# Data Goblins

> I help you make useful things with data and AI. Written by Kurt Buhler.

Add .md to any page URL for markdown. Full index: https://data-goblins.com/llms.txt

## Pages

- [Portfolio](https://data-goblins.com/portfolio.md): Sites, data apps, Power BI reports and tools
- [About](https://data-goblins.com/about.md): Who writes this site
- [Archive](https://data-goblins.com/archive.md): Older articles
- [Privacy policy](https://data-goblins.com/privacy-policy.md): How personal data is handled
- [Cookie policy](https://data-goblins.com/cookie-policy.md): What is stored in the browser

## Semantic models

- [Case-sensitive models in Power BI: consequences & considerations](https://data-goblins.com/case-specific.md): We look at the consequences of having a case-specific collation in your Power BI semantic model. This is particularly important as Direct Lake models created in the Fabric user experience have a case-sensitive collation applied, automatically.
- [How to manage “Reporting Objects” in a Power BI Dataset](https://data-goblins.com/reporting-layer.md): We tackle the growing issue of ‘report-specific objects’, dataset measures and tables created to fill specific report visual requirements, why they negatively impact self-service users, and best practices to mitigate this impact.
- [“It Depends” - Power BI Best Practices & Optimizations](https://data-goblins.com/it-depends.md): We look at the difference between best practices and optimizations. We also define a four-step method to tackle complex issues with dataset/report performance and design.
- [Learn Power BI with Sample Datasets: Part 2 - Personal Data Projects](https://data-goblins.com/personal-data.md): We examine how personal data can be used in personal projects to help us learn Power BI.
- [Power BI Dataset Checklist](https://data-goblins.com/dataset-checklist.md): We look at what we can do to make our datasets easier to use, understand & maintain.
- [Analyze a Dataset with Tabular Editor 3 - VertiPaq Analyzer](https://data-goblins.com/analyze-power-bi-dataset.md): We look at why using the VertiPaq Analyzer - integrated in Tabular Editor 3 & DAX Studio - should be your first step when analyzing a dataset. Describe your models and find easy optimization steps with this handy tool.

## Reports and visuals

- [Fix Power BI “Something is wrong with one or more fields”](https://data-goblins.com/something-is-wrong-with-one-or-more-fields.md): We look at a 5-step process to replace fields in a report when you’ve re-named, moved, or deleted them in the model. You can also use this method to “hot swap” different fields in and out of a visual without losing formatting. This isn’t officially supported, but it’s easy and it’s a huge time-saver.
- [KPIs and cards in Power BI](https://data-goblins.com/kpi-templates.md): In this collaboration with Štěpán Rešl, I share some tips and templates to design effective KPI visuals.
- [Power BI Report Checklist](https://data-goblins.com/report-checklist.md): I list some tips for checking to make sure your report is ready for handover to someone else.

## Admin and governance

- [Power BI App Checklist](https://data-goblins.com/app-checklist.md): We look at how to make a good Power BI app. Paying attention to these checklist items will result in more professional, consistent app experiences that make it easier for users to find what they need and for you to drive adoption of reports.

## Tools and automation

- [Recover Power BI reports or models that you can’t download](https://data-goblins.com/cant-download-pbix.md): I explain several approaches to recover models and reports from a Power BI workspace when the Download this file (.pbix) option is greyed out. These methods involve use of either external tools or a Fabric notebook.
- [Fix visuals, replace fields, and mass-format reports in Power BI](https://data-goblins.com/programmatically-modify-reports.md): I explain several use-cases for semantic-link-labs with reports, which involves programmatic modifications to report metadata to streamline certain report management tasks. This article explains how to do this with standard reports; future articles will elaborate about using the methods available for PBIR.
- [Managing Power BI reports or models using semantic-link-labs](https://data-goblins.com/semantic-link-labs.md): I introduce semantic-link-labs, a library based upon semantic-link that you can use in Microsoft Fabric notebooks to help you build, use, manage, and audit not only semantic models, but also reports and other items or parts of Fabric.
- [How to use Tableau with Power BI and Fabric](https://data-goblins.com/connect-tableau-to-power-bi.md): I’ll explain the how and why of:How to connect Tableau to Power BI semantic models.How to connect Tableau to Fabric lakehouses (and other items that have a SQL endpoint).
- [Learn Power BI with Sample Datasets: Part 1 - Contoso Data Generator](https://data-goblins.com/sql-dataset.md): We look at how to create our own SQL Database and fill it with data from the Contoso Data Generator, so we can get some hands-on Power BI experience.
- [The Impact Factor of Power BI External Tools](https://data-goblins.com/external-tools-impact-factor.md): I explain why External Tools are necessary & discuss the challenges in adopting them.
- [Assess an Existing Dataset with Tabular Editor 3 - Part 3: Extend DMVs with C# Scripts & Macros](https://data-goblins.com/te-dmv-scripts.md): Scripts for TE2 and TE3 to automate querying of DMVs to document your model.
- [Assess an Existing Dataset with Tabular Editor 3 - Step 2: Query DMVs](https://data-goblins.com/dmvs.md): This article we examine what are Dynamic Management Views (DMVs) and how to query them from Tabular Editor 3. In the next article, we leverage the DMVs to automate documentation and tasks in our model.

