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Setting up the Child Report

1. Deploy the child Report to app.powerbi.com and run the report to obtain the URL for the report.
   1. This cannot be done directly from app.powerbi.com as this URL will not render when passing parameters in the URL
   1. Copy and paste this URL into a Notepad window
   1. Below are the parameter dataset query and multiselect parameter set up in the child reports.

• It is best to test with the URL before adding this to your parent record
  • Paste the URL into a web browser to confirm the child reports work

• Hardcode the passing of parameters in the URL Edit the URL in notepad by adding “&rp:parametername=xyx” to the end where the parameter name is the exact same name as the name in the Report builder tool. If you need to add more, continue to add “&rp:parametername=xyx” to the string.
• I.e “https://app.powerbi.com/groups/me/rdlreports/617a3daa-0d7b-412b-9vs2-0213123123?ctid=eeb53a15-a2e4-46de-8608-22657ab58979&rp:param1=test&rp:param2=202012”

• For multiselect parameters, you can add the same parameter to the string to select multiple values “&rs:parametername=xyx&rs:parametername=xyx&rs:parametername=xyx”

Building the Parent Report

• Now that we have a working tested URL, Head back to the parent report to build the dynamic URL. In the field that needs to contain the drill to, right click the box and select “Textbox Properties”

• Select “Actions -> URL” and use the Fx to create an expression

• The expression should read =”URL&rp:parametername=” + Parameters!paramtername.Value. You can use the string function to concatenate the actual parameter values on the parent report to create a dynamic URL at run time that matches what you have in your test notepad file.

• For multlselect parameters you can append the code JOIN(Parameters!parametername.value, “rs:parametername”) and this will dynamically create a string of all the parameter values needed for the multiselect.

1. To test, put this string in a Text box expression on the report so you can see it render at runtime to be able to export and test.

Large Multi Select Parameters

1. If you have a multiselect that is large, it may exceed the 2048 characters of a URL available when generating the dynamic string. For this to work, in your parameter dataset, add a Union to a “All” value. Make “0” the default in your parameter as well, which represents the “All” value.

1. When you run the report, the All parameter should be selected by default.

1. Go back to the report to create the full select statement for the values of the report in your main query and reference the parameter with a Or Statement the uses the new default ‘All’ value.

1. The report will run with the default “All” value and bring back all results.

1. The same logic can now be applied to the child report when the parameter value is passed down in the dynamic URL

Power BI Paginated Reports & Multi Select URL Parameters

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1. Navigate to app.powerbi.com and select the “Deployment Pipelines” in the menu

• Select “Create a pipeline”

• Give the pipeline a name. For best practices, it is suggested you use the name of the Workspace you will be creating the Pipeline for.

• With the workspace created the first thing to do is Assign the pipeline to a workspace. Pipelines can only be assigned a single workspace and workspaces only tied to one pipeline. If you create another pipeline, that workspace will not be selectable.

• Select the workspace you will be creating a pipeline for. You will also be asked to select what stage of the pipleline this represents. This is usually set to development as you will want to deploy to Test and Production as part of your SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle)
  • Completing this step will create 2 new workspaces in your Power BI environment as you deploy called Workspace_Name [Test] and Workspace_Name [Production]

• In the Pipleine window, under the development section you can expand the window to see all the elements in that workspace. By selecting the items at the bottom, you can pick which items you wish to move to Test.

• The “Select Related” button will also work to pick out all related items incase you are missing an dependent item that needs to be deployed.

• Once you deploy to test, and deploy to production, the Pipline will create the new work spaces and move the items across.
  • The Indiciator on the arrows that connect the pipelines will show if the there is a discrepancy between the environment.

• It is best practice to rename the development workspace so that the naming convention is easy to follow.

1. You can change the dataset rules for each environment and set parameters by clicking on the Lightning bolt. This is handy for setting up test and production data sources for each environment.

1. To Parameterize your Power BI Data source Connections, open a Power BI report and go to Transform Data and the “View” tab.

1. Under parameters, set the checkbox to “Always Allow”. This will enable you to use parameters in your data source connections.
2. You can now setup two parameters for the server name and the database name

1. Edit your source to now use those parameters in the Power BI report so they can be modified in the Pipeline deployments.

Setting up Power BI Deployment Pipelines and Parameters

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1. What Are Paginated Reports

Paginated reports are essentially SSRS reports that can be designed and deployed through Power BI. You have the ability to add custom logic to nearly every element and line your reports up to the exact pixels of the screen giving you total command of the look and feel which allow for quality looking reports in printing and exporting

2. How to create Paginated Reports?

You can create reports by downloading the free tool for Power BI Report Builder right to your desktop. This is a standalone tool from Power BI. These reports are compatible with the Power BI Service.

3. What Data Sources Work with Paginated Reports

There is some limited data source capabililities for Paginated Reports when comparing to the vast library of Power BI. Report data is pulled at run time and not stored in an underlying model like Power BI.

Current sources include the following

• Azure SQL Database and Data Warehouse
• Azure Analysis Services (via SSO)
• SQL Server via a gateway
• SQL Server Analysis Services via a gateway
• Power BI Premium Datasets
• Oracle
• Teradata

4. Deploying and Sharing Reports to Users

Paginated Reports can be deployed to the Power BI Service. From here you can leverage the ability to put a report in a workspace and let users subscribe to the report. Reports will be automatically emailed to users based on the subscription sending a PDF directly to the consumer.

5. Exporting Power BI Service

Paginated Reports can be exported in the following formats

• Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft
• PowerPoint
• PDF
• CSV
• XML
• MHTML

6. Licensing for Paginated Reports in Power BI

Unfortunately Paginated Reports in Power BI is not free the same way you need a SQL Server licence for SSRS reports. You will will need either a License for Power BI Embedded or have a Power BI Premium Capacity P1, P2 or P3.

7. Limitations on Paginated Reports

• Reports are not interactive. Similar to SSRS, all reports are essentially static one rendered with the exception of tables that can expand and collapse
• You must pay the licence to use these in production
• No access to Custom Fonts
• No sharing data sets across reports

If you enjoyed this post on Power BI Paginated Reports vs SSRS and Tutorial and want to learn more, check out my Udemy class on getting started learning about the tool!

The difference between a good looking Power BI report and a great looking Power BI report is just a short extra mile using a custom background template. It is easy to create custom Backgrounds in Paint or Powerpoint to make your Power BI reports Pop!

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Using basic best practices in material design, it is pretty easy to create a series of beautiful backgrounds for your reports to give them a professional look. If you are not a designer, you can download 10 free templates from my website as well.

Here is one basic report as created in the basic designer.

And here is one using a custom background.

Download 10 free templates from here or reach out of you need help!

Download free backgrounds to make your Power BI reports pop!

The difference between a good looking Power BI report and a great looking Power BI report is just a short extra mile using a custom background template. It is easy to create or download free custom backgrounds to make your Power BI reports pop!

Using basic best practices in material design, it is pretty easy to create a series of beautiful backgrounds for your reports to give them a professional look. If you are not a designer, you can download 10 free templates from my website as well.

Here is one basic report as created in the basic designer.

And here is one using a custom background.

Download 10 free templates from here or reach out of you need help!