power BI für Dummies A2

Danke an meine Mitautoren – Tillmann, Oliver und Frank – schlußendlich haben wir es wieder geschafft! Ebenso ein großer Dank an Frau Baulig und das Team von Wiley!

Happy Power BI-ing, Viel Spaß beim Datenauswerten!

Wolfgang