PowerApp dataflow that points to PowerBi datasets

[Kernow]

Hello,

How can we get PowerApp Dataflows (and or dataverse) to use the same dataset as our PowerBi reports?

TLDR:  We already have a PowerBi workflow in place and datasets published to PowerBi.

We don't want to use the Dataverse to duplicate data. Ideally we also don't want to modify our existing workflow.

Somehow we need to use Model-driven or PowerPortal apps and get them to point to power Bi datasets. 

This way we don't duplicate data and everything is pointing to the same place.

Further details:

We have a unique situation where we need a PowerApp to be large enough for our staff to see and use for data entry.

This means we can use either a tablet layout on a canvas app (Mobile layout wont work for visibility) or Model-Driven or Portals.

PowerBi has a 5 year old bug that wont allow you to embed a PowerApp if it has a tablet layout, so this rules out canvass apps and leaves us with Model driven or Portals.

The latter will both require dataverse.

It appears that its possible to create a PowerApps dataflow but I can find no way of connecting it to our PowerBi service to access the datasets.

PowerApps does have a connector for PowerBi but this doesnt work as expected.

Our workflow:

Our current workflow consists of three workspaces - Development, Test, and Production.

We have a number of PowerBi dataflows in place (I'm aware PowerApps and PowerBi dataflows are independant of each other).
We build a new PowerBi Report and add tables we require from the dataflow.
We then publish that PowerBi report so we have its dataset on PowerBi.
We then build the final PowerBi report that uses this dataset.
This allows different members of staff to work on the report/visual elements and another member of staff to work on the dataset side.

Many Thanks,

J

[dpoggemann]

Hi @Kernow ,

When you say: "Somehow we need to use Model-driven or PowerPortal apps and get them to point to power Bi datasets." 

This is not possible if I am understanding what you are saying.  Model-Based Power Apps leverage the Dataverse as the data source and can not point to datasets in Power BI or other location.  Are you trying to pull information from Dataverse into the Dataflow to push to Power BI?  This can be done in Power Query using Dataverse as one of your input sources.  I guess I might need more clarity on what you are trying to do, sorry.

[Kernow]

Hi Drew,
Thankyou for your reply.

We currently don't use dataverse and it looks like bad solution for our purposes.
We just have a PowerBi Premium licence and reference all of our data in transformed datasets.
We don't want to migrate away from these datasets ideally.

We create minimal SQL views on our on-prem SQL Server database.

We then use these as  a source for our dataflows.

We then build datasets based on these dataflows.

PowerBi Reports then connect to these shared datasets.

All of our PowerBi reports import the data rather than direct query.

The dataflows themselves automatically refresh.

I am new to PowerBi and still learning so I may have missed something.

It just seems strange that there is no way to achieve what I am after.

It appears that Portal and Model Driven apps use dataverse in their dataflows whereas PowerBi uses Azure Gen 2 datalake. I thought using datalake might be the answer.

Many Thanks,

J

[dpoggemann · Accepted solution]

Hi @Kernow ,

Right, Dataflows tied to Power Apps are focused on bringing the data into Dataverse (or pushing the data out of Dataverse) while Power BI focus on pushing to the data lake as mentioned.  You can connect Dataverse to publish to Azure Synapse if required (https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-apps/maker/data-platform/azure-synapse-link-synapse)