Discover the Latest Power BI Updates in March 2023

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Object Interaction Feature
   1. Automatic Visual Type Update
   2. Swapping Data
   3. Changing Visual Type
   4. Formatting Visuals
      • Adding Chart Elements
      • Editing Titles
      • Formatting Titles
3. Applying Slicers in Reports
   1. Apply All Slicers Button
   2. Clear All Slicers Button
   3. Hiding Apply All Slicers Button
4. Multiple Audiences in Power BI App
5. E-mail Subscriptions for Scorecards
   1. Setting Up Subscriptions
   2. Editing and Managing Subscriptions
   3. Contents of Subscriptions E-mail
6. Storytelling in Power BI
   1. Adding Power BI Data to PowerPoint
   2. Embedding Visuals or Entire Report Pages
   3. Updating Filters and Hiding Filter Pane
   4. Generating Data Insights with Smart Narrative Engine
   5. Availability and Deployment Options
7. Conclusion

Power BI March 2023 Update: Exciting New Features and Enhancements

Power BI, the powerful business intelligence tool, has released its March 2023 update packed with a host of exciting features and enhancements. Whether You're a seasoned Power BI user or new to the platform, this article will guide you through the latest updates and Show you how to make the most of them. From object interaction to applying slicers in reports, multiple audiences in Power BI app, e-mail subscriptions for scorecards, and the availability of storytelling, these updates will take your data analysis and presentation capabilities to new heights.

Introduction

In the rapidly evolving world of business intelligence, staying up-to-date with the latest features and enhancements is crucial. Power BI's March 2023 update brings a range of exciting new capabilities that empower users to explore, analyze, and Visualize data with ease. Let's dive into some of the standout features and learn how to make the most of them.

Object Interaction Feature

One of the most notable updates in the March 2023 release is the object interaction feature. This feature allows users to right-click on a visual and access the format pane, making it quicker and more intuitive to customize visuals. With object interaction, you can seamlessly navigate between different visual types, swap out data, and make formatting changes.

Automatic Visual Type Update

With the new object interaction feature, Power BI automatically updates the visual type Based on the data you're working with. As you add data to a visual, you'll Notice that the visual type adapts to best represent the data. This eliminates the need to manually change the visual type and saves you time when creating and updating visuals.

Swapping Data

The Build menu in Power BI now allows you to quickly swap out the data that you've already added to a visual. This makes it easy to experiment with different data sources and analyze the impact on the visual representation. By simply selecting a new data source from the Build menu, you can Instantly see how the visual changes based on the updated data.

Changing Visual Type

In addition to automatic visual type updates, Power BI offers a full visualizations gallery where you can explore and choose from a wide range of visual types. When you explicitly choose a different visual type, Power BI turns off the automatic suggestions for visual types and allows you to see all the field wells expanded. This gives you complete control over the visual type and helps you Create the most effective visual representation of your data.

Formatting Visuals

The object interaction feature not only simplifies data exploration and visualization but also enhances the formatting capabilities in Power BI. When you double-click on a visual, you enter format mode, which automatically opens a format pane and changes the visual container to a Blue color. This allows for easier sub-selection of elements within the visual and provides a more intuitive formatting experience.

Adding Chart Elements

With the object interaction feature, adding chart elements to your visuals becomes faster and more convenient. By using the Add button in format mode, you can quickly add chart elements such as trend lines to enhance the visual representation of your data. This enables you to create more insightful visuals without the need for multiple clicks or navigating through different formatting panes.

Editing Titles

Power BI's object interaction feature also streamlines title editing for visuals. Simply double-click on the visual's title, and a text editing mode will open, allowing you to type in a new title. Exiting the direct text edit mode enables you to Continue formatting the title further, such as adding a background color, changing the text color, or aligning the title to your preference.

Formatting Titles

In addition to editing titles, the format pane in Power BI's object interaction mode offers a range of options for formatting your titles. Whether you want to add a background color, apply a different text color, or Align the title in a specific way, the format pane provides all the necessary tools to customize your titles and make them visually appealing.

