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PBI Port Wrapper v0.3.0

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@pschaer pschaer released this 01 Dec 19:46
· 43 commits to main since this release
v0.3.0
86c73a6

Major Upgrade: Codebase Refactoring, System Tray & Professional Polish! 🚀

What is PBI Port Wrapper?

A TCP port forwarding proxy that provides stable port access to Power BI Desktop, solving the dynamic port problem for Excel and external tools like DAX Studio and Tabular Editor.

✨ New in v0.3.0

  • System Tray Integration - Minimize to the system tray for unobtrusive background operation.
  • Instant Detection - New FileSystemWatcher implementation detects Power BI instances instantly (no more polling delays!).
  • Professional UI - Polished interface with a new application logo and improved layout.
  • Copy Connection String - One-click button to copy the connection string for immediate use.
  • External Tool Support - Register as a Power BI External Tool for easy launch from the ribbon.
  • Structured Logging - Comprehensive, rotating logs for better diagnostics and troubleshooting.

🚀 Features

  • Stable Port Forwarding - Fixed port numbers that don't change.
  • Automatic Detection - Finds running Power BI Desktop instances automatically.
  • Local Connections - Full Windows Authentication support.
  • Remote Connections - Network access with explicit credentials.
  • Activity Logging - Real-time connection monitoring and file logging.
  • Simple UI - Easy-to-use interface with minimal configuration.

📥 Installation

  1. Download PBIPortWrapper-v0.3.0-win-x64.zip below.
  2. Extract the ZIP file.
  3. Run PBIPortWrapper.exe.
  4. No additional software required - .NET runtime is included!

⚡ Quick Start

  1. Start Power BI Desktop and open a model.
  2. Launch PBI Port Wrapper.
  3. The application will automatically detect running instances.
  4. Assign a fixed port (or use the default) for your instance.
  5. Toggle the Start switch to start port forwarding.
  6. Connect from your tool using localhost:<FixedPort>.

📖 Documentation

See README.md for complete documentation, including:

  • How to connect from Excel (local and remote)
  • How to connect from DAX Studio and Tabular Editor
  • Firewall configuration for network access
  • Configuration options

⚠️ Known Limitations

  • Database name changes when Power BI Desktop restarts - requires reconnection.
  • No automatic reconnection if Power BI crashes.
  • "Auto" mode restart behavior: If you manually stop a proxy while "Auto" is enabled, it may restart on the next poll. Workaround: Disable "Auto" before stopping.

📄 License

MIT License - see LICENSE.txt

Questions? Issues? Open an issue on GitHub or start a discussion!

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