Using the PowerBI Connector

Connect Data Modella to PowerBI using a Custom Data Connector

Installing the Connector

Installing the connector is a fairly straight forward process, you'll need to:

1. Open the %userprofile%\Documents\Power BI Desktop\Custom Connectors directory, create the folders if they do not already exist.

2. Copy the extension file into this directory.

3. Enable loading unsigned Custom data connectors (under Options and settings > Security).

4. Restart Power BI Desktop.

5. Select Get Data > More to bring up the Get Data dialog.

We'll run through installing and using the Data Modella Connector in detail.

Enable PowerBI to load unsigned connectors

The Data Modella Connector is not signed yet so in order to use it you'll need to tell PowerBI it's ok. Under File > Options and settings > Options > Security > Data Extensions select Allow any extension to load without validation or warning.

Changing extension loading to allow Custom Data Modella Connector

You'll then need to close or restart PowerBI for this change to take effect.

Install the connector on your computer

Download the connector Data Modella.Connector.mez linked below

Copy it to the following folder, create any folders that do not exist [Documents]\Power BI Desktop\Custom Connectors

Once copied the connector is installed!

Using the Data Modella Connector

Open Power BI and click Get Data or Get data from another source

Default screen for a new PowerBI project

This will open the Get Data dialog where you can search for the Data Modella Connector

Get Data form searching for Data Modella Connector

The first time you use the connector, you'll also be warned that the Data Modella connector is still under development. Check "Don't warn me again" before continuing.

To proceed with the next step we'll need to copy the Model Id from Data Modella

Model Id shown on the Model Configuration Page

Once you have your Model Id paste it into the Input shown by the Connector. Select Production for the server option and Version 2 for the Schema Version.

Data Modella Connector Options

Once a model has been specified if you haven't already signed in you'll be promoted to sign in to Data Modella. Use your standard Data Modella credentials.

Signing into Data Modella via Power BI

Once you have signed in wait for the tables to be downloaded then select the tables you'd like to import into Power BI, this will typically be all the tables. You can shift-click to select multiple tables.

PowerBI Table Selection Screen

Once you've imported the tables you're ready to go. Setup the table relationships, filter data and create visualisations.