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You're likely reading this article because:
1. You're trying to get your head around what a 'PBIX file' and its 'Semantic Model' are
2. You're looking for instructions on how to open your Wordnerds PBIX file
3. You want to refresh your Wordnerds PBIX file, having uploaded fresh data into the platform
4. You're struggling to refresh your PBIX file and need some troubleshooting guidance
What is a Wordnerds Power BI ('PBIX') file?
You may have received a PBIX file from the Wordnerds team as part of our latest efforts to further democratise your data, and drive superior CX insights. If so, we're excited to have you on board with us! 🥳
A PBIX file is a report file that is created through Microsoft Power BI. It contains data models, visualisations, queries and reports that can be easily shared among an organisation. PBIX files can be opened in the Power BI desktop app for Windows users only, or using the (web-based) Power BI service, for both Windows and Mac users.
Your Wordnerds PBIX file is another way to view, segment and investigate data to find actionable insights and inform change. Your PBIX typically includes a set of interactive visualisatins that we have constructed for you, based on a 'master template', as well as custom requirements that you've provided us with.
What is a Semantic Model?
When we share a PBIX file with you, you may also get access to its semantic model. This is the structured data model that underpins the PBIX file itself: it serves as a single source of truth that helps to organise data, define relationships between tables, and manage pre-built calculations. Said otherwise, the semantic model is the set of rules we've used to 'mould' your Wordnerds data into our fabulous series of visualisations.
How to Open your Wordnerds PBIX file
(i) Using Power BI (Online) Service
Both Mac and Windows users can access their PBIX files through the (web-based) Power BI service, so long as they have a license for Power BI. Please note that licenses are not provided by Wordnerds themselves.
Step 1: Log into your Power BI web workspace.
Go to app.powerbi.com and log in with your credentials. Once you are authenticated, go to the workspace where you want to import your Wordnerds PBIX: you can do this from the left-hand panel. You may import a PBIX file in your personal workspace, or within a workspace that you share with your organisation.
Step 2: Import your PBIX file
At the top of your chosen workspace, click Import, then select Report, Paginated Report or Workbook, and choose the location from where you want to import your PBIX file. Once your file destination has been selected, it may take a few minutes for your PBIX to be imported into your workspace.
Step 3: Open and explore your PBIX file!
When your import is complete, at least two files will appear at the bottom of your workspace including a report file and a semantic model; you may also see some dashboard files, depending on the construction of your PBIX.
Click on your report file to open your Wordnerds PBIX. Your file will open in the same browser page.
(ii) Using Power BI Desktop App
c, so long as they have a license for Power BI. Please note that licenses are not provided by Wordnerds themselves.
Step 1: Double click your PBIX file to access in Power BI
If you have Power BI already installed on your device then, when you click to open your PBIX, Power BI will launch and your file will automatically open.
To save the file within your workspace (or a shared workspace), click Publish on your horizontal tool bar and select an appropriate workspace. This will allow you to save the file and share it via URL with your peers.
Refreshing your Wordnerds PBIX File
Before you Get Started: Amazon RedShift
Data files, once uploaded through the Worderds platform, are passed to Power BI through an intermediary processor called RedShift. RedShift is a data warehouse solution, offered by Amazon, that we use to process data (you can read more about it in at this link!)
You may have agreed with your Customer Success Manager to leverage RedShift so that you can autonomously refresh your PBIX file once you've uploaded new files to the platform.
- Alternatively, if you haven't had this conversation but want the power to refresh your PBIX when you've got new data, please get in touch.
When you upload new data files to the platform they typically take up to 30 minutes to be synchronised into RedShift. Subsequently, you will need to manually refresh your PBIX file to pull latest files from RedShift into Power BI
❗ Note: Your Wordnerds PBIX file is built with a pre-defined semantic model. This means that, if you upload new data sources and/or different formats (e.g with additional or removed headers, alternative header names, etc.) then your PBIX file cannot accommodate these changes, as its semantic model is not templated accordingly!
In this case, please inform your Customer Success Manager so we can reconstruct your PBIX file (with a new semantic model) and a new template for you.
If you are not using RedShift
...Then please contact your Customer Success Manager so we can organise sending you a brand new PBIX file that contains your latest data upload(s).
(i) Using Power BI (Online) Service
If you have uploaded new files in the same format as your previous data (i.e. your semantic model doesn't need updating!), then, from the workspace where the file resides, hover over the semantic model line item and press the ‘refresh now’ button.
- The subsequent refresh process may take up to 30 minutes to complete, depending on the amount of data you are looking to refresh.
Remember - it can also take up to 30 minutes for your new data to reach RedShift, once uploaded to the Wordnerds platform. For best results, please wait a short while before initiating a PBIX fresh, after uploading your new files.
(ii) Using Power BI Desktop App
If you have uploaded new files in the same format as your previous data (i.e. your semantic model doesn't need updating!), press the refresh button in your toolbar to draw latest data from Redshift into Power BI.
- The subsequent refresh process may take up to 30 minutes to complete, depending on the amount of data you are looking to refresh.
Remember - it can also take up to 30 minutes for your new data to reach RedShift, once uploaded to the Wordnerds platform. For best results, please wait a short while before initiating a PBIX fresh, after uploading your new files.
Troubleshooting: Errors Encountered when Refreshing your Power BI File
Sometimes, your refresh process will return errors (that are normally caused by Redshift authentication processes). In this event you can follow the below workaround to refresh your Power BI dashboard.
(i) Using Power BI (Online) Service
If you are unable to access the Power BI Desktop App, please request a new PBIX file from your Customer Success Manager. Unfortunately, Power BI's online service lacks certain capabilities that could otherwise help you resolve issue with refreshing. Therefore, it’s easiest if we do this for you, and then resend you a fresh file.
(ii) Using Power BI Desktop App
Step 1: Press ‘Transform Data’ in the toolbar
This will open a panel view in the left-hand side of your screen.
Step 2: Select a data query
When you click on each table name in your left-hand panel, it will load a preview of the corresponding data in your application (in the below example, ‘pbi_brand’ has opened a small table related to TSM Survey data).
- Depending on your errors, you may also see a yellow warning triangle in the screen and/or error banners.
Step 3: Refresh the data query preview
You can do this by pressing the corresponding button in the toolbar. When you do this the data for the current query will reload, and any warnings or banners should disappear from the table.
Step 4: Press ‘Close & Apply’ for the selected data query
You can do this by pressing the corresponding button in the toolbar. When you do this, you are effectively committing new (reloaded) data to your dashboard.
Step 5: Repeat steps 2-4 for all queries in your file
Repeat this process for all queries listed in your left-hand panel.
Step 6: Refresh your PBIX
You can do this by pressing the corresponding button in the toolbar. This may take up to 30 minutes depending on the amount of data you are looking to refresh.
Unanswered questions?
If we haven't given you the answer you were hoping for, please contact your Customer Success Manager.
Article written by Izzie, Product Manager