Applying Slicers in Reports

Another significant update in Power BI's March 2023 release is the improved functionality of slicers in reports. Slicers allow users to filter data dynamically, making it easier to analyze and gain insights from complex datasets. The latest updates enhance the usability and control of slicers in Power BI.

Apply All Slicers Button

The Apply All Slicers button is a new feature that simplifies the process of applying slicer selections in your reports. With this feature enabled, you can make multiple selections across all the slicers on a report page and have the visuals update only when you're finished making the selections. Each slicer that has a pending change will indicate its status, allowing you to keep track of your selections.

Clear All Slicers Button

In addition to the Apply All Slicers button, Power BI now offers a Clear All Slicers button for easy removal of selected slicers. This feature provides a quick way to reset all slicer selections and start fresh with a clean slate. Whether you want to remove all filters or selectively clear certain slicers, the Clear All Slicers button simplifies the process of managing slicer selections.

Hiding Apply All Slicers Button

If you prefer not to display the Apply All Slicers button in your report, Power BI allows you to hide it. This ensures that slicers apply instantly as you make selections, without the need for an additional step to apply changes. Whether you want a seamless user experience or have specific requirements for your report design, the flexibility to hide the Apply All Slicers button offers greater customization options.

Multiple Audiences in Power BI App

The Power BI app now supports multiple audiences, allowing authors to create different permission settings for each audience group within the same app. This feature enhances collaboration and access control, ensuring that users only see the content artifacts Relevant to their audience group.

Setting Up Multiple Audiences

With the multiple audiences feature, you can create distinct groups within your app and assign specific permissions to each group. This granular control enables you to share different versions of the app with various stakeholders while maintaining data security. By tailoring access permissions to each audience group, you can ensure that users see only what is intended for them.

Viewing Audience-Specific Content

For app consumers, the Power BI mobile app now shows content based on their access permissions for the respective audience groups. Users with access to multiple audience groups can easily switch between them in the mobile app's navigation tree. This seamless navigation ensures that users see the content relevant to their roles or interests, maximizing the utility of the Power BI app.

Browsing for Audience-Specific Content

In addition to navigating through different audience groups, the Power BI app also allows users to browse all available content within each group. This provides a comprehensive view of all the artifacts associated with a particular audience group, making it easier to discover relevant content and insights. By organizing content in tabs based on audience groups, the app offers a structured and intuitive browsing experience.

E-mail Subscriptions for Scorecards

Keeping up with the most important data for you and your team is made easier with the introduction of e-mail subscriptions for scorecards. These subscriptions enable you to receive e-mail notifications at predefined intervals, ensuring that you stay up-to-date with the metrics that matter most.

Setting Up Subscriptions

Setting up a subscription for scorecards is a straightforward process. Simply select the Subscribe button in the Power BI ribbon and then choose the Add New Subscription option in the pane on the right side. Depending on your licensing and workspace configuration, you can subscribe to scorecards if you have a Pro or PPU license or if the scorecard is backed by premium capacity. Provide the necessary details for the subscription, such as the name, subject, frequency, scheduled time, and time zone. You can also include optional messages and decide whether to grant recipients permission to view the scorecard.

Editing and Managing Subscriptions

Once a subscription is set up, you have the flexibility to edit its details, turn it on or off, and even delete the subscription if no longer needed. These options are available in the same pane where you initially set up the subscription, ensuring that you have full control over your e-mail notifications. Additionally, you can view all the subscriptions in that workspace by selecting the Manage All Subscriptions option at the bottom corner of the pane. This centralized view allows you to keep track of all the subscriptions associated with your scorecards.

Contents of Subscriptions E-mail

When a subscription is triggered, recipients will receive an e-mail from Power BI containing a table with the scorecard data. The e-mail includes metrics, their names, status, values, and due dates, providing a comprehensive overview of the scorecard's content. This enables quick and convenient access to the most relevant information, allowing users to stay updated on key metrics without logging into the Power BI platform.

Storytelling in Power BI

Power BI's integration with PowerPoint brings the power of storytelling to your presentations. With the general availability of storytelling in Power BI, users can seamlessly include interactive Power BI visuals in their PowerPoint presentations, enhancing data-driven conversations and decision-making.

