Power BI Update - July 2025

Microsoft Power BI

0:00 (upbeat music)- Hello, Power BI Community.

0:11 Welcome to the July, 2025 monthly update.

0:14 I'm Patrick LeBlanc, program manager, Azure Data at Microsoft,

0:17 here to bring you the latest and greatest in Power BI.

0:21 This month we have several new updates, and guess what?

0:24 Whether you're a seasoned professional or someone

0:26 just getting started with Power BI, we have something new for you.

0:30 So, let's dive in and see what's new with Power BI this month.

0:34 Let's start things off with the generally available features for this month.

0:39 I'm excited about this list.

0:40 Let's take a look.

0:41 Let's start with expanded data sharing with Microsoft 365.

0:45 Not only is this feature GA, but the Power BI integration has been

0:50 extended to include things like chart titles,

0:53 information, more information about reports,

0:55 information about your models, like refresh time.

0:58 This will make finding reports easier to make better data-driven decisions.

1:03 Next we're announcing the unification of reporting using Power BI Report Server.

1:08 I actually had the opportunity to announce this with Bob

1:11 Ward at SQLBits in London earlier this year.

1:15 And so what does this mean?

1:16 Well, Microsoft is not releasing any new

1:19 version of SQL Server Reporting Services, or SSRS.

1:23 Instead, Power BI Report Server will become the default

1:27 on-prem reporting solution for all paid versions of SQL Server.

1:31 And now as SQL Server 2025 GA approaches,

1:35 we will announce more information, so please, please stay tuned.

1:40 One of my favorite features has gone GA this month.

1:43 What is it?

1:44 Field parameters.

1:45 Field parameters.

1:46 I love field parameters.

1:48 And if you use field parameters, you know you can dynamically switch the axis

1:52 on your column chart or your bar chart,

1:54 or you can switch the measures in your matrix or your tables, and other visuals.

1:59 But not only have they gone GA this month, we have a very, very exciting update.

2:05 And Jay is here with a great video to explain and demonstrate this update.

2:10 Jay, take it away.

2:13 [Jay] We're delivering one of your most requested features,

2:16 preserving the expansion state in matrices when using field parameters.

2:21 Let me show you how this works in action.

2:24 In this model, I've created a Product Aspect field

2:27 parameter that allows me to toggle between class, color.

2:31 and model.

2:31 Right now it's set to class.

2:33 I've dropped the Product Aspect field parameter in a matrix alongside category,

2:39 and another field parameter that we'll see a little later,

2:42 to control the measure I want to display.

2:44 You can see that the Product Aspect is right below the Category column.

2:48 And as I expend the bike section,

2:51 we'll see that indeed the matrix reveals the breakdown by class,

2:55 since that's the current selection on the field parameter.

2:58 Now, here's where the magic happens.

3:00 Let's say I want to switch the breakdown from class to color.

3:04 In the past, this action would collapse the entire matrix and it

3:08 would have to re-expand the bike category manually, but not anymore.

3:13 Now I switch to color, and guess what?

3:16 The matrix keeps its expansion state.

3:19 No more clicks to get back to where you were.

3:22 And it doesn't stop there.

3:23 This enhancement also works for field parameters that switch measures.

3:27 Right now the matrix is showing cost.

3:30 I'll change that using the measure field parameter to total sales.

3:34 And just like before, the measure group stays open.

3:38 Everything is right there where I left it.

3:41 It's a small quality of life improvement,

3:43 but it makes a big difference in how seamless and interactive your reports feel.

3:48 What a great demo from Jay.

3:50 Thanks, Jay.

3:51 If you have any comments or feedback about this update,

3:54 let us know in the comments below.

3:56 So, the last GA announcement, and this feature has actually been GA for a bit,

4:01 we're gonna talk about the DAX query view.

4:04 Okay, you know the DAX query view,

4:06 it's been out for a bit, it's been GA for a bit,

4:08 but imagine if you're in the DAX query view

4:10 and you want to go back to the model view,

4:12 you'd actually have to leave the DAX query view to go to the model view.

4:17 Well this month we're announcing a switcher between the two.

4:21 So you can just go back and forth between the model view and the DAX query view.

4:24 And guess what?

4:25 Zoe has a demonstration to show you how it works.

4:30 Zoe, let's take a look.

4:33 [Zoe] Easily navigate between the model view and the DAX

4:36 query view when you're web modeling Power BI semantic models.

4:41 DAX query view can give you options to view

4:43 the data and calculations that you've created in your semantic model.

