Intelligence FAQ

What is the difference between an Intelligence Sheet and a Planning Sheet?

• An Intelligence Sheet is a reporting layer that sits on top of a semantic model. It's designed for data visualization by using charts, matrices, KPI cards, Gantt charts, and filters. It doesn't support data entry or writeback.

• A Planning Sheet is where planning data is stored and edited. You use it to enter inputs, create forecasts, and write data back.

• The Intelligence Sheet reads data from the semantic model connected to the Plan app but doesn't write data back to it.

Do I need to create a new Plan app for every Intelligence Sheet?

No. You can create multiple Intelligence Sheets within the same Plan app, provided they use the same semantic model.

If you want to use a different semantic model, create a new Plan app that connects to that semantic model.

Does importing a PBIX file publish both a report and a semantic model?

Yes. Importing a PBIX file creates the following items in the Fabric workspace:

• A report.

• A semantic model.

When you create an Intelligence Sheet, you use the semantic model. If you don't need the report, you can delete it.

Can I reuse an existing semantic model connection for an Intelligence Sheet?

Yes. You can reuse an existing semantic model connection when connecting a semantic model to a Plan app. You don't need to create a new connection unless you want to use different connection settings.

What is the difference between Semantic Model and Excel / CSV on the Get Data page?

• Semantic Model creates a live connection to a published Power BI semantic model. The Intelligence Sheet reflects updates as the semantic model is refreshed.

• Excel / CSV imports data from a file. The imported data is static and doesn't update automatically when the source file changes.

What should I do if the semantic model doesn't appear in the connection dialog?

1. First, use the search option in the connection dialog to locate the semantic model.

2. If the semantic model still doesn't appear, verify that you have access to the workspace that contains the semantic model. If necessary, contact your administrator to confirm that the required workspace permissions are assigned.

How do I connect a semantic model to an Intelligence Sheet?

From the Data pane, select Add Semantic Model, choose the required semantic model, and then select Connect.

Can I use an existing semantic model in an Intelligence Sheet?

Yes. Intelligence Sheets connect directly to an existing semantic model to retrieve measures and dimensions for reporting.

How do I create an Intelligence Sheet?

On the Home tab, select New Intelligence Sheet.

How do I add a Matrix visual?

From the Visualization pane, select Matrix and add it to the canvas.

Which measures should I add to build a profit and loss (P&L) report?

Add the required measures, such as Actuals and Plan, to the Values section of the Matrix visual.

Which dimensions should I use to build a profit and loss (P&L) report?

Add the Account Hierarchy dimension to Rows and the Time dimension to Columns.

How do I apply the Financial template?

On the Matrix tab, select Templates, and then choose Financial.

What formatting does the Financial template apply?

The Financial template automatically applies the following formatting:

• Indentation.

• Subtotals.

• Bold formatting for parent rows.

Are bookmarks supported, similar to Power BI?

Yes. Intelligence Sheets support bookmarks that let you save and switch between different report states, including filters, selections, and visual configurations.

Can I apply filters at the visual, page, and report levels?

Yes. Intelligence Sheets support filters at the following levels:

• Visual

• Page

• Report

This allows you to control the data displayed throughout the report.

Are styling options such as borders and shadows available?

Yes. Intelligence Sheets provide a wide range of styling options, including:

• Borders

• Shadows

• Backgrounds

• Corner radius

• Padding

• Other formatting properties

Can I add shapes or buttons?

Yes. You can add and customize shapes and buttons to create interactive and visually appealing reports.

Can I add text boxes?

Yes. You can add text boxes anywhere on the canvas and customize them by using:

• Fonts

• Font sizes

• Colors

• Alignment

• Text formatting options

Can I apply themes, similar to Power BI?

Yes. Intelligence Sheets support themes to maintain a consistent look and feel across reports.

You can use themes to control:

• Colors

• Fonts

• Visual styling

• Formatting

Can I add or view comments for all visuals in an Intelligence Sheet?

Yes. You can add and view comments across all supported visuals in an Intelligence Sheet. Users also receive email notifications for new comments, enabling collaborative review and discussion.

Is Edit Interactions supported, similar to Power BI?

Yes. Intelligence Sheets support Edit Interactions, allowing you to control how visuals interact with one another.

You can configure interactions to:

• Filter

• Highlight

• Disable interactions between visuals

Can I share reports with other users?

Yes. You can share Intelligence Sheets through Power BI or Microsoft Fabric workspaces. Report access respects the configured user permissions and security settings.

Can I align and arrange visuals on the canvas?

Yes. Intelligence Sheets provide alignment, positioning, and sizing options to help you create pixel-perfect dashboard layouts.

Can I embed Planning and PowerTable visuals within an Intelligence Sheet?

Yes. You can embed Planning and PowerTable visuals within an Intelligence Sheet, allowing you to combine multiple visual types on a single interactive canvas for reporting and analysis.

Can I use measures from a Planning Sheet in an Intelligence Sheet?

Yes. You can use measures, calculated measures, and planning data from a Planning Sheet directly in an Intelligence Sheet.

This allows you to combine planning, reporting, and analytics in a single interactive report.

What is the difference between assigning a hierarchical dimension to the Rows data well versus adding individual dimension fields separately?

Dragging a hierarchy dimension adds the entire hierarchy in a single action, automatically inserting all hierarchy levels as nested rows. This approach is faster than adding each level individually and preserves the parent-child hierarchy.

What does the "Ragged Hierarchy" toggle under Format > Appearance actually control?

The Ragged Hierarchy toggle hides empty or blank child members within a hierarchy and shows only the relevant parent rows. This helps reduce unnecessary gaps in the table and makes the hierarchy easier to read.

What's the difference between "Fit to Header" and "Fit to Content" under Auto Fit?

Fit to Content widens each column to match its longest value so data isn't truncated. Fit to Header sizes the column to the header label, which can leave long values truncated.

Do measures need to be added in a specific order into Values, or does order not matter?

Order doesn't affect the underlying data. The Values data well holds measure columns shown side by side. The order chosen determines the left-to-right column order on the sheet.