Power Apps visual for Power BI

Posted 2020-12-13 Javi

Using the Power Apps visual

Let‘s look at the steps required to use the Power Apps visual in your Power BI report.

1. Power Apps visual is available by default in the Power BI service. If you‘re using Power BI Desktop and don‘t see it, you must upgrade to the latest version of Power BI Desktop.

2. Add the Power Apps visual to your report, and set the data fields associated with it.

   

   You can choose an existing app or create one, but the report must be published to the Power BI service and opened in Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome.

3. If you choose to create an app, you can choose in which environment to create it.

   

   If you choose to use an existing app, the visual prompts you to open the app in Power Apps. The visual then sets up the required components in your app so that Power BI can send data to Power Apps.

   If you create a new app, Power Apps creates a simple app with the required components already set up.

    Note

   You must create a new app from Power Apps visual in Power BI report for the PowerBIIntegration.Refresh() function to be available in the app.

   

4. Now in Power Apps Studio, you can use the data fields you set in step 2. The PowerBIIntegration object acts like any other Power Apps read-only data source or collection. You can use the object to populate any control, or join and filter with other data sources.

   

   This formula joins Power BI data with the Customer data source: LookUp(Customer,Customer_x0020_Name=First(PowerBIIntegration.Data).Customer_Name)

   The Power BI report and the instance of Power Apps Studio that was launched share a live data connection. While they‘re both open, you can filter or change the data in your report to see the updated data reflect immediately in your app in Power Apps Studio.

5. After you have completed building or making changes to your app, save and publish the app in Power Apps to see your app in the Power BI report.

6. Once you‘re satisfied with your changes, make sure to share the Power Apps app with users of your report and then save your report.

7. You‘ve created a report in which your users can take actions as they gain insights from your data.

   

   If you need to make changes to an app, open the report in edit mode, select More options (. . .) on the Power Apps visual and select Edit.

   

Limitations of the Power Apps visual

The following limitations apply to the Power Apps visual:

• Power Apps visual isn‘t supported for guest users.
• Power Apps visual isn‘t supported in sovereign clouds.
• If you change the data fields associated with the visual, you must edit the app from within the Power BI service by selecting the ellipsis (...) and then selecting Edit. Otherwise, the changes won‘t be propagated to Power Apps, and the app will behave in unexpected ways.
• The Power Apps visual can‘t trigger a refresh of Power BI reports and Power BI data sources from within Power BI Desktop. If you write back data from the app to the same data source as the report, your changes won‘t be reflected immediately in Power BI Desktop. Changes are reflected on the next scheduled refresh.
• The Power Apps visual can‘t filter the data or send any data back to the report.
• You‘ll need to share the Power Apps app separately from your report. Learn about sharing apps in Power Apps.
• Power BI Report Server doesn‘t support the Power Apps visual.
• Following limitations apply when using the PowerBIIntegration.Refresh() function:
  • You must create a new app from Power Apps visual in Power BI report for this function to be available in the app.
  • You must use a source that supports DirectQuery and the data connection must be created using DirectQuery method.
• Power Apps in Power BI Desktop provides data to Power Apps Studio when creating apps but not while editing. Use Power BI Web to preview the data while editing apps.
• The Power BI mobile app doesn‘t support microphone control in Power Apps visuals.