4:47 And you can also utilize Copilot here to help you write these DAX queries.

4:52 Here I wanna see the number of orders I

4:54 have by country and Copilot has generated that very quickly.

4:58 I can also use Copilot to actually edit an existing query.

5:02 Here I wanna show commas 'cause these numbers are quite large,

5:05 and just like that Copilot has found

5:09 the right function to use to format this query, and I can see it easily.

5:14 Now, I noticed I have a blank row,

5:15 so now I can quickly go back to the model view

5:18 and turn on Assume Referential Integrity

5:20 between these tables on their relationship,

5:23 which should take care of that blank row,

5:25 as all the countries are account for each of the orders.

5:30 So, try this out today.

5:32 Wow, what a great demo.

5:33 I'm really excited about this feature.

5:36 It just makes working with my model and my DAX so much simpler in the service.

5:42 So, that's it for the GA announcements.

5:44 Let's move to the next section, the new preview features.

5:47 First up, we've made an update to the AI data schema preview feature.

5:51 This month we're announcing a search box feature right at the top of the schema

5:56 so you can search for fields that you may wanna remove from the model.

6:01 We're also announcing a show-hide icon to indicate whether

6:04 or not a field is hidden in report view.

6:07 But to me the best part about this is

6:10 Emily has a video that demonstrates these updates.

6:13 Let's take a look.

6:15 [Emily] We've heard your feedback and we're

6:17 excited to announce several improvements rolling out

6:19 this month to the AI data schema

6:22 capability in the Get Your Data AI-ready preview.

6:25 First, we've added show and hide icons to help you

6:29 quickly identify which fields are hidden from the report view.

6:32 This makes it easier to decide which fields

6:34 should or shouldn't be included for Copilot to analyze.

6:38 We've also introduced a search box so you

6:41 can easily locate specific fields in your semantic model.

6:44 This is especially helpful when working with large

6:46 models and trying to simplify the AI data schema.

6:50 For more details, check out our documentation.

6:53 And as always, please keep the feedback coming.

6:55 It helps us continue to improve the experience to best meet your needs.

6:59 These updates will definitely make simplifying your schema so much easier.

7:04 Thanks, Emily.

7:05 Okay, so everyone knows that visual calcs are

7:09 in my top five favorite Power BI features of all time,

7:14 and the team just keeps making them better and better,

7:17 and I just wanna use them more and more,

7:19 This month Jay is here to demonstrate one

7:22 of the most highly requested features for visual calcs,

7:25 the ability to influence the sort order of a visual calc.

7:30 Jay, take it away.

7:33 [Jay] Have you ever built a visual calculation like a running

7:37 sum only to realize it didn't quite behave the way you expected?

7:41 That's because until now you couldn't control the sort order behind the scenes.

7:46 This month we're fixing that.

7:48 We're introducing the new Order

7:50 By parameter for the visual calculation functions,

7:53 like running sum, moving average, and more.

7:57 Let's walk through an example using a preview analysis.

7:59 First, let's get into visual calc's edit mode

8:04 and let's add the percentage of grand total.

8:08 So here, just quickly wiring up the fields.

8:17 Okay, so this gives me a percentage of grand total.

8:21 Let me quickly format it so it looks nice,

8:30 although it's not even necessary, I'm gonna hide it anyway.

8:34 And now I'm going to add my Pareto line.

8:36 So the Pareto line should go from like the left,

8:39 then slowly, gradually go to 100% on the right.

8:44 So you would be tempted to use running sum.

8:48 So, just running sum of the percentage of grand total.

8:52 Hit Okay, see what it does.

8:55 Let me just move the running sum to the line.

8:59 Okay?

8:59 Hmm.

9:00 Oops, this is not sorting correctly because I expected

9:03 the line to go up and up and up.

9:05 So in the past, your only option really was

9:07 to use a more complicated window function to get this right.

9:11 So let me go in here and edit this.

9:15 Whoops, the wrong one.

9:16 This one.

9:16 I'm gonna edit it.

9:18 And let me just see if I can do this.

9:22 So I would write something like SUMX on WINDOW, 0, absolute, 1,

9:31 relative on ROWS, ORDERBY Sales Amount, descending,

9:39 and then what do I wanna sum?

9:42 the percentage of grand total.

9:44 So, okay, I think I made a mistake here.

9:49 Yep, I'm missing a bracket.

9:52 Will this work?

9:53 Oh yeah, it works, but it's not easy.

