Power BI-component

With the Power BI component, you can view and interact with your Power BI reports directly inside your Boards on Fire dashboards, without having to switch between different systems.

How it works

• Direct interaction: You can click inside the report, filter data, drill down, and navigate pages just like you normally do in Power BI.
• Personal permissions: You only see the reports that your own Microsoft account has access to in Power BI, as Boards on Fire neither affects nor bypasses any security settings.
• Smooth sign-in: You sign in easily using your standard Microsoft work account, and your session remains active for up to 90 days.

Prerequisites to get started

For the Power BI component to work, the module must be enabled for your organization in Boards on Fire, and all users must have a valid Power BI license (at least Power BI Pro, or a report located in a Power BI Premium workspace).

Before the component can be used for the first time, an IT administrator in your organization must also grant consent in Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD). This is done through a one-time approval for the "Boards on Fire - Power BI" application, either directly via the sign-in prompt when an administrator logs in for the first time, or in the Microsoft Entra admin center under Enterprise Applications.

This approval grants Boards on Fire permission to read reports and workspaces on the user's behalf, without granting the system any administrative privileges or access to data that the user does not already have permission to view. Once the administrator has approved the application, all users can easily sign in and view their reports.

How to add and configure the component

When you add the Power BI component to a dashboard and open its settings, you will find two tabs: General and Appearance.

Under the General tab, you enter the Name, which is the title displayed at the top of the component, and select the Workspace and Report from searchable lists linked to your Power BI account.

Under the Appearance tab, there are several customization options.

• You can select Hide header if you want to completely hide the top title bar of the component.
• Hide filter pane hides Power BI's built-in right-hand filter panel in the report.
• Hide page navigation hides the bottom tabs used to switch between report pages.
• Transparent background is enabled by default and blends the report background seamlessly into your dashboard.
• Report height specifies the height of the report in pixels, with a default value of 500 px.
• You can also set a Refresh interval in minutes to determine how often the report data refreshes automatically, or leave the field blank to disable automatic refresh.

Please note that the report automatically adapts its language, date, and number formatting based on your selected language setting in Boards on Fire (Swedish, English, or German). The report also always loads in its default state when you refresh the page, meaning any filters you click will not be saved between sessions.

First-time sign-in

To display the report, you need to connect your Microsoft account.

1. If you are not automatically signed in via your organization's SSO, click the "Sign in with Microsoft" button inside the component.
2. A small window will open where you log in with your standard Microsoft work account.
3. Grant permission for Boards on Fire to read your Power BI reports, after which the window will close automatically and the report will load immediately.

Your sign-in remains active for up to 90 days, after which you simply click the sign-in button again when prompted.

Usage on large screens and TV displays

If you are displaying a dashboard on a TV screen, the following applies:

• The report is displayed based on the account of the person who sets up or logs into the screen.
• If the session expires after 90 days, a sign-in button will appear on the screen.
• A good tip is to log into the screen periodically or use a dedicated shared user for screens that run continuously.

Troubleshooting and error messages

If you see the "Sign in with Microsoft" button, your session has expired or it is your first time using the component. Simply click the button to sign in.

If you see the "You don't have access" icon, you are signed in, but your Microsoft account lacks permission to view that specific report in Power BI. Ask the owner of the Power BI report to grant you access.

If the "Not available" icon is displayed, the Power BI module is not enabled for your organization in Boards on Fire. Contact your administrator or Boards on Fire support for assistance.

If you receive the "Tenant mismatch" error message, you have signed in with a personal Microsoft account or an account from a different organization than the one connected to your Boards on Fire account. Log out and sign in again using your correct work account.

If the sign-in window does not open, your browser may have blocked the popup window. Make sure to allow popups from Boards on Fire in your browser settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does every user need their own Power BI license? 

Yes, viewing embedded reports requires each user to have at least a Power BI Pro license, or for the report to be hosted in a workspace with Power BI Premium capacity.

Can I edit the report directly inside Boards on Fire?

No, the component is read-only and designed for viewing and interaction, such as filtering and drilling down. Changes to the report design itself must be made directly in Power BI.

Is it possible to embed Power BI Dashboards?

No, currently only Power BI Reports are supported, not full Dashboards or individual Dashboard tiles.

Is our report data stored or transmitted through Boards on Fire?

No, the report is loaded directly from Power BI into your web browser. Boards on Fire only manages the sign-in authentication, meaning your data never passes through Boards on Fire servers.