Power BI Report Creator Training by EDBI
A progressive, Rice-specific creator path for users who need to use Power BI Desktop, connect to approved data, build reports, and prepare work for publishing.
Follow the creator modules in order
This path is for report creators. It starts with Power BI Desktop, then moves into common Rice data connection patterns before introducing publishing and support expectations.
Creator note: Use approved Rice data sources whenever possible. Personal files are useful for practice, but shared reports should be built from governed sources when the content supports departmental or university decisions.
Module 1
Power BI Report Creator Training by EDBI
This set of modules is intended for users who need to create Power BI reports, connect to approved data, and prepare work for sharing in a Rice environment.
The creator path focuses on the practical actions report builders need:
- Understanding when to use Power BI Desktop for report authoring.
- Connecting Excel workbooks for practice, drafts, or small team reporting.
- Connecting to governed Rice data sources such as semantic models, lakehouses, and approved databases.
- Preparing reports for publishing, support, and responsible sharing.
This path is separate from the viewer path because creators need to think about data source choices, ownership, refresh, workspace access, and publishing expectations.
| Creator responsibility | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Data source choice | Reports for shared decisions should use governed data whenever possible, such as approved semantic models, lakehouses, or databases. |
| Ownership and support | Creators should know who owns the report, who can request changes, and how questions or access requests will be handled. |
| Publishing readiness | Before sharing, creators should test visuals, slicers, refresh behavior, permissions, export settings, and audience expectations. |
Module 2
Power BI Desktop
Power BI Desktop is the Windows application used to build reports. Report builders use it to connect to data, shape queries, create models and measures, design report pages, and publish finished work to the Power BI service.
Power BI Desktop is the recommended authoring tool for Windows users. Mac users can still use the Power BI service in the browser for supported report-building tasks, but full Desktop authoring requires Windows.
Before you begin
- Use a Rice-managed Windows computer when possible.
- Confirm you can sign in to the Power BI service with your [email protected] account.
- Know whether your report is only for practice, for a team, or intended for broader sharing.
Power BI Desktop resources
- Download Power BI Desktop for Windows report authoring.
- Import Excel workbooks into Power BI Desktop.
- Create reports in Power BI.
- Publish from Power BI Desktop to the Power BI service.
Install or open Desktop
- Open Power BI Desktop if it is already installed.
- If you need to install it, use the approved Rice software process or the Microsoft download link below.
- After opening Desktop, sign in with your Rice account from the upper-right corner of the application.
Module 3
Connect Excel Data
Excel is a common starting point for ad hoc reporting, early dashboard drafts, and smaller datasets. For recurring operational reporting, consider whether an approved EDBI data source, lakehouse, or semantic model is a better long-term option.
Import an Excel workbook into Power BI Desktop
- Open Power BI Desktop.
- Select Home > Get Data > Excel workbook.
- Browse to your Excel file and select Open.
- In the Navigator pane, select the worksheet or table you want to import.
- Select Load to bring the data into Power BI.
- The data will now be loaded as a table in Power BI Desktop and you can use it to build visualizations.
Module 4
Connect Rice Data
For shared reporting, start with governed Rice data sources whenever possible. In Power BI, what used to be called a dataset is now generally called a semantic model. Semantic models, lakehouses, and approved database connections each support different creator needs.
Connect to a semantic model
Use semantic models when you need a ready-to-use governed dataset with relationships, measures, and refreshes prepared for reporting.
- In Power BI Desktop, on the Home tab, select Get Data > Power BI semantic models. Or select Get Data, then under All, select Power BI semantic models, and select Connect.
- The OneLake Catalog shows the workspaces you are a member of and the shared semantic models where you have Build permission.
- Select a semantic model, then select Connect to establish a live connection. Power BI Desktop loads the semantic model fields and values in real time.
Connect to a lakehouse
Use a lakehouse when your team needs curated warehouse data with more flexibility for self-service reporting.
- Select the Lakehouses connector in the connector selection, and then select Connect.
- In the OneLake data hub, select the lakehouse you want to connect to. Optionally, use All, My data, or Endorsed in your org to narrow the lakehouses displayed.
- Select the data you want to build visuals with from the Data pane in Power BI Desktop.
Connect to an approved database
Use database connections when your team has an approved SQL or cloud database source for reporting.
- In Power BI Desktop, on the Home tab, select Get Data > SQL Server.
- Enter the Server and Database names, then confirm the appropriate data connectivity mode for your source.
Module 5
Publish and Support
Before publishing a report, confirm the report owner, intended audience, workspace, data source, refresh needs, and access process. Reports intended for department, business-area, or university-wide use should be published through an approved workspace with the appropriate governance setup.
Before you publish
- Confirm the data source is approved for the report audience.
- Check whether the report should use a governed semantic model or lakehouse instead of a personal file.
- Document who owns the report, who supports it, and how access should be requested.
- Test slicers, visuals, refresh behavior, and export settings before sharing.
Quick references
- Publish from Power BI Desktop to the Power BI service.
- Create reports in Power BI.
- Submit a Data@Rice support request.
After the Creator Path
After these modules are complete, report creators can move into deeper modeling, DAX, workspace administration, deployment, and Copilot-ready reporting topics.