Data Catalog Power BI Connectivity Guide

Data Catalog Power BI

Connectivity Guide
Contents
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................2
Accessing the Data Catalog in Nestle..............................................................................................2
Connecting to Microsoft POWER BI at Nestlé.................................................................................3
Requesting the Steward Role.................................................................................................................4
Curating Your Power BI Artifacts............................................................................................................4
Checking the Metadata & Curation Standard.....................................................................................4
Metadata Guidebook.........................................................................................................................5
Data Catalog Learning & Training.....................................................................................................5
Limitations.............................................................................................................................................6
Support..................................................................................................................................................6

September 19, 2023 1

 Data Catalog Power BI Connectivity 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.

Accessing the Data Catalog in Nestle

To access the data catalog simply go to Home | Alation (nestle.com). You need to be
connected to the VPN to access the Data Catalog.

Here you can search and find data sets, tables, columns, knowledge articles, reports,
queries, visualizations, data conversations, and more.

View the “Introduction to the Data Catalog” video to get started.

For more information, visit the Welcome to Data Catalog @Nestlé site.
Data Catalog Cookbook - Data Catalog cookbook.pptx

September 19, 2023 2

 Data Catalog Power BI Connectivity Guide

Connecting to Microsoft POWER BI at Nestlé

Adding content from Power BI to the Data Catalog is relatively simple. The Metadata
Extraction is done at a Workspace level.
View the “Connecting Power BI Artifacts to the Data Catalog” video for the steps.

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).

September 19, 2023 3

 Data Catalog Power BI Connectivity Guide

Requesting the Steward Role

Once your Power BI Workspace has been added to the Data Catalog, you will need to “curate” the
Workspace, Dashboards, Reports, and Datasets. You will need to be granted the “Steward” role in
the Data Catalog to do this.

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:

(1) Select the “Change user access permissions” option.

(2) Select “Steward” for the role.
(3) Check that approvals have been added.
(4) Add the approvals as attachments.
(5) Click “Submit” (5) to process the request.

Curating Your Power BI Artifacts

Once your Workspace has been added to the Data Catalog and you have the Steward role
you can curate your assets from Power BI. Curation is the process of populating, checking,
and refining the attributes of an asset to provide users with greater trust through insight and
knowledge.
View the “Data Curation Process” video for the steps.

September 19, 2023 4

 Data Catalog Power BI Connectivity Guide

Checking the Metadata & Curation Standard

The Metadata & Curation Standard defines what will be curated in the Nestle Data Catalog
and why. Metadata standards are related to the completeness, timeliness, and accuracy of
the metadata in the catalog that represents the actual assets. They are foundational and
provide guidance for target standards and role responsibilities.

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.

Data Catalog Learning & Training

For further learning there is a large amount of training material available. Links to these
training materials can be found below

1. Getting Started | Alation (nestle.com) (You need to be connected to the VPN)

2. Data Catalog Fundamentals Training - Nestle USA | Alation (Duration: 90 Minutes)

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.

4. Alation University : Alation University | Alation (nestle.com)

September 19, 2023 5

 Data Catalog Power BI Connectivity Guide

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.

• Dataflows are not supported.

“Nestle Power BI v2” - New Connector

 The new connector does not support Report Pages. This will impact solutions like the IT
Performance Workspace.

 Dataflows are not supported but is on Microsoft’s Roadmap.

 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.

September 19, 2023 6