Creating a Power BI Report in Desigo CC

Create the Report

1. Select Power BI Reports
2. A new report can be created from one of two sources:
• A file on your local computer. Typically, you would select this option if you wanted to open a report that was sent to you by someone else.
• ii. A predefined report type included in the report library. For more about the report types available in the Library see the section below, Report Types.
3. After selecting the report type, add a note to the Description field that explains more about the report. Click Create Report Template.
4. At this point your report will appear on a line in the System Browser under the Power BI Reports section, and you can begin configuration.

Add the Web Services Application URL

1. The first requirement is to make sure the Power BI module can access your Desigo CC data using the Web Services Interface (WSI) URL. To find this URL, visit the System Management Console (SMC) and select Websites -> [website name] -> [your web application]. Find the URL in the Web Application Details field and select Copy URL.
2. Return to the Desigo CC System Manager and find your report into the system browser. Paste the URL into the section entitled Web Service URL.

Select the Time Period

Power BI reports that use Desigo CC data are plotted over a period of time. The specified time period can be either relative or absolute.

Reports based on a “relative” time period show new data from Desigo CC with each successive day. You must choose the number of consecutive days contained in the report, starting from the most recent day. For example, you could choose the last 30 or 365 days. Each new day adds a new day of data.

A report with an “Absolute” time period shows a static set of data over a fixed date range (for example, “01/01/2024--31/12/2024”). If you choose Absolute, you will be required to pick the days included in the report.

Select the Report Tables

Each PowerBI template is supported by a source of data selected by the user from within Desigo CC. For each template, only specific types of Desigo CC data will produce a valid report. For example, a template of temperature over time will only display a result in PowerBI if it is populated by trend objects. For more detail about the data sources appropriate to each report, see the “Report Types” section below.

Depending on the report template type, more than one table may be necessary to build the report. For example, a report that calculates CO2 consumption for a single managed meter is built using two tables, one for the actual CO2 consumption and a second for the configuration of the meters. For some reports—for example, those that display multiple trends-- not all table fields are required.

Some sources of table data may be more apparent if you change the view in System Browser. For example, if you wanted to create a report that charted the temperature measured by a specific device, you could change the System Browser from Application View to Logical View to more easily chart the building and floor where the device is located (note that the logical view would need to contain a trend object beneath it that records temperature data).

Sources for Report Data

In general, the following data within Desigo CC can become part of a table within a PowerBI report:

Trends

Trends are any recurring sample of data. Valid data for a PowerBI report includes both online and offline trend objects. Note that even if a table refers to a specific type of trend object (for example, temperature), other trend types will also produce a valid report.

Managed Meter Data

Managed meters handle various forms of consumption data, including energy, electricity, gas and water. Any view within Desigo CC can potentially form part of a table within a report, provided that there is a managed meter contained in the hierarchy below the view to collect consumption data.

Report Logs

Logs contain a variety of different events that can be aggregated and displayed in a report. Currently, only event logs (not activity logs) can be charted in a report.

Create Report Labels

Each report template contains a variety of label fields that you can customize to describe your particular data and situation. For this section, the “Key” field describes this field in the data. The description you add in the right-hand text field will appear in the final Power BI report.

If you are unsure about the meaning of each field, it may be easier to generate the report in Power BI first to see where each text field appears. Then you can go back and customize the text fields as needed.

Export Reports

When you have completed your template and are ready to view it on Power BI, there are two export options. The first, a plain "Export," sends the template to Power BI for normal viewing, and leaves all text fields that have not been filled out by the user blank. The second, "Export but add @(<Key>) for empty text," inserts a placeholder text for all empty text fields on the Power BI chart.