Question

Can I deploy only certain reports or datasets in Power BI using the deployment pipeline?
In scenarios where only specific reports or datasets need to be updated or moved to the next stage, is there a way to deploy these selectively rather than the entire workspace content? How can I implement granular control over deployments?

Answer 1

Yes, you can deploy just particular reports or datasets rather than the complete workspace using Power BI deployment pipelines, which support selective (granular) deployments.

Using the Selective Deployment Feature to Apply Granular Control

• Select "Select items to deploy" from the deployment pipeline user interface.
• To proceed to the next step, only verify the reports or datasets that you wish to use.

Make use of the Power BI REST API.

• By providing the object IDs (reports/datasets) when contacting the DeployToStage API, you can automate selective deployments.
• Rules for Controlling Datasets
• To rebind specific reports to datasets in the target stage without deploying everything, use deployment rules.
• Use cases include updating just one dashboard and leaving the others unaltered.
• Deploy a fixed dataset while maintaining the integrity of other reports or models.
• Releases for various teams or departments should be spaced out.

Best Practice:

• Always test selective deployments in the Test stage before promoting to Production.
• Track deployments with activity logs or CI/CD integration for auditability.