What are Power BI Project Files

If you are a Power BI developer that works on enterprise Power BI solutions, or work in a team of developers where multiple people are working on a Power BI project. If this is the case, then this update will be a game changer for you.

In the recent updates to Microsoft Power BI there is the option to save a Power BI file as a project file. Up until recently Power BI desktop files could only be saved as .pbix files. With the .pbix file the data model and report definitions were all embedded in one file. This caused a challenge where Power BI is being developed by a team, and the potential for multiple developers to edit the file.

This has now changed, and Power BI files can be saved as in either a .pbix file or a .pbip file.

What is a pbip File?

A .pbip file is a Microsoft Power BI Project file. The concept of a project file splits out the model and report definitions into separate folders and allows for integration into Azure DevOps, Visual Studio Code, and Github. This opens Power BI up to the world of CI/CD.

With a typical Power BI (.pibx) file, the file is a binary format that is difficult for developers to create code differential, create branches, and merge back into a master etc. This makes the concept of team development challenging, but not impossible. This is the advantage of using project files.

With Power BI project files, the files are in JSON format which is a commonly used file format that many developers can read. JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) files are text files meaning that files can be used with code differentials, roll backs, and easily used with CI/CD applications.

What are the Benefits of a Power BI Project file?

• Source Control
  Source Control is the ability to implement a version control system designed to track changes in source code and other text files during the development of an application.
  
  So, if a developer makes a change to a power BI application and at a later date then there is a need to revert back to a previous version, this is possible as the versions and changes to the versions are tracked.

• Continuous Integration / Continuous Delivery (CI/CD)
  What is CI/CD?
  
  CI/CD is a development process to automate and apply process checks for the operation in building, testing and deployment of applications. CI/CD services, allows developers to publish incremental changes then package them into deliverables.

• Integrations with development tools
  The new pbip files are designed to integrate with external development tools that are used by many organisations. Let’s have a look at some of these tools. Please note that this article is to make you aware of the tools. It’s not an article that will go into detail on any of these tools. If you are unfamiliar with any and want to understand more we have provided url’s as references to help build any additional knowledge and understanding.
  
  Visual Studio Code
  Visual studio code is a development tool that allows developers to view and edit code. The application can be mapped to any repository and allow the developers to work in collaboration.
  Visual Studio Code – Visual Studio Code – Code Editing. Redefined
  
  Tabular Editor
  Changes to Power BI metadata files can be completed using tabular editor.
  Tabular Editor is an authoring tool that allows developers to develop and edit tabular models in analysis services. Power BI works on the analysis services platform and a tabular model is at the heart of Power BI.
  
  What is the different between Tabular Editor 2 and 3
  Tabular Editor 2 is a free application used by most Power BI enterprise application developers. Once installed on a machine you have the ability to use it as a standalone application, or as an external tool within Power BI. Using it as an external tool from Power BI it will automatically load the tabular model from the Power BI desktop or project file.
  Tabular Editor 2 – Tabular Editor – SQLBI
  Tabular Editor 3 – Tabular Editor 3
  Tabular Editor 3 is a paid application based on a subscription whereas Tabular Editor 2 is a free application.
  
  Azure DevOps
  Azure DevOps is a Microsoft application that provides a development team with an end-to-end development lifecycle application. Part of the Azure platform, DevOps allows developers to create a master and branches allowing for development teams to work on a project file in parallel. Then the branches can be merged into the master and deployed.
  Microsoft Azure DevOps – Azure DevOps Services | Microsoft Azure
  
  GitHub
  GitHub is a code hosting platform used for development, version control, and collaboration. It lets a development team to work together on projects from anywhere. Working with Github with other applications like Azure DevOps it allows developers to use repositories. Also, create branches, commits, and pull requests.
  GitHub – GitHub: Let’s build from here · GitHub

In Summary

As a Power BI consultant working on enterprise solutions with many clients all over the world. The whole topic of source control and CI/CD with clients has been a challenge. With the introduction of Power BI project files this will help and, in my view, a big improvement in Power BI development.