Power BI Embedded: The Ultimate Guide to Embedding Tiles and Reports
In the realm of data visualization and business analytics, Power BI stands out as a powerful tool, enabling users to derive valuable insights from diverse datasets. Power BI comes in various flavors, and among them, Power BI Embedded offers a unique proposition for developers looking to integrate rich, interactive reports and visualizations into their applications. However, the nuances between Power BI Embedded and other offerings such as Power BI Online can lead to confusion. This article aims to demystify Power BI Embedded, focusing on embedding tiles and reports, highlighting the differences from Power BI Online, and guiding you through the process—with or without prior experience.
Understanding Power BI Embedded
At its core, Power BI Embedded is an Azure service that allows developers to embed interactive Power BI reports and dashboards directly into their applications. Unlike Power BI Online, which is directly tied to individual user accounts through Azure Active Directory (AAD), Power BI Embedded operates on a different model. Specifically, it allows developers to access reports using an access key obtained from the Power BI Embedded blade in the Azure portal, making it an ideal choice for integrating Power BI functionality into web applications without requiring each user to have a separate Power BI license.
Key Differences Between Power BI Online and Power BI Embedded
- User Authentication: Power BI Online requires each user to possess a Power BI license and to have reports shared with them. In contrast, Power BI Embedded leverages an access key to request reports, abstracting user authentication from the equation.
- Integration Approach: Power BI Embedded is designed with application integration in mind, simplifying the process of embedding reports and visualizations into web apps. On the other hand, Power BI Online caters more towards end-users accessing reports directly through the Power BI service.
- Licensing and Cost: While Power BI Online mandates that each viewing user have a license, Power BI Embedded operates on a different pricing model based on session consumption and rendering rather than per-user licensing.
Embedding Tiles and Reports with Power BI Embedded
Despite the apparent similarities in functionality, the process of embedding tiles and reports in Power BI Embedded differs somewhat from using Power BI Online due to the differences in authentication and integration strategies. Here is a step-by-step guide to embedding these elements into your application using Power BI Embedded.
Step 1: Setting Up Your Environment
To get started with Power BI Embedded, first ensure that you have:
- An Azure subscription to create an instance of the Power BI Embedded service.
- A Power BI account with reports and dashboards ready to be embedded.
- Access to the Azure portal to obtain your Power BI Embedded access key.
Step 2: Obtaining the Embed URL
For both tiles and reports, you'll need to retrieve the embed URL which is essential for the embedding process. This can be done through the Power BI REST API or the Power BI Embedded JavaScript API.
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Step 3: Using the Power BI JavaScript API
The Power BI JavaScript API is a crucial tool for embedding content. The following basic example demonstrates how to embed a report:
var embedConfiguration = {
type: 'report',
tokenType: models.TokenType.Embed,
accessToken: "<Your Access Token>",
embedUrl: "<Your Report Embed URL>",
id: "<Report ID>",
permissions: models.Permissions.Read,
viewMode: models.ViewMode.View,
settings: {
filterPaneEnabled: true,
navContentPaneEnabled: true
}
};
var reportContainer = $('#reportContainer')[0];
var report = powerbi.embed(reportContainer, embedConfiguration);
By tweaking the configuration object, developers can customize the embedded report or tile to fit the needs of their application.
Step 4: Handling Authentication with Service Principal
Instead of direct user authentication, Power BI Embedded utilizes a service principal for programmatic access. This approach streamlines the integration process, as you interact with Power BI content through Azure rather than individual AAD accounts.
Leveraging Power BI Embedded in Your Applications
Integrating Power BI Embedded into your web applications provides a seamless analytics and data visualization component, enhancing user engagement and driving insights. Through the concise use of APIs and the Power BI JavaScript library, developers can offer sophisticated reporting features directly within their apps, bypassing the need for users to interact with Power BI directly.
Conclusion
Power BI Embedded opens up a world of possibilities for developers aiming to integrate powerful analytics and data visualization capabilities into their applications. By understanding the key differences from Power BI Online and following the steps outlined above, you can embed tiles and reports efficiently, bringing dynamic content and insights closer to your users.
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