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Converting workbooks from Tableau to Power BI

A step-by-step guide, including tips, on how to convert workbooks from Tableau to Power BI.

  1. Ensure that the workbook and data source are less than 10 GB.
    1. Look at the data source size and workbook size visuals in this dashboard to determine if it’s appropriate to convert.
  2. Determine that the Tableau reports you are converting meet the appropriate scenarios (ex. fewer than 8 colors, few calculations to convert, that the data source connection is support in Power BI).
  3. Ensure Power BI is downloaded to your machine.
  4. Open Power BI Desktop.
  5. Connect to the data source.
    1. Review steps on connecting to OneDrive and steps for connecting to the RAE.
    2. If using SQL, ensure you have copied your initial and/or custom SQL from Tableau. When prompted to connect to the SQL database, click ‘Advanced Options’ and paste SQL into the SQL statement option.
  6. If necessary, clean your data. This may include:
Writing Calculations
  1. DAX
    1. If your Tableau workbook used calculations, use Copilot to help translate. A sample prompt would be “translate this calculation [paste Tableau calculation] into DAX”.
    2. To write calculations,
      1. Go to model view (on the left side menu)
      2. Click a field
      3. Select ‘new column’
      4. Paste the DAX into the field at the top
  2. Power Query is also an option if the user feels more comfortable.
Renaming fields
  • There are many ways to change field names. This can be done in report view or model view. In model view, click the field in the query and select ‘rename’ or use Properties to rename. 
Hide unused fields
  • Best practice is to completely remove them from SQL
Format Fields
  • Fields to check formatting on include currency and date/time fields. This is especially true if you want to bring in some of Power BI’s AI capabilities like Q&A.
  • To change formatting in model view, click the field under query, go to Properties and select the appropriate data type and format. 
Add Definitions and Synonyms to fields in Model View
  • Not only will this assist you later, but it will help end users, the data catalog, and if AI features are used in the visual.
  • This information can be found under Properties in the model view and ‘Descriptions’ or ‘Synonyms’.
    • Power BI will automatically assign synonyms for fields, double check they make sense. 
  1. Click ‘Report View’ from the left-hand side
  2. Start by building one visual. First, click the visual then add the appropriate fields
    1. Please note these slight design differences:
      1. Power BI defaults to using floating containers (as opposed to Tableau using tiled).
      2. Treat each sheet as a dashboard – not an individual sheet to be compiled into a dashboard.
  3. After all visuals are built, add filters as desired. The easiest way to do this is to drag them to the filter pane in the dashboard. There are two options:
    1. Filters on this page applies filters to only the current page.
    2. Filters on all pages applies a global filter to the entire workbook.
  4. Add a dashboard title
    1. Go to Home – Text Box. Format the text box according to Ohio State branding guidelines.
  5. Add a footer
    1. Go to Home – Text Box to add a text box with your department’s name and contact information to view in an alternative format (or if there are questions).
    2. To add the logo, go to Insert – Image and select the Ohio State logo.
      1. Pro-tip: You do not need to save your logos or icons in multiple places. You can access them if they are in My Tableau Repository – Shapes. It may just require drilling down.
  6. Format with the Ohio State branded color palette
    1. Pro-tip: Save this to your Desktop.
    2. To set, go to View – Themes – Browse for Theme. Select the Ohio State theme.
  7. Publish to the appropriate workspace
  8. Go to Home – Publish and select the workspace