Installation Guide for Power BI connector

Installation Guide for Power BI connector

The Power BI connector for BIMcollab allows you to extract statistical data from BIMcollab Cloud in order to create fully customizable dashboards for your BIM team. 
Note: The connector is currently in the process of being certified by Microsoft to be included as a standard connector with Power BI. In the meantime, it can be used by installing it manually by following the instructions in this article. 
  1. Download the Power BI Connector for BIMcollab here
  2. In Windows, copy the BIMcollab.mez file to the following folder: 
    Documents\Power BI Desktop\Custom Connectors 
    If the folder does not yet exist then create it



  3. Start Power BI Desktop
  4. Go to File > Options and settings > Options > Security  and enable 'Allow any extension to load without validation or warning'


  5. Close Power BI Desktop and start it again
  6. From the home screen, click the 'Get Data' button



  7. Select BIMcollab from the list 'Online Services', or use the search bar to quickly fins the correct connection



  8. Choose 'Connect'
  9. Enter the url of the space you want to connect to and press 'OK'


    It is not possible to connect with join.bimcollab.com. Only private BIMcollab Cloud spaces run the services needed to connect.
  10. If this is the first time you are connecting to the space or have not remained logged in, then Power BI will ask you to sign in.
    Press the Sign in button to go to the BIMcollab login screen



  11. Fill in your e-mail address and password of your BIMcollab account and press the Log in button



  12. The next screen will ask for your consent to allow Power BI to use the BIMcollab API services. Offline Access is required if you want Power BI to be able to refresh data without logging in again.
    Click 'Yes, allow' to continue.



  13. Once logged in you can click 'Connect' to load the list of projects with their available resources. Tick the checkboxes of all items you want to use in Power BI and then click 'Load' to start downloading the data

Issue data is available in all plans. History, or activity, data is only available in Connecter and Enterprise plans.

More information about using custom connectors can be found here:  https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/desktop-connector-extensibility  

    • Related Articles

    • Power BI On-Premises Data Gateway Setup Guide for BIMcollab

      In order to allow Power BI to perform scheduled refreshes on a BIMcollab data set when working with an on-premises BIMcollab space, it is necessary to locally install and configure an on-premises data gateway.  Log into your online Power BI space and ...
    • How to synchronize your BIMcollab space with the BIMcollab Power BI Dashboard Template

      This article explains how to connect our Power BI Dashboard template file to your BIMcollab Cloud space. The template is an example. Once you have connected the template, you can adapt and customize it to suit your needs.. The Power BI template file, ...
    • Why is the BIMcollab Power BI Connector not certified?

      Microsoft's certification program for Power BI connectors is restricted to more generic products who can demonstrate heavy data usage. BIMcollab does not yet meet that requirement. BIMcollab customers who wish to see our connector certified can post ...
    • Quick Start Guide BCF Manager Tekla Structures

      This Quick Start Guide describes the basic online workflow of the BCF Manager for Tekla. It will get you up and running in no time.  If you have not yet installed it,  download and install the BCF Manager for Tekla Structures here. Online workflow ...
    • Quick Start Guide BCF Manager Navisworks

      This Quick Start Guide describes the basic online workflow of the BCF Manager for Navisworks. It will get you up and running in no time.  The BCF Manager for Navisworks is available for Navisworks Manage and Simulate. If you have not yet installed ...