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maxanatsko

BI Systems Architect

"Constructing clarity from chaos."

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© 2026 Maxim Anatsko.

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Blog

Thoughts on data engineering, Swiss design philosophy, and building better software artifacts.

2026

January 26

I Tested 70 AI Models on DAX – Here's What Actually Works

A systematic benchmark of large language models on Power BI formula generation reveals which AI assistants are worth using—and why most of them fail on the same patterns.

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2025

November 29

Add Real Time Annotations with Native Writeback in Power BI

Data visualization is often about consuming information quickly. But what if you could do more than just observe trends? Adding annotations directly on your...

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November 21

Power BI Desktop MCP v2: Automate Semantic Models with AI

In this video I put my Power BI Desktop MCP server v2 to a real test: can an AI agent build a complete semantic model from scratch? Using Claude Code with...

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November 1

Power BI Desktop MCP 1.3 - Public Release

After a closed beta and a round of bug-fixes, v1.3.0 is now available for everyone. It’s an MCP server for Power BI Desktop that lets AI assistants (e.g.,...

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October 20

Easy ML Forecasting in Microsoft Fabric - Prophet Framework Tutorial

I see Finance teams spending days and weeks building Excel forecasts that break the moment business patterns shift. There's a better way. I just published a...

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September 8

AGENTIC Power BI Development USING MCP

I just demonstrated something in the new video that changes how we think about Power BI development workflows. Using MCP (Model Context Protocol), I...

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August 4

Why ChatGPT Gives Terrible Power BI Advice (3 Quick Fixes)

Getting generic, unhelpful responses when asking ChatGPT or other AI tools for Power BI and DAX help? The problem isn't the AI - it's the lack of context...

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June 23

How to Add Real-Time Annotations to Power BI Line Charts (No Custom Visuals Required)

There are 4 levels of analytics maturity: 1. Descriptive (what happened), 2. Diagnostic (why it happened),...

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May 21

Native Writeback in Power BI is FINALLY HERE!

After years of workarounds and third-party solutions, Microsoft has delivered what the Power BI community has been asking for - true native writeback...

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May 12

Stop Manual QA: Automated Unit Tests in Power BI

Stop manually testing your Power BI reports! This tutorial shows you how to create an automated unit testing system that runs daily and emails you the...

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April 21

Calculate Working Days in Power Query: Custom Function Tutorial

Master the calculation of working days in Power Query with this custom function tutorial! While Excel has NETWORKDAYS, Power Query lacks this capability out...

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April 7

Incremental Refresh for Non-Folding Data Sources in Power BI

Ever been told that incremental refresh in Power BI doesn't work with non-folding data sources? 🤔 In my latest tutorial, I demonstrate step-by-step how to...

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March 30

Generate synthetic data for Accounts Receivable

For those who would like to generate dummy/synthetic data for Accounts Receivable , use Python script below. It can be run in Google Collab notebook if you...

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March 24

Building Superior Heatmaps in Power BI with SVG 🔥

I have pushed these SVGs further than before, allowing for more customization: would like to have gradient? change one switch; would like to add sizing...

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March 14

TMDL Explorer: NEW POWER BI Tool

Since Microsoft introduced TMDL (Tabular Model Definition Language), I've been exploring practical applications beyond the obvious mass updates, adding...

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March 10

Stunning Progress Column Charts in Power BI (Step-by-Step Guide)

Build beautiful progress column charts in Power BI using SVG - no custom visuals required! In this tutorial, I'll show you how to create stylish vertical...

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February 24

Build Better Funnel Chart (No Custom Visuals!)

Elevate your Power BI dashboards with this stunning funnel chart - no custom visuals required! In this walkthrough, see how to make 3 distinct funnels - for...

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February 22

My Take on Power BI Theme EDITING!

The time has come to share a pet project I've been working on behind-the-scenes - my take on theme editing for Power BI. And let me tell you, throughout...

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February 9

1080P & 720P Grids for Power BI

Built-in gridlines and snap to grid features in Power BI are notoriously bad at helping users. For those who is as anal as I’m at aligning all of the...

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January 27

Variance column Chart (No Custom Visuals!)

Create a fully functional column variance chart in Power BI - without using any custom visuals. Discover how to set up the background, filter your data,...

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2024

December 23

Beautiful SVG Targets vs Actuals Indicators in Power BI (No Custom Visuals!)

