Data Catalog Power BI User Guide
Data Catalog Power BI User Guide
Data Catalog Power BI User Guide
Introduction
This user guide is intended to help overcome the challenge of knowing ‘where to start’ when
commencing your Data Catalog journey. It intended to provide the reader with a
comprehensive explanation of the Alation Data Catalog at Nestlé. It will provide details on the
approach used for the implementation of the Data Catalog.
Overall, this guide will explain the steps for getting started, how to work with the tool, and the
rules you must follow to remain compliant with the Nestlé End User Security Policy.
We are currently in the process of implementing the new Power BI Connector from Alation.
The appropriate connector will be determined as part the request to include your Power BI
Workspace in the Data Catalog. Below is a summary of Power BI artifacts supported in each
of the connectors.
Here you can search and find data sets, tables, columns, knowledge articles, reports,
queries, visualizations, data conversations, and more.
For more information, visit the Welcome to Data Catalog @Nestlé site.
Data Catalog Cookbook - Data Catalog cookbook.pptx
To register interest to add content to the Data Catalog, please complete the following form.
The Workspace will be extracted in the next scheduled Metadata Extraction run.
To view the Workspace and its contents in the Data Catalog simply go to Home | Alation
(nestle.com). From there, expand the “Business Intelligence” tab (1), select “Nestle Power
BI” (2), and then review the list (3) for your Workspace. Alternatively, you can search for
your Workspace (4).
Before requesting the role, you will first need to get your Line Manager’s approval. This approval will
need to be attached to the request.
Furthermore, for some specific markets you will need approval from the Catalog Admin in addition to
your Line Managers approval. See the Nestle Data Catalog Approvers list to see which markets
require this and the Catalog Admin to contact.
Once you have the necessary approvals, open the request using the “ADI Nestle Data Catalog” entry
in Service Now. In the request, enter the following information:
Metadata Guidebook
The Metadata Guidebook defines that fields in the Data Catalog that are required or optional
for a given asset (Workspace, Report, or Dataset).
The Dictionary tab shows the overall view of the attributes in the Data Catalog and if it is
required.
The BI Folder tab defines the specific attributes that need to be updated for a Workspace
and their related Completeness, Accuracy, and Timeliness Standards.
The BI Report tab defines the specific attributes for Reports and Dashboards.
The BI Datasource (Datasets) tab defines the specific attributes for Datasets.
The BI Report Column tab defines the specific attributes for the columns within a Dataset.
For an example of curating a Workspace, Reports, and Datasets please see the IT
Performance Workspace in the Data Catalog.
For further learning there is a large amount of training material available. Links to these
training materials can be found below
Purpose: To introduce the Data Catalog and provide an overview of how you can use the
data catalog to find and understand data assets to support your work and help us win with
consumers.
Limitations
“Nestle Power BI” - Old Connector
• The old connector does not always bring in fields from a Dataset. This prevents us from bringing
in solutions that are focused on Datasets versus Reports and Dashboards.
The new connector does not support Report Pages. This will impact solutions like the IT
Performance Workspace.
Apps cannot be imported at this time. This is a bug with the connector and will be fixed in an
upcoming patch release from Alation.
Support
See the Data Catalog Sustain Model for Business Users for details on how to get support.