Power BI reports are a proven way for users to visualize, share and explore data. Businesses are driving results like never before with the intuitive analytics that this tool provides. The relatively newer Paginated Reporting feature is a great supplement to the interactive reporting that Power BI offers out of the box. Now, with the recently introduced Premium per user, paginated reports are more widely available to those who had otherwise been phased out by previous requirements.
In today’s workplace there are several situations where this feature pays off. Let’s say someone requests a non-interactive hard copy, daily spreadsheet or sales invoice that must be printed for distribution – Paginated reports are a solution that lend themselves perfectly to a standard piece of paper, no matter how many pages your table may be.
Pixel-perfect entails the freedom to oversee layout for each page in your report.
In addition to creating pixel-perfect, formatted layouts, paginated reporting is optimal for PDFs. Exporting an extremely large amount of data can be accomplished without an issue. Based off SQL Server Reporting Service’s RDL technology, paginated reports are streamlined to fit over a multitude of pages. Reports can be printed directly from your toolbar or even viewed in a fully interactive print layout.
With the recently introduced Premium per user, paginated reports are more widely available to those who had otherwise been phased out by previous requirements.
Other features at a glance
PDFs aren’t the only exportable format available. Users may export their reports to Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, .CSV, MHTML. and XML.
Layouts can be specifically configured to exact size and location, right down to inches or even centimeters.
Paginated report content can easily be run through a Power BI app or as custom code. Power BI datasets may also be used as data sources for your paginated reports.
By generating custom fields via VB.NET expressions, data can be integrated from static datasets or disparate sources.
What does pixel-perfect mean? This entails the freedom to oversee the layout for each page in your report. Charts and images can be added as well – essential for physical documents.
Regretfully, the paginated report feature can’t run to the office supply store for you to purchase more printer ink.
Lead Tallan Consultant Kenneth Philcox recently represented Tallan as a guest presenter at Microsoft’s Power BI Government Community Call, delivering an insightful demo on paginated reports. Along with Microsoft’s Cyrus Christian, Kenneth helped answer questions and facilitated a great discussion among attendees. Kenneth’s demo includes side by side differences between interactive vs. paginated reports, PDF functionality and a real use example of the Power BI report builder. View the full event at the Power BI in Government blog.
To learn more about Microsoft’s Power BI solutions, click here. To get started with Tallan on business intelligence and data projects, click here.