D365 F&O to Azure Data Lake to Power BI

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Posted on by VickyD

We recently configured the D365 F&O to Azure Data Lake Sync and are able to sync and see the relevant files in the Azure Data Lake (Storage).

Most videos or articles like this one seem to drive towards using Azure Synapse and then Power BI. Is there any particular reason we can't just use Power BI to pull directly from the Data Lake?

I am aware of the following advantages in Azure Synapse

1. Ability to use T-SQL to explore data, create views etc

2. Ability to potentially build and manage a SQL Datawarehouse

3. Integrate with other applications that can use SQL Datawarehouse

and perhaps other benefits.

However, if our requirements are fairly simple is there any reason why we can't just import straight from Azure Data Lake into Power BI?

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Ian Waring 436 on at

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RE: D365 F&O to Azure Data Lake to Power BI

Largely because the default is to create JSON attributes with CSV files in the lake. Power BI can’t make much sense of it in that form.

We have Synapse running and CDMutil firing up whenever there’s a change to the table list added by a suitably privileged user on D365FO.

An absolute, totally reliable delight to use, not least as the raw data tables expose useful fields that the standard entities omit (like the link field between sales invoice lines and the sales order line that gives rise to it).

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VickyD on at

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RE: D365 F&O to Azure Data Lake to Power BI

Thanks for the details.

I see that Power BI does have the CDM Folder view option that seems to be interpreting the csv and json files correctly. With this now an option would you still say Azure Synapse is a must?

I personally do like the idea of having the Azure Synapse layer primarily as it provides a SQL end point but want to be clear whether it's an absolute necessity or more of a recommended/good to have option.

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