Connecting BIM Track API with Power BI Desktop

This article explains how to establish a connection to BIM Track API in Power BI Desktop, which is the first step in setting up the BIM Track and Power BI integration.

Please note that this article only applies to the connection between BIM Track and Power BI Desktop.

This article contains the following sections:

• Before you start
• Connect to BIM Track (advanced users)
• Get started using an existing template

Before you start

• First, you'll need an API access token (see Generate an API Access Token).
• Our Demo Project template allows you to explore different data visualization options. Using a template will require you to update the API access token and the parameters of each query (hubId, projectId, etc.). We also have a new Microsoft Power BI template in beta version. For more information, see Using the BIM Track Power BI Dashboard Template and BIM Track and Power BI integration.
• Advanced users can also create their own queries from Power BI and get the same information available through the API (see API Reference).
• While we provide support for the integration, we are not Power BI experts. If you wish for more in-depth assistance beyond connection and template samples, contact us.
• For more information on Power BI, see Power BI documentation.

Option 1 - Connect to BIM Track (advanced users)

1. If not already done, download Microsoft Power BI Desktop.
2. Open Power BI Desktop.
3. From the Home ribbon menu, in the External data panel, click the Get Data drop-down and select More….
4. In the Get Data dialog box, select Other, then Web, and then click Connect.
5. In the From Web dialog box, select the Advanced option. To get all the hubs you have access to, complete the fields as follows: 
   1. The first part of the URL in the URL parts section is the API base URL.
      Do not add anything else after https://api.bimtrackapp.co
   2. Add another part for /v3/hubs (Get all hubs). As you enter each part of the URL, the complete URL that will be used when you click OK is displayed in the URL preview box.
   3. In the HTTP request header parameters section, add the above key-value pair and replace <API_access_token> with your own API access token (e.g. Bearer <API_access_token>).
   4. If you do not see the Authorization header in the drop-down, click Add header.
      Always keep your access token private and communicate it only to legitimate stakeholders through secured channels.
6. Click OK.
7. The Access Web content dialog box appears. Leave everything as default (anonymous access) and click Connect.

After connecting, Power BI displays a list of your hubs.

Option 2 - Get started using an existing template

1. Download and open our Demo Project template (provided by our team) in Power BI Desktop.
2. From the Home ribbon menu, in the Queries panel, click the Transform data drop-down and select Transform data.
3. In the Power Query Editor, on the left, select a query.
4. The Query Settings menu will open to the right with the Applied Steps list. Select Source and then in the formula bar, replace the API access token and any other parameters with your own values.
   If you can not see the formula bar, click View > Layout panel > Formula bar check box.
5. Once you are done, click Edit Credentials.
6. The Access Web content dialog box appears. Leave everything as default (anonymous access) and click Connect.
7. You must edit each query in the template.