9:59 So what can I do?

10:00 Well running sum doesn't work, until today.

10:05 So now you just add the ORDERBY to your running sum,

10:10 specify the sort order you want it, and voila, it should work.

10:14 So let's try that.

10:16 RUNNINGSUM.

10:17 Okay.

10:18 And then ORDERBY Sales Amount, descending, and done.

10:25 Much simpler than the one that I just commented out with the SUMX.

10:28 So let's see if this actually continues to work.

10:30 And look at that.

10:32 Now we have a perfect nice running sum line that is our Pareto analysis.

10:38 So with this update,

10:39 visual calculations are now much more flexible, expressive, and powerful.

10:44 Whether you're building Pareto charts, cumulative trends, custom rankings,

10:47 you can now use visual calculation functions for all

10:50 of these scenarios thanks to the addition of the AUTOBY parameter.

10:56 Now, I will be honest, wow.

10:58 This will definitely reduce the amount of code needed to influence the sort.

11:03 Jay, thanks.

11:04 This month we're expanding the sources for Direct Lake

11:08 in desktop to include mirrored and, my favorite database, SQL databases.

11:13 You wanna learn more?

11:14 Zoe has a video explaining and demonstrating this update.

11:19 Let's take a look.

11:22 [Zoe] Recently we announced the ability to create

11:24 Direct Lake semantic models right in Power BI Desktop.

11:27 And now with this release we're letting you use even more data sources.

11:32 Here I'm going to choose a Fabric SQL

11:34 database and create a Direct Lake semantic model.

11:37 Also in this dialogue we've included not

11:40 only visibility on the artifact you just picked,

11:43 but also related to navigate to it in the Fabric portal.

11:47 Now I've selected my tables,

11:49 I can give this Direct Lake semantic model a name and click Okay.

11:53 At this point, the semantic model is created in the Fabric

11:56 workspace and I'm live editing it in Power BI Desktop.

12:01 I can also go ahead and pick additional tables from other Fabric artifacts.

12:05 Here I'm going to choose my Lakehouse.

12:07 I'm gonna pick a date table to go with my survey results.

12:12 Once I have the tables here in Power BI Desktop,

12:14 I can go ahead and create relationships.

12:17 Recently we also added the ability for some help with the cross

12:21 filter direction and cardinality by using row counts on Direct Lake tables.

12:26 I can also go to DAX preview to see the data,

12:29 and I can even use table view to make

12:31 even more advanced edits to this semantic model.

12:34 When I'm ready to create a report,

12:35 I can navigate to the semantic model on the web,

12:38 or I can go to the file and pick Blank Report,

12:41 which will open up a new instance of Power BI Desktop where I can

12:46 then go to that published semantic model and click Connect to create a report.

12:51 But also another source we added here is the mirrored databases.

12:55 So you can now utilize the mirrored databases in Fabric

12:58 to create Direct Lake semantic models right in Power BI Desktop.

13:02 Here I have a mirrored Snowflake database,

13:05 and I've picked my tables, and again, just like before,

13:08 given it a name and I can create

13:11 this Direct Lake semantic model right in Power BI Desktop.

13:14 So, try this out today and let us know what you think.

13:18 As always, great demo, Zoe.

13:21 Okay, the last preview feature this month is organizational themes.

13:25 If you want to ensure consistent branding across all your reports,

13:28 or you just want 'em to all have the same look and feel, this update is for you.

13:35 These themes work in the desktop, they work in the service.

13:38 You can even configure Copilot to use these themes.

13:41 Now you gotta be an admin to set this up,

13:43 but regardless, this is definitely something you must check out.

13:48 So I have a few call to actions for you.

13:50 Now that you've seen what's new and what's coming in Power BI,

13:54 let's take the next step.

13:57 Go get hands on and try these features out.

14:01 Let us know what you think.

14:03 We'd love to hear back from you.

14:06 If you want more details about these features,

14:08 or maybe some that we didn't announce in the video,

14:11 go read the complete July update blog.

14:14 It's packed with information.

14:16 And remember to stay tuned right here...

14:21 Blast it.

14:21 Remember to stay tuned right here for more updates coming each month.

14:28 Okay, that's a wrap for this month's update.

14:31 Head over to the Power BI community forums at aka.ms/PBIcommunity where

14:35 you can connect with peers and find answers to all your questions.

14:41 And remember, your feedback always matters to us.

14:44 If you have any questions, comments, or general feedback, you know what to do.

Power BI Update - July 2025

Send feedback