Projector allows you to embed PowerBI dashboards in the following three areas.
This help page shows you how to configure a PowerBI dashboard in one of these sections. It also shows you how to dynamically filter it depending on where it is displayed or who is viewing it.
Permissions and Settings
To configure PowerBI dashboards you must have the Advanced Analytics module enabled.
To embed PowerBI dashboards you need to have configured PowerBI and Projector.
To embed My Home Page and Performance dashboards requires the global permission Users and Permissions set to Update. Dashboards are configured and displayed based on User Type.
To embed Project Workspace dashboards requires project workspaces to be enabled. Dashboards are configured on a per project basis from the Project Workspace Tab. You can also configure dashboards for all new projects based on their engagement type.
Just Getting Started?
Consider working with one of our PowerBI partners to help you get PowerBI licensing, help with your Projector configuration, and training on building your first dashboards.
Configure Projector Dashboard
The following sections assume that you already have PowerBI set up, it is connected to Projector, and you are already pulling Projector data into PowerBI and that data is displayed in PowerBI reports.
Reports vs Dashboards
You can only embed PowerBI Reports, not Dashboards!
PowerBI reports can be embedded in the following three areas. The instructions below are for a home page, but the same principles apply for all three areas.
Steps to show a PowerBI reports on a user's home page.
- Identify the user you want to show a PowerBI dashboard to
- Note their primary user type (this can be found by going to Administration tab | Users and Resources subsection | Users blue dot)
- Edit that user type and go to the dashboards tab (User types are located at Administration tab | Users and Resources subsection | Users blue dot)
- Name the dashboard
- Tick the checkbox for User's Home Page
- Enter a height (800 is often good)
- Choose MS Power BI from the Display dropdown box
- Get your Workspace ID - this is found by logging into https://app.powerbi.com and opening your workspace. The URL will contain the ID.
- Get your Report ID - this is found by logging into https://app.powerbi.com and opening your report. The URL will contain the ID.
- Leave Filters blank for now. See the filters section of this page to learn how to use this feature.
- Your configured dashboard should now look similar to this
- Log into Projector Web and go to Topics | My Home Page. Choose your dashboard from the dropdown list.
Filters
Projector can dynamically filter displayed PowerBI content. For example, you might have a report that shows profit for all your projects. When you display just that project you want hide all the other projects in the report. This lets you build one report and display it in many places.
Filter Syntax
The syntax for a single filter:
//Basic filter constructor [DataSetName]/[Field Name] eq '[Field Value]'
The syntax for a combination filter is
//Example of filtering on two fields [DataSetName]/[Field Name] eq '[Field Value]' & [Field Name2] eq '[Field Value2]'
To learn about all the filtering options supported by PowerBI visit https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/service-url-filters
Data Set Name
In the screenshot below you'll see the data set name. We recommend renaming your data set so that spaces and hyphens are not used. Use camel case or underscores instead. We get into why in the red box below.
Field Name
In the screenshot below you'll see the field name. We recommend renaming your fields so that spaces and hyphens are not used. Use camel case or underscores instead. We get into why in the red box below.
Field Value
Field values depend on the column type. For example, values could be dates, text, or numbers.
Escaping Filters
Before you start actually building filters you HAVE to understand this part. If your Data Set or Field names contain spaces or non-ASCII characters they either need to be renamed or they need to be escaped. Renaming is easier to understand, so we recommend removing all spaces, hyphens, and special characters.
If you choose to keep those kinds of characters in the name, you'll need to escape them when building your filters. The most frequent character that needs escaping is a space.
To escape a character:
- Prepend '_x'
- Type Four-digit unicode character
- Append underscore '_'
For example, a space becomes _x0020_. The field 'Project Code' would become 'Project_x0020_Code'.
Hard-Coded Filters
These are the simplest filters to set up. You hard code the values displayed.
//Example of hard-coded filter MyGinsuReport/ProjectCode eq 'P001023-001'
Combination Filters
Combination filters let you specify multiple criteria.
MyGinsuReport/ProjectCode eq 'P001023-001' and MyGinsuReport/ProjectManager eq 'Charlie Flood'
Dynamic Filters
You can dynamically filter the displayed content based on either where it is displayed or who is viewing it. The table below explains the filters available.
| Area | Filters |
|---|---|
My Home Page Performance Dashboards |
|
| Project Workspaces | {0} = Project Code
{1} = Engagement Code
{2} = Project Unique Identifier
{3} = Engagement Unique Identifier
{4} = Contract Line Item Code
{5} = Contract Line Item Unique Identifier
{6} = Client Number
{7} = Client Unique Identifier |
//Example of dynamic filter
MyGinsuReport/ProjectCode eq '{0}' //the {0} is automatically replaced based on the project you are viewing
//Example of dynamic filter on two fields
MyGinsuReport/UserName eq '{1}' //the {1} is automatically replaced based on the user viewing the dashboard