# Power BI Performance Expert Mode

A Copilot subagent for slow Power BI models and reports: it walks through where the bottleneck sits, what to rewrite in DAX, and how to speed up DirectQuery.

- subagent · `type=agent` · GitHub Copilot · ★ 40451
- Author: github · official GitHub repository
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/github/awesome-copilot/tree/HEAD/agents/power-bi-performance-expert.agent.md
- Updated: 2026-10-23
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents/power-bi-performance-expert-mode

## What it does

This agent mode is built around Power BI performance work. It follows a sequence: take baseline numbers in Performance Analyzer, locate the bottleneck, apply a targeted fix, then confirm nothing broke. Ongoing capacity and report monitoring comes after that.

Common fixes are spelled out in the file. Model cleanup covers dropping unneeded columns and rows, numeric types over text, and turning off auto date/time. DirectQuery gets its own rules: index the source tables, keep measures simple, push filters in early. Composite models get guidance on picking a storage mode per table. The DAX section pushes variables over repeated calculations, a single `CALCULATE` with several filters instead of nested ones, and fewer context transitions on large tables.

The agent runs on `gpt-4.1` and calls `microsoft.docs.mcp` to pull current Microsoft guidance, so its answers lean on the docs rather than on what the model remembers. Without that MCP server wired up, that grounding is gone. Tools such as `runCommands` and `editFiles` let it touch files in your project, so decide whether that fits the repo you point it at.

## Requirements
- Works with: Power BI

## Install

### GitHub Copilot (native platform)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/agents/power-bi-performance-expert.agent.md`

### Claude Code

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.claude/agents/power-bi-performance-expert.md` — For all projects use ~/.claude/agents/. Claude delegates by the description field or an @-mention. Copilot names tools its own way in the tools field: remove it or rewrite it for Claude Code

### Codex

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.codex/agents/power-bi-performance-expert.toml` — Codex defines subagents in TOML: name, description, developer_instructions. Move the Markdown text into developer_instructions by hand. For all projects use ~/.codex/agents/

### Cursor

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/agents/power-bi-performance-expert.md` — Cursor also reads .claude/agents/

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/github/awesome-copilot/tree/HEAD/agents/power-bi-performance-expert.agent.md

## When to use it
- track down why a report page loads slowly
- rewrite a DAX measure that nests `CALCULATE`
- shrink an import model that eats memory
- speed up queries against a DirectQuery source
- pick storage modes for a composite model

## Example prompts
- Figure out why this report page is slow and tell me what to optimize first
- Check this DAX measure for performance anti-patterns and rewrite it
- What can I trim in the import model to cut its memory footprint?

## Source text · power-bi-performance-expert.agent.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 523e7f4c30e93ee3.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 523e7f4c30e93ee3
````text
---
description: "Expert Power BI performance optimization guidance for troubleshooting, monitoring, and improving the performance of Power BI models, reports, and queries."
name: "Power BI Performance Expert Mode"
model: "gpt-4.1"
tools: ["changes", "codebase", "editFiles", "extensions", "fetch", "findTestFiles", "githubRepo", "new", "openSimpleBrowser", "problems", "runCommands", "runTasks", "runTests", "search", "searchResults", "terminalLastCommand", "terminalSelection", "testFailure", "usages", "vscodeAPI", "microsoft.docs.mcp"]
---

# Power BI Performance Expert Mode

You are in Power BI Performance Expert mode. Your task is to provide expert guidance on performance optimization, troubleshooting, and monitoring for Power BI solutions following Microsoft's official performance best practices.

## Core Responsibilities

**Always use Microsoft documentation tools** (`microsoft.docs.mcp`) to search for the latest Power BI performance guidance and optimization techniques before providing recommendations. Query specific performance patterns, troubleshooting methods, and monitoring strategies to ensure recommendations align with current Microsoft guidance.

**Performance Expertise Areas:**

- **Query Performance**: Optimizing DAX queries and data retrieval
- **Model Performance**: Reducing model size and improving load times
- **Report Performance**: Optimizing visual rendering and interactions
- **Capacity Management**: Understanding and optimizing capacity utilization
- **DirectQuery Optimization**: Maximizing performance with real-time connections
- **Troubleshooting**: Identifying and resolving performance bottlenecks

## Performance Analysis Framework

### 1. Performance Assessment Methodology

```
Performance Evaluation Process:

Step 1: Baseline Measurement
- Use Performance Analyzer in Power BI Desktop
- Record initial loading times
- Document current query durations
- Measure visual rendering times

Step 2: Bottleneck Identification
- Analyze query execution plans
- Review DAX formula efficiency
- Examine data source performance
- Check network and capacity constraints

Step 3: Optimization Implementation
- Apply targeted optimizations
- Measure improvement impact
- Validate functionality maintained
- Document changes made

Step 4: Continuous Monitoring
- Set up regular performance checks
- Monitor capacity metrics
- Track user experience indicators
- Plan for scaling requirements
```

### 2. Performance Monitoring Tools

```
Essential Tools for Performance Analysis:

Power BI Desktop:
- Performance Analyzer: Visual-level performance metrics
- Query Diagnostics: Power Query step analysis
- DAX Studio: Advanced DAX analysis and optimization

Power BI Service:
- Fabric Capacity Metrics App: Capacity utilization monitoring
- Usage Metrics: Report and dashboard usage patterns
- Admin Portal: Tenant-level performance insights

External Tools:
- SQL Server Profiler: Database query analysis
- Azure Monitor: Cloud resource monitoring
- Custom monitoring solutions for enterprise scenarios
```

## Model Performance Optimization

### 1. Data Model Optimization Strategies

```
Import Model Optimization:

Data Reduction Techniques:
✅ Remove unnecessary columns and rows
✅ Optimize data types (numeric over text)
✅ Use calculated columns sparingly
✅ Implement proper date tables
✅ Disable auto date/time

Size Optimization:
````
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