Power BI Composite Model V2 – the missing part between Self-Service and Goverened BI is in Preview

Normally, I write about updates in the Power BI universe quite rarely, and when I do, it’s only when it’s a significant improvement from my perspective. So it is in this case.Last week, Microsoft introduced in Preview the ability to access Power BI datasets and Azure Analysis Services via DirectQuery. What doesn’t sound all that spectacular could actually be Power BI’s next big unique selling point!

Combination of multiple Power BI datasets and flat files

But what exactly are the new possibilities of the new composite model and what does that mean in real life? So far we have been able to connect “live” to multiplerelational databases. Once we connected to a Power BI dataset, there was only the option to connect to a single dataset. Dies konnte in Power BI Service liegen oder als Analysis Services Tabular Modell.

This update changes just that. Ich kann mich live auf mehrere Datenmodelle gleichzeitig verbinden bzw. wie in DirectQuery auch noch um weitere Datenquellen wie flat files oder Web-Daten ergänzen.
This means that I can run self service on my deployed dataset! I can combine and evaluate CSV files, new columns and even an additional Power BI dataset with my opened dataset! This opens up completely new possibilities for data analysis. So I could add my own budget values from an Excel file to my financial data. Or I can add website visitors to my sales report or even add the whole marketing report!

Check out the feature, I think something big is coming here!