Transform your Power BI reports with elegant SVG progress indicators! Learn how to build professional-looking actual vs target visualizations using native...

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December 20

Festive Animated Background for Your Power BI Reports

With Holidays around the corner, thought I would share animated SVG background I made, that can add a bit of festive mood to your reports. Assuming your...

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December 18

OLE DB or ODBC error: Exception from HRESULT: 0x80040E57

If you’re having “ OLE DB or ODBC error: Exception from HRESULT: 0x80040E57. “ error during refreshes, there is a solution. First of all, it’s always best...

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December 9

Globe Particle Cloud iN Power BI using Deneb and Vega-Lite

Have you ever wanted to create visually stunning, interactive visualizations in Power BI that go beyond the ordinary? In my latest YouTube video, I...

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November 25

supercharge your power bi development with automation!

As a data-driven manager, I'm always on the hunt for ways to optimize workflows and spend less time on repetitive tasks. Enter Tabular Editor...

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November 11

Create Stunning Candlestick Charts in Power BI || Deneb and Vega-Lite Tutorial

Elevate your data visualization skills by learning how to create stunning candlestick charts in Power BI using Deneb and Vega-Lite! This step-by-step...

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October 28

Unlock Stock Data in Power BI: Yahoo Finance’s Hidden Hack!

Unlock Apple Stock Data in Power BI using a hidden hack from Yahoo Finance! In this tutorial, I reveal a powerful workaround to import historical stock data...

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September 19

Compare 2 Tables for Mismatches with Power Query

Learn how to use Power Query and M code in Power BI to compare two tables and resolve mismatches in column names and data types. Whether you’re preparing to...

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September 2

Period Table in Power Query

Join me as I show you how to build a Period Table in Power Query to filter your data by Month-to-Date (MTD), Quarter-to-Date (QTD), Year-to-Date (YTD),...

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August 26

How to Add Custom KPI Icons to Power BI: Step-by-Step Guide

Today, I’m showing you how to take your Power BI reports to the next level by adding custom KPI icons! Learn how to edit the theme JSON file to incorporate...

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August 25

Solving Power BI Refresh Errors: Using RelativePath for JIRA API Integration

Integrating Power BI with JIRA API can greatly enhance data analysis and business intelligence tasks. However, many users encounter data refresh errors when...

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August 5

Fix 'Dynamic Data Source' Refresh Errors in Power BI Service with RelativePath

Join me as re-work M code for JIRA API extraction using RelativePath to allow data refresh within Power BI Service. If you’re tired of encountering "dynamic...

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July 28

Adding Dynamic Elements to Dumbbell Chart in Vega-Lite

Unlock the full potential of Deneb dumbbell charts in this detailed tutorial. I’ll show you how to add dynamic elements, highlight selected data points, and...

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July 22

Vertical Dumbbell Chart in Deneb

In this tutorial, I will guide you through building a custom vertical dumbbell chart in Power BI with Deneb and Vega-Lite. From setup to styling, learn how...

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July 8

Calculate Rolling 3-Month Average w/ Disconnected Date Table

In this detailed walkthrough, I address the challenge of calculating rolling 3-month averages in Power BI with a disconnected date table. Watch as I explain...

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June 30

Deneb Visuals Drilldown Hack

Join me as I walk you through a clever workaround to enable drilldown features in Deneb visuals, which don’t support drilldown/up or field parameters by...

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June 23

PBI’s Dynamic Formatting in Deneb Visual

Learn how to apply dynamic formatting to Deneb visuals in Power BI with this guide. I will walk you through the steps to make your data labels stand out and...

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June 2

Hills and Valleys Chart in Power BI: Step-by-Step

Join me in this step-by-step tutorial on how to use error bars in Power BI to create a Hills and Valleys chart. Learn how to visualize the difference...

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May 26

Optimize Power BI Models Fast with Tabular Editor’s Best Practices Analyzer

Join me as I show you how to leverage the Best Practices Analyzer in Tabular Editor to ensure your Power BI models are following best practices. Learn how...

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May 19

Version Control w/o Git for Power BI

Learn how to achieve effective version control using Microsoft Teams and SharePoint when Git is not available. I will guide you through setting it up and...

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May 5

Multi-Currency Support in Power BI

Join me as I delve into the complexities of handling multiple currencies in Power BI. This tutorial covers essential techniques to dynamically format...

