# Managing Power Bi

> Use when working with Power Bi — power BI service management — monitor workspaces, datasets, reports, refresh schedules, and capacity utilization. Use when inspecting dashboard health, debugging refresh failures, auditing workspace permissions, or reviewing dataset configurations.

- Skill: `cloudthinker-ai/managing-power-bi` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add cloudthinker-ai/managing-power-bi`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/cloudthinker-ai/managing-power-bi/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner WARNING, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: AI & ML
- Author: cloudthinker-ai (https://skillmd.com/u/cloudthinker-ai)
- Updated: 2026-09-08
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/cloudthinker-ai/managing-power-bi

---


# Managing Power BI

Manage and monitor Power BI service — workspaces, datasets, reports, refreshes, and capacity.

## Discovery Phase

```bash
#!/bin/bash

PBI_API="https://api.powerbi.com/v1.0/myorg"
AUTH="Authorization: Bearer $POWER_BI_ACCESS_TOKEN"

echo "=== Workspaces ==="
curl -s -H "$AUTH" "$PBI_API/groups" \
  | jq -r '.value[] | [.id, .name, .type, .state] | @tsv' | column -t | head -15

echo ""
echo "=== Datasets ==="
curl -s -H "$AUTH" "$PBI_API/datasets" \
  | jq -r '.value[] | [.id, .name, .configuredBy, .isRefreshable] | @tsv' | column -t | head -15

echo ""
echo "=== Reports ==="
curl -s -H "$AUTH" "$PBI_API/reports" \
  | jq -r '.value[] | [.id, .name, .datasetId, .reportType] | @tsv' | column -t | head -15

echo ""
echo "=== Dashboards ==="
curl -s -H "$AUTH" "$PBI_API/dashboards" \
  | jq -r '.value[] | [.id, .displayName, .isReadOnly] | @tsv' | column -t | head -10
```

## Analysis Phase

```bash
#!/bin/bash

PBI_API="https://api.powerbi.com/v1.0/myorg"
AUTH="Authorization: Bearer $POWER_BI_ACCESS_TOKEN"

echo "=== Dataset Refresh History ==="
for DS_ID in $(curl -s -H "$AUTH" "$PBI_API/datasets" | jq -r '.value[:5][].id'); do
  DS_NAME=$(curl -s -H "$AUTH" "$PBI_API/datasets/$DS_ID" | jq -r '.name')
  echo "--- $DS_NAME ---"
  curl -s -H "$AUTH" "$PBI_API/datasets/$DS_ID/refreshes?\$top=3" \
    | jq -r '.value[] | [.status, .startTime, .endTime, .serviceExceptionJson // ""] | @tsv' | column -t
done

echo ""
echo "=== Failed Refreshes ==="
for DS_ID in $(curl -s -H "$AUTH" "$PBI_API/datasets" | jq -r '.value[].id'); do
  curl -s -H "$AUTH" "$PBI_API/datasets/$DS_ID/refreshes?\$top=1" \
    | jq -r --arg id "$DS_ID" '.value[] | select(.status=="Failed") | [$id, .startTime, .serviceExceptionJson[:80]] | @tsv'
done | column -t | head -10

echo ""
echo "=== Refresh Schedules ==="
for DS_ID in $(curl -s -H "$AUTH" "$PBI_API/datasets" | jq -r '.value[:5][].id'); do
  DS_NAME=$(curl -s -H "$AUTH" "$PBI_API/datasets/$DS_ID" | jq -r '.name')
  SCHEDULE=$(curl -s -H "$AUTH" "$PBI_API/datasets/$DS_ID/refreshSchedule" | jq -c '{enabled: .enabled, frequency: .days, times: .times}' 2>/dev/null)
  echo "$DS_NAME: $SCHEDULE"
done

echo ""
echo "=== Workspace Users ==="
curl -s -H "$AUTH" "$PBI_API/groups/$POWER_BI_WORKSPACE_ID/users" \
  | jq -r '.value[] | [.emailAddress, .groupUserAccessRight, .principalType] | @tsv' | column -t | head -10
```

## Output Format

```
WORKSPACES
ID       Name              Type       State
<id>     <workspace-name>  <type>     <state>

DATASETS
ID       Name              Owner          Refreshable
<id>     <dataset-name>    <configured>   true

REFRESH HISTORY
Dataset          Status      Start              End
<dataset-name>   Completed   <timestamp>        <timestamp>

FAILED REFRESHES
Dataset ID       Start              Error
<id>             <timestamp>        <message>
```

## Anti-Hallucination Rules

1. **NEVER assume resource names** — always discover via CLI/API in Phase 1 before referencing in Phase 2.
2. **NEVER fabricate metric names or dimensions** — verify against the service documentation or `--help` output.
3. **NEVER mix CLI commands between service versions** — confirm which version/API you are targeting.
4. **ALWAYS use the discovery → verify → analyze chain** — every resource referenced must have been discovered first.
5. **ALWAYS handle empty results gracefully** — an empty response is valid data, not an error to retry.

## Counter-Rationalizations

| Shortcut | Counter | Why |
|----------|---------|-----|
| "I'll skip discovery and check known resources" | Always run Phase 1 discovery first | Resource names change, new resources appear — assumed names cause errors |
| "The user only asked for a quick check" | Follow the full discovery → analysis flow | Quick checks miss critical issues; structured analysis catches silent failures |
| "Default configuration is probably fine" | Audit configuration explicitly | Defaults often leave logging, security, and optimization features disabled |
| "Metrics aren't needed for this" | Always check relevant metrics when available | API/CLI responses show current state; metrics reveal trends and intermittent issues |
| "I don't have access to that" | Try the command and report the actual error | Assumed permission failures prevent useful investigation; actual errors are informative |