Here’s a comprehensive guide on connecting Databricks to Power BI, including the best practices and different methods:

Methods of Connecting Databricks to Power BI

1. Partner Connect (Recommended for ease of use)
   • The simplest method if your Databricks account, workspace, and user meet the Partner Connect requirements
     • Steps: In your Databricks workspace, click the Partner Connect icon.
     • Select the Power BI tile.
     • Choose your Databricks compute resource and download the connection file.
     • Open the connection file in Power BI Desktop.
     • Enter your Databricks personal access token for authentication.
2. Manual Connection using Databricks Connector
   • Use this when Partner Connect isn’t unavailable or needs more customization.
     1. Steps: Get the server hostname and HTTP path in your Databricks workspace settings.
     2. Start Power BI Desktop: Go to Get Data or File > Get Data.
     3. Search for the Azure Databricks connector: Based on your setup, select the appropriate connector (Azure Databricks or Databricks).
        • Enter Hostname, HTTP Path, and Connectivity Mode: Import. This mode Caches data in Power BI for faster refreshes, but it has storage limitations.
        • DirectQuery: Queries the live Databricks data source (recommended for large datasets).
        • Authenticate Personal Access Token:  Generate a token in Databricks settings.
        • Username and Password: Use your Databricks credentials.
3. Single Sign-On (SSO) for Enhanced Security
   • It is a more complex setup, but it provides seamless and secure authentication.
   • Requires Databricks configuration and likely IT involvement.
   • See Databricks Documentation for detailed steps.

Best Practices

• Databricks SQL Warehouses: Power BI works more efficiently with Databricks SQL Warehouses, especially in DirectQuery mode.
• Data Modeling: Before importing data into Power BI, optimize your data model in Databricks (views, aggregations, etc.) to improve performance.
• Scheduled Refreshes: If using Import mode, set up scheduled refreshes in Power BI to keep your visualizations up-to-date.
• User Permissions: Manage appropriate data access permissions within Databricks and Power BI for security.

Example: Creating a simple Power BI Visualization

1. After connecting to Databricks, a list of available databases and tables will appear in Power BI’s Navigator.
2. Select the table you want to visualize.
3. Choose the visualization type in Power BI (e.g., bar chart, line graph, map).
4. Customize your visualization using Power BI’s extensive formatting and styling options.