March 2024: Top Power BI Updates with Soheil, Microsoft MVP

Using visual calculations for Excel users

Easier to write DAX formulas, run sums and move averages.

Visual calculations in Power BI allow for dynamic and interactive data exploration. They enable users to create and execute calculations within visuals directly, making complex data modelling, less complex.

This approach is particularly beneficial for common business calculations like running sums or moving averages, making them more accessible and easier to manage.

By leveraging visual calculations, businesses can gain insights more quickly and confidently and make data-driven decisions. Not only does this feature make complex calculations easier and more accessible to data analysts, but it also saves a lot of development and maintenance time.

‍

For a more technical definition and extended summary, visit the official update here.

‍

Folders are now available on workspaces

You can now create multiple folders and have up to ten subfolders within a workspace.

Currently, in public preview, the Workspace Folder feature introduces a hierarchical structure for organising items within a workspace in Microsoft Fabric and Power BI, addressing the common issue of clutter and inefficiency. It allows users to create folders and nested subfolders up to 10 levels deep, supporting various items within Microsoft Fabric.

This feature enhances productivity by enabling better item management and aligning with deployment stages, which is particularly beneficial for businesses looking to streamline collaboration and project management.

More importantly, it is available on Power BI Pro licenses, meaning it does not need Power BI Premium Capacity, Fabric Capacity or even Premium Per User (PPU) licensing plans.

The following image shows multiple folders created to hold relevant items.

‍

For a more technical definition and extended summary, visit the official update here.

‍

‍

Copilot is now available on Power BI Desktop

Enabling developers of all levels to leverage the power of Copilot.

Before the latest release, we had the option to use a new tab added to Power BI Desktop called DAX Query View, which provides more flexibility in writing DAX queries and testing the existing measures in DAX queries directly in the Power BI Desktop without needing to use third-party tools. While this option was pretty compelling to more seasoned developers and Power BI experts, it introduced more complexities to average developers unfamiliar with DAX Query Language.

Now with Copilot availability on the DAX Query View, even the average developers can leverage the power of Copilot to:

• Create new DAX measures by asking the Copilot what they want to achieve.
• Understanding the existing measures by asking Copilot to explain the logic in simple English.

For a more technical definition and extended summary, visit the official update here.

‍

‍

Check out Microsoft’s full Power BI update for March 2024 here.