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How to Connect Power BI to the Project Insight REST API

Steve West
  • Updated

Project Insight allows teams to connect Power BI to the Project Insight REST API so they can retrieve Project Insight data for reporting and analysis. To create the connection, combine the Project Insight REST API base URL with the endpoint for the data you want, then authenticate the Power BI web connection with a Project Insight API token.

Best for: Project Insight administrators, reporting specialists, analysts, and teams that want to use Project Insight data in Power BI dashboards or business intelligence reports.

What does connecting Power BI to Project Insight help teams accomplish?

Connecting Power BI to the Project Insight REST API allows teams to retrieve Project Insight data and use it as a Power BI data source.

Project Insight does this by making project information available through REST API endpoints. Power BI can call the appropriate endpoint, authenticate with an API token, and return the requested data for further reporting and analysis.

In the example shown in the video, Power BI retrieves data for all active projects.

What do you need before connecting Power BI to Project Insight?

Before beginning, make sure you have:

  • Access to Power BI
  • Access to the REST API Add-On in Project Insight
  • The Project Insight REST API base URL
  • The REST API endpoint for the data you want to retrieve
  • A Project Insight API token

You must also have permission to view or create an API token in the Project Insight REST API Add-On.

How do you start a REST API connection in Power BI?

  1. Open Power BI.
  2. Select Get Data.
  3. Choose Web as the data source.
  4. Select the Advanced connection option.

The Advanced connection settings allow you to enter the Project Insight REST API address and the API token required to authenticate the connection.

 

Where do you find the Project Insight REST API base URL?

  1. Sign in to Project