By Bharath Moola, HEXstream Data Solutions Engineer

Organizations leveraging Oracle Analytics Cloud (OAC) often seek to integrate with Microsoft Power BI for enhanced visualization and self-service analytics. This blog outlines efficient ways to connect these platforms for seamless data analysis.

Using RPD in Power BI

Oracle Analytics Cloud utilizes the Repository Database (RPD) as a metadata layer to structure and manage data models. RPD plays a critical role in integrating OAC with Power BI by defining the logical relationships between data sources and ensuring seamless connectivity. By leveraging RPD, users can create subject areas, define calculations, and
establish security constraints before exposing the data to Power BI.

Connecting Power BI to an RPD-enabled data source requires setting up an Oracle BI Server ODBC connection. Once configured, Power BI can access subject areas and logical tables designed in the RPD. This approach ensures that the predefined business logic and calculations embedded in the RPD are retained, providing a consistent analytical experience across both platforms. Additionally, using RPD allows organizations to manage role-based
security and data access policies centrally, ensuring compliance with governance standards.

To integrate the RPD with Power BI:

• Configure Oracle BI ODBC drivers and set up connection details within Power BI.
• Fetch structured data from OAC’s logical model.
• Build Power BI reports without modifying the source structure.

This method is especially useful for organizations managing large and complex datasets, ensuring that data remains structured and governed efficiently.

Prerequisites

• Microsoft Power BI Desktop must be up to date:

• Oracle Analytics Cloud should be running:

• Download the latest version of the Oracle Analytics Power BI Connector:

Place the latest MEZ file in the following location for your user: ( c: users/<username>/Power Bi desktop/customconnections):

Steps to Connect Oracle Analytics Cloud to Power BI

In Power BI Desktop: Click on Options and Settings:

Under GLOBAL > Security: Select (Not Recommended) Allow any extension to load without validation or warning:

Adjust memory settings:

Under GLOBAL > Data Load, set the value for Maximum memory used per
simultaneous evaluation (MB) based on your machine’s available memory:

Obtain Power BI API Key from OAC

Log in to OAC > Navigate to User Profile > Copy the Power BI API Key:

Log in to Power BI desktop > Get Data > Search for Oracle Analytics >Select Oracle analytics (Beta) > Paste the API Key in Power BI when prompted:

Authenticate with OAC and complete the login process:

Click Connect.

Accessing Subject Areas in Power BI

Once connected, the screen below will be displayed:

Example: Power BI Dashboard Built Using OAC Subject Areas

Integrating OAC with Power BI using RPD ensures a seamless transition of pre-modeled data while maintaining governance, security, and analytical consistency. By leveraging OAC’s logical layer, professionals can extract meaningful insights without compromising data integrity. With the right configurations, Power BI serves as a powerful front-end visualization tool while OAC manages backend data processing and modeling.

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