Programmatic Report and Model Changes with Python
Short 20 minute session for SQLBits 2026Thursday - 23 Apr 2026 - 14:40 - 15:00 Room 1BTL; DR
Learn how to use Python scripts to programmatically update Power BI reports and semantic models using PBIP, PBIR, and TMDL, bringing speed, control, and bulk changes into Power BI development.
Session Details
With PBIP, reports and semantic models can be treated as code, opening the door to automation, consistency, and scale.
In this session, we focus on using scripts (with Python as the primary example) to apply safe, consistent, and repeatable changes directly to Power BI project files. You’ll see how common requests, like renaming measures/columns and updating visuals, can go from hours or days of manual work to just minutes.
We’ll also explore how AI can help generate these scripts, and why keeping control through reusable code is important for reliability and collaboration across teams.
This session is for anyone working with Power BI who wants to reduce manual effort, improve consistency, and handle changes more efficiently.
In this session, we focus on using scripts (with Python as the primary example) to apply safe, consistent, and repeatable changes directly to Power BI project files. You’ll see how common requests, like renaming measures/columns and updating visuals, can go from hours or days of manual work to just minutes.
We’ll also explore how AI can help generate these scripts, and why keeping control through reusable code is important for reliability and collaboration across teams.
This session is for anyone working with Power BI who wants to reduce manual effort, improve consistency, and handle changes more efficiently.
3 things you'll get out of this session
By the end of this session, attendees will be able to:
- Understand how PBIP exposes its artifacts as files
- Identify scenarios where bulk changes can be automated across models and reports
- Use scripts and AI to apply consistent and repeatable changes safely
- Understand how PBIP exposes its artifacts as files
- Identify scenarios where bulk changes can be automated across models and reports
- Use scripts and AI to apply consistent and repeatable changes safely