## AI and coding agents

- [Five Minutes to Wow](https://data-goblins.com/five-minutes-to-wow.md): I reflect on the subjective similarities between using AI-assistive coding tools to make software and using Tableau and Power BI to make dashboards and reports. This is a more anecdotal story than a formal article.
- [Myths, Magic, and Copilot for Power BI](https://data-goblins.com/copilot-in-power-bi.md): I explain Copilot in Fabric and Copilot in Power BI, walking through what it is, how it works, and three common scenarios when it might be used. More importantly, I evaluate whether using it over other, non-AI approaches makes sense, and evaluate the current state.

## Data culture

- [Fabric is a team sport](https://data-goblins.com/fabric-expert.md): I share some unfiltered thoughts about why it’s unrealistic to expect one person to know everything in Fabric, and concerns I have about unrealistic expectations being put in the market regarding Fabric.
- [The Quality Problem: A Call-to-Arms](https://data-goblins.com/quality.md): I discuss why quality is a often problem for data and analytics, and how DataOps can help.
- [Solve the Right Problems](https://data-goblins.com/solving-problems.md): We discuss how we might have more impact and deliver more value with data and analytics by shifting our mentality from a focus on technical problems to equal focus on technical, business and adoption problems.
- [The Data Café - A Secret Sauce for Adoption](https://data-goblins.com/data-cafe.md): What kinds of things can we do to ensure adoption once the reports are live? One of the easiest ways is to host a regular “data café” surrounding the solution. In this article we examine why this is valuable.
- [Designing Models and Reports for your Future Self: Part 1](https://data-goblins.com/handover.md): We look at what can be done to facilitate a smoother handover of Power BI datasets & reports. First, we examine the mentality & activities needed to create sustainable, hygienic solutions, and why that is important.
- [“We need this report in Power BI”](https://data-goblins.com/report-requirements.md): I discuss 3 common approaches to collecting reporting requirements, arguing in favor of the third approach - working iteratively & collaboratively with business users to make the report.
- [Dimensions of Self-Service in Power BI: Part 2 - The Dimensions of Learning](https://data-goblins.com/self-service-learning-in-power-bi.md): I write about the learning paths users take when using self-service solutions in Power BI. Specifically, I illustrate a way to conceptualize these learning paths, making it easier to segment users and create meaningful training programs.
- [Dimensions of Self-Service in Power BI: Part 1](https://data-goblins.com/self-service-strategy-in-power-bi.md): I write about the options for self-service tooling in Power BI. Which tools to use for which cases, by whom & why? I've found it's helpful to visualize the different dimensions of this, to know the options & understand user skill/solution paths.
- [The value Power BI could bring to Academic Research](https://data-goblins.com/power-bi-in-academic-research.md): I believe that Power BI - if successfully adopted & supported in a research department - has the potential to deliver tremendous value. In this article, I try to explain how, and why this benefits researchers & society as a whole.
- [The Goblin Behind the Model](https://data-goblins.com/goblin-behind-the-model.md): We examine the importance of empathy in growing a data culture — one where others want to participate.

## Career and personal

- [Does it feel like too much?](https://data-goblins.com/whats-new.md): If you feel like the pace and volume of updates surrounding Power BI have increased, you’re not alone. In this article, I discuss why many people feel like “it’s just too much” lately, why that’s a problem, and what we might do about it.
- [Analyze Video Game Data for Personal Data Projects](https://data-goblins.com/video-games.md): We examine why video games provide the perfect data sources for learning Fabric, Power BI, and honing your data skills, in general.
- [Playing Dungeons & Dragons was the best thing I did for my Power BI career](https://data-goblins.com/dnd.md): I share how my hobby running Dungeons & Dragons games has contributed to my personal and career development, resulting in me becoming a more competent data professional.
- [Advance Your Career & Learning with Data Communication](https://data-goblins.com/data-communication.md): I share how participating in ‘data communication’ activities like blogging, speaking or making video tutorials can help you learn faster, sharing my own experiences & learnings writing articles in 2022.
- [You can do this, dammit](https://data-goblins.com/mental-health.md): In recent years, mental health of professionals has become an increasing concern. Here, I share a 5-step approach to use mindfulness to combat disruptive thoughts & feelings and improve mental wellbeing.
- [Sci to BI - Similarities between Science & Business Intelligence](https://data-goblins.com/sci-to-bi.md): I write about the similarities between scientific research & business intelligence.This article was originally written in 2019; I re-published it to support an article I’m working on about Power BI in Academic Research.