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April 28

Dynamic Formatting Simplified

Join me as we dive into optimizing report maintenance in Power BI through centralized dynamic formatting. This video will teach you how to set up a...

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April 21

Ultimate Date Table for Power BI

Join me as I dive into creating the ultimate date table in Power BI using Power Query. This advanced guide is designed for those looking to enhance their BI...

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April 14

JIRA to Power BI Without Paid Connectors

Join me today as I show you how to pull data directly from JIRA into Power BI, simplifying your data management processes. Whether you're a project manager...

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March 29

Enrolling in Apple Developer Program in 2024: Post-DMA in EU

Join me, as I take a pivotal step towards publishing my first app on the App Store by enrolling in the Apple Developer Program. This video provides a...

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March 27

My iOS app is Out!

It’s official - my iOS app is out in the AppStore! 🎉 You can find more details here .

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March 22

Mastering Base64 Image Storage in Power BI for Enhanced Reports

Embark on this comprehensive tutorial with me as we master the technique of embedding images in Power BI using base64 encoding. This method ensures your...

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March 11

Extracting Data from Offset-Based APIs with Power BI & M Code

Join me in a step-by-step guide on extracting data from offset-based paginated APIs using only Power BI and the M language. I'll show you how to navigate...

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March 7

I made an iOS app | February 2024 Review

In February, I embarked on an unexpected detour in my app development and 100 Days of SwiftUI journey, veering into what's known as "tutorial hell". The...

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March 4

Extracting Paginated API DATA in power BI

Join me for this hands-on guide on leveraging Power BI's Power Query and M language for extracting data from page-based paginated APIs. This video is...

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February 26

Extracting Cursor-based API Data in Power BI Without External Tools

In this comprehensive guide, I delve into the intricacies of cursor-based APIs - a common method for accessing large datasets page by page. What makes this...

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February 21

Life in Squares: A Deneb and Vega Visualization Project in Power BI

Join me on a deeply personal journey as I explore the visualization of life expectancy data using Power BI, Deneb, and Vega. This video details my process...

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February 15

Interactive App-Like Buttons in Power BI

In the latest tutorial on Introverted Manager, I delve into enhancing your Power BI reports with interactive app-like buttons. This feature allows you to...

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February 11

A Practical Look at Linear Regression in Power BI for Budget Forecasting

In the realm of data analysis and business forecasting, linear regression stands as a pivotal tool, offering insights into future trends based on historical...

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February 8

Quick Guide: Enabling Developer Mode on iOS 17 for Xcode Testing

Hey everyone! My latest video is live on Introverted Manager YouTube channel. This time, I’m diving into how to get your iPhone ready for app testing with...

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February 4

Diving Deep into Swift Navigation and Budget Insights | Weekly Review ep.4

Hello-hello, fellow introverts and tech enthusiasts! Maxim here, bringing you another weekly review filled with Swift discoveries and budget musings. Let's...

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February 2

Mastering Complex Projects with Power BI: A Manager's Secret Weapon

As project managers, we're in the business of problem-solving. Every project throws a curveball or two (or ten), and it's our job to navigate these...

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January 29

Adding UserDefaults & Learning Animations | Weekly Review Ep.3

100 Days of SwiftUI: The Halfway Mark I'm on day 42 of the '100 Days of SwiftUI' challenge, and this week has been a mix of anticipation and realizations....

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January 22

Diving Into SwiftUI and Revealing My App Idea | Weekly review - ep. 2

Hello, hello, everyone! It’s time for another weekly catch-up. This week, I’m taking you deeper into my journey with Swift, a code review of my recent...

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January 15

Weekly Report - Ep.1

Learning Swift: A 100-Day Challenge Before diving into the Swift programming language, I sought advice from the Reddit iOS development community. The...

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January 9

From Project Manager to iOS Developer: Leap into iOS Development

With a solid 15-year tenure in IT and over seven years in project management, I've spent a considerable portion of my career bringing others' visions to...

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2023

December 23

Phuket & Madeira Photos

At the end of the year I had decided to give myself some time off and visited two countries - Thailand and Portugal. Thailand was planned quite...

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December 5

Days Lived vs Remaining

I had just published project that was on my mind for a long time. And it hit close to home. Lately I was reflecting about the choices made earlier in life,...

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December 5

Hello, World

Last time I had my own blog I was 20. Right now I’m 34. I grew, evolved, learned and changed plenty. It’s been hell of a ride. It’s time to go back to the...

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