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Create simple reports on your SQL database in Power BI

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Applies to: ✅ SQL database in Microsoft Fabric

It's easy to quickly create reports with SQL database in Fabric. In this walkthrough, we walk through the steps to define a semantic model and build a report with Power BI in the browser or Power BI Desktop.

Prerequisites

Build a new report in Power BI

Once the sample data is loaded, switch over to the SQL analytics endpoint via the dropdown menu in the Query editor.

  1. Select the Reporting menu from the ribbon, then New Report.
  2. Choose Continue to create a new report with all available data.

Once Power BI opens, your report is ready to develop. Drag and drop columns from the Data pane into the report. Or, there's also the option to use Copilot:

  1. Select the Copilot button in the toolbar.
  2. Copilot presents some reporting suggestions. Select Suggest content for a new report page.
  3. Review the selections by expanding their cards. Select Create on any and all suggestions that look interesting. A new tab is created at the bottom for each.
  4. You now have a Power BI report of your SQL database data. Review the reports for accuracy and make any desired modifications.

Build a new report in Power BI Desktop (preview)

You can also connect to your SQL database in Microsoft Fabric directly from Power BI Desktop. This is currently a preview feature.

First, in Power BI Desktop, verify the preview feature is enabled.

  1. Select File -> Options and Settings -> Options. Under GLOBAL, select Preview features.
  2. Verify that Connect to Fabric SQL Databases option is checked.

There are 2 ways to connect to your SQL database from Power BI Desktop. 

  • Connect from the OneLake Catalog:

    1. In the Home tab, select the OneLake catalog drop down. Select SQL database.
    2. Select your SQL database. Select Connect. You'll authenticate to your Fabric workspace.
    3. In Navigator page, select the desired tables in your SQL database. Select Load. 
    4. Choose Import or DirectQuery. For more information on this option, see Use DirectQuery.

  • Connect from Get data:

    1. In the Home tab, select Get data. Select More....
    2. In the Get Data window, select Microsoft Fabric.
    3. Select SQL database. Select Connect.
    4. Select your SQL database. Select Connect. You'll authenticate to your Fabric workspace.
    5. In Navigator page, select the desired tables in your SQL database. Select Load. 
    6. Choose Import or DirectQuery. For more information on this option, see Use DirectQuery.

Your report is now ready to develop. Drag and drop columns from the Data pane into the report. Or, there's also the option to use Copilot.

  1. Select the Copilot button in the toolbar.
  2. Copilot presents some reporting suggestions. Select Suggest content for a new report page.
  3. Review the selections by expanding their cards. Select Create on any and all suggestions that look interesting. A new tab is created at the bottom for each.
  4. You now have a Power BI report of your SQL database data. Review the reports for accuracy and make any desired modifications.

Next step

Share data and manage access to your SQL database in Microsoft Fabric

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