Adding Power BI Data to PowerPoint

To add Power BI data to a slide, you can use the dedicated button within PowerPoint. If the button is not available in your PowerPoint version, you can easily install it from the Office Add-in Store. Once installed, the button enables you to embed visuals or even entire report pages into your PowerPoint presentation. By linking your presentation to relevant Power BI content, you can bring data to life and create visually compelling slides.

Embedding Visuals or Entire Report Pages

With the Power BI add-in in PowerPoint, you have the flexibility to embed either a single visual or an entire report page. This versatility allows you to choose the level of Detail you want to showcase in your presentation. By selecting a visual or report page and pasting the corresponding URL, you can seamlessly integrate Power BI visuals into your slides. This ensures that your data remains up-to-date, live, and interactive, even within the Context of a PowerPoint presentation.

Updating Filters and Hiding Filter Pane

To tailor your Power BI visuals to your presentation's specific needs, you can update filters directly within PowerPoint. By clicking on the footer of the embedded visual, you can adjust the filters to display only the data that is relevant for your presentation. Additionally, you have the option to hide the filter pane altogether, allowing your audience to focus solely on the visual content without any distractions.

Generating Data Insights with Smart Narrative Engine

Power BI's storytelling add-in includes a powerful feature called Data Insights, powered by the Smart Narrative engine. This feature automates the generation of data insights, eliminating the need for manual analysis and interpretation. With the Data Insights action, you can add generated insights directly to your presentation slides or copy them to your clipboard for future use. This empowers you to leverage the full potential of your data and enhance the impact of your storytelling.

Availability and Deployment Options

The Power BI Storytelling add-in is now generally available, meaning it can be accessed by users and organizations using national clouds as well. However, please note that administrators need to first acquire the add-in from the Power BI Download Center and then deploy it centrally using the M365 Admin Center. By centralizing the deployment process, administrators can ensure a consistent experience across their organization while adhering to their specific deployment policies.

Conclusion

The March 2023 update for Power BI brings a wealth of new features and enhancements, ranging from object interaction and improved slicer functionality to multiple audiences in the Power BI app, e-mail subscriptions for scorecards, and the availability of storytelling. Each of these updates contributes to enhancing the overall user experience, making it easier to analyze and visualize data, collaborate with diverse stakeholders, and create compelling presentations. Whether you're a data analyst, business user, or decision-maker, the latest Power BI features offer valuable tools and insights to drive data-driven decision-making.

Highlights

• Power BI's March 2023 update introduces exciting new features and enhancements.
• Object interaction feature allows for easier and quicker customization of visuals.
• Improved slicer functionality makes data filtering and analysis more efficient.
• Multiple audiences in Power BI app enable tailored content access and permissions.
• E-mail subscriptions for scorecards keep users informed about important metrics.
• Storytelling integration allows for data-driven presentations in PowerPoint.

FAQ

Q: Can I customize the visual type in Power BI? A: Yes, Power BI allows you to choose from a wide range of visual types and even suggests visualizations based on your data. You can also customize the visual type manually to meet your specific needs.

Q: Can I clear all slicer selections at once in Power BI? A: Absolutely! Power BI now offers a Clear All Slicers button that allows you to reset all slicer selections with a single click, making it easier to start fresh or remove all filters.

Q: How can I incorporate Power BI visuals into my PowerPoint presentations? A: Power BI's integration with PowerPoint allows you to embed Power BI visuals directly into your slides. You can choose to embed a single visual or an entire report page, ensuring that your data remains interactive and up-to-date.

Q: Can I receive e-mail notifications for specific scorecards in Power BI? A: Yes, Power BI now offers e-mail subscriptions for scorecards. You can set up subscriptions to receive regular e-mail notifications containing relevant scorecard data, ensuring that you stay up-to-date on key metrics.

Q: Is storytelling now available in Power BI? A: Yes, storytelling is now generally available in Power BI. This feature allows you to include interactive Power BI visuals in your PowerPoint presentations, enhancing data-driven conversations and decision-making.