# Integrating Endpoint Central Cloud with Power BI Desktop

## Introduction

The Endpoint Central Custom Connector enables users to fetch and analyze data from Endpoint Central Cloud directly within Power BI Desktop. This integration allows administrators to build powerful visualizations and reports using endpoint management data from their Endpoint Central environment.

This document provides step-by-step guidance on integrating Endpoint Central Cloud with Power BI Desktop using the Endpoint Central Custom Connector to retrieve and visualize data.

## Table of contents

1. [Prerequisites](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/integrating-endpoint-central-cloud-with-power-bi.html#prerequisites)
2. [Integration Steps](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/integrating-endpoint-central-cloud-with-power-bi.html#integration-steps)
3. [Handling Exponential Data Format](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/integrating-endpoint-central-cloud-with-power-bi.html#handling-exponential-data)
4. [Saving and Creating Dashboards](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/integrating-endpoint-central-cloud-with-power-bi.html#saving-and-dashboards)
5. [Troubleshooting Steps](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/integrating-endpoint-central-cloud-with-power-bi.html#troubleshooting)

## Prerequisites

1. Enable the Power BI Desktop option to bypass custom connector trust verification:
   1. Open **Power BI Desktop**.
   2. Go to **File > Options > Security**.
   3. Enable the option "*Allow any extension to load without validating or warning*."

[![Power BI security settings screenshot](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/images/ec-power-bi-1.png)](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/images/ec-power-bi-1.png)

## Integration Steps

1. Download the [Endpoint Central Connector file](https://workdrive.zohoexternal.in/external/d541a74c45514ae52054074f9a7ef270847008fd403628d78ec10f82233ef6df). (SHA Checksum: b13e7313725d16fa4e68ea51e938219a862398bc6e05a8132c0531f225801e77)
2. Move the downloaded file to the following directory:  
   *<Your Documents Folder>\Power BI Desktop\Custom Connectors*

   **Example**

   Example: *C:\Users\Administrator\Documents\Power BI Desktop\Custom Connectors*

   Create a folder named *Custom Connectors* if it does not already exist.
3. Close and reopen Power BI Desktop to load the connector.
4. In Power BI Desktop, go to *Get Data*, search for **EndpointCentral**, and click **Connect**.

[![Power BI Get Data screenshot](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/images/ec-power-bi-2.png)](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/images/ec-power-bi-2.png)

5. Select your domain based on your Endpoint Central Data Center and click **OK**.

[![Power BI select domain screenshot](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/images/ec-power-bi-3.png)](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/images/ec-power-bi-3.png)

6. Click **Sign In**, log in using your Endpoint Central account credentials, and click **Accept** to grant permissions.
7. Once authenticated, click **Connect** to proceed.
8. The connector will list all available modules for your account. Expand the drop-down list and select the required tables under each module.
9. A sample data preview will appear in the right-hand pane for verification.

[![Power BI data preview screenshot](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/images/ec-power-bi-4.png)](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/images/ec-power-bi-4.png)

## Handling Exponential Data Format

Some columns may display data in exponential format. To make these values readable, use one of the following methods:

### Option 1: During “Transform Data”

1. Identify the affected column in the data preview window and click **Transform Data**.

[![Power BI transform data screenshot](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/images/ec-power-bi-5.png)](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/images/ec-power-bi-5.png)

2. In the Power Query Editor, select the column, go to **Data Type**, and choose **Whole Number**.
3. Click **Apply & Close**.

[![Power BI apply and close screenshot](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/images/ec-power-bi-6.png)](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/images/ec-power-bi-6.png)

### Option 2: After Data Load

1. In the **Table View**, select the column.
2. Go to **Column Tools > Data Type** and select **Whole Number**.

[![Power BI data type selection screenshot](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/images/ec-power-bi-7.png)](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/images/ec-power-bi-7.png)

**Note:** This is a one-time action. Once updated, Power BI will retain the data type even after future refreshes.

## Saving and Creating Dashboards

1. Use the imported data to create [custom reports and dashboards](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/create-reports/index.html) in Power BI.
2. Go to *File > Save* and store your project as a **.pbix** file for future use.

## Troubleshooting Steps

### Ensure Latest Power BI Desktop Version

Verify that you are using the most recent version of Power BI Desktop.

### Enable Diagnostic Logging

1. Open Power BI Desktop.
2. Go to *File > Options and settings > Options > Diagnostics*.
3. Check **Enable tracing** and enable all **Diagnostics** levels and **Additional Diagnostics** options.

[![Power BI diagnostics settings screenshot](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/images/ec-power-bi-8.png)](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/images/ec-power-bi-8.png)

4. Click **Collect Diagnostic Information** and choose **Restart with Tracking** when prompted.

[![Power BI collect diagnostic information screenshot](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/images/ec-power-bi-9.png)](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/images/ec-power-bi-9.png)

5. After restarting, confirm that all selected options remain active.

### Reproduce the Error

1. Go to *File > Options and settings > Data Source Settings*.
2. Clear all existing permissions.
3. Repeat the steps that trigger the error to generate logs.

### Locate Trace Logs

1. Navigate to the Traces folder:  
   `%LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Power BI Desktop\`
2. Zip the **Traces** folder.

### Collect Diagnostic Information

1. Go to *File > Options and settings > Options > Diagnostics > Collect Diagnostic Information*.
2. Choose the destination folder for the zip file.
3. Power BI will create a file named **PBIDesktopDiagnosticInfo.<Date>.zip** in the selected location.
4. Share both the trace and diagnostic zip files with the [Endpoint Central Cloud support team](mailto:endpointcentralcloud-support@manageengine.com) for analysis.