Power BI Embeds
Advanced Training Module 5: Embeds and Integrations
Power BI allows you to create interactive dashboards, reports, and visualizations that help communicate data and insights. Using the Power BI Embed block, you can display these dashboards directly within your website without requiring visitors to leave the page.
This makes it easy to share reports, statistics, performance metrics, research data, and other visual analytics as part of your website content.
Common uses include:
- Enrollment statistics
- Research metrics
- Strategic plan reporting
- Program performance dashboards
- Survey results
- Departmental reporting
When to Use a Power BI Embed
Use a Power BI Embed when you want visitors to interact with live or regularly updated data.
Examples include:
Department Metrics
Display information such as:
- Student enrollment
- Graduation rates
- Program statistics
Research Dashboards
Showcase:
- Research funding
- Publications
- Projects
- Collaborations
Operational Reporting
Provide access to:
- Service metrics
- Performance indicators
- Strategic plan objectives
Because the dashboard remains connected to Power BI, updates to the original report can automatically appear on your website.
Before You Begin
Before embedding a Power BI dashboard:
- Ensure the report is ready for public viewing (if applicable).
- Confirm visitors have permission to access the dashboard if authentication is required.
- Review the dashboard on desktop and mobile devices.
- Verify that any sensitive information has been removed or appropriately secured.
Always consult your reporting or data owner before publishing dashboards publicly.
Adding a Power BI Embed
To add a dashboard:
- Click the + button and search for Power BI Embed.
- Add the block to your page.
- Paste the Power BI dashboard or report URL.
- Select Embed.
The dashboard will appear within the page editor.
Adding a Heading
You may optionally add a heading above the dashboard.
Providing a heading helps visitors understand the purpose of the dashboard before interacting with it.
Adjusting the Layout
Power BI dashboards often contain significant amounts of information.
Consider using:
Wide Width
Expands the dashboard beyond the standard content width.
Useful when:
- Multiple charts are displayed
- The dashboard contains filters
- Additional screen space improves readability
Standard Width
Useful when:
- The dashboard is relatively simple
- The page contains significant supporting content
Preview different layouts to determine what works best for your content.
Providing Context
A dashboard should rarely appear on a page without explanation.
Before the embed, consider adding:
- A short introduction
- An explanation of the data source
- Information about how often the data is updated
- Guidance on how visitors should interpret the information
Example: This dashboard provides a summary of research activity and funding across the department. Data is updated monthly.
Context helps visitors understand what they are viewing and why it matters.
Accessibility Considerations
When sharing data visualizations:
- Use descriptive headings.
- Provide explanatory text where appropriate.
- Avoid relying solely on colour to communicate meaning.
- Ensure charts and visualizations remain understandable for a broad audience.
Remember that not all visitors will interpret visual data in the same way.
Best Practices
Focus on Relevant Data
Only embed dashboards that support the purpose of the page.
Keep Reports Current
Outdated dashboards can damage confidence in the information being presented.
Add Explanatory Content
Help visitors understand what they’re looking at and why it matters.
Test the Embed
Always preview the page and verify the dashboard loads correctly.
Consider Mobile Users
Dashboards can behave differently on smaller screens, so review the page on multiple devices when possible.
Common Uses
Power BI Embeds are commonly used for:
- Annual reports
- Strategic planning dashboards
- Research reporting
- Enrollment statistics
- Performance measurement
- Public transparency initiatives
They are particularly useful when information changes regularly and would be difficult to maintain manually on a webpage.
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Hello and welcome to cutheme Mastery Training, Module 4. In this video, we will go over Power BI Embeds.
Power BI is Microsoft’s data visualization application, allowing users to showcase data in creative and engaging ways. In cutheme, you have the option to embed Power BI dashboards directly within pages on your site.
To embed a Power BI dashboard, go to the block selection menu, scroll down to “Embeds” and select “Power BI Embed”. Similar to Video Embeds, you will need to copy and paste a Power BI URL, and paste it within the block. I have this link here, but you can get links to your dashboards by copying the URL directly from Power BI.
Make sure your link is valid (if not there will be an error message that pops up) then select “Embed”.
And just like that, the dashboard is embedded within your page.
Try it Out
- Add a Power BI Embed block to a page.
- Paste the URL of a Power BI report or dashboard.
- Add an explanatory heading above the embed.
- Change the block to Wide Width.
- Preview the page and verify the dashboard loads correctly.
- Review the page on desktop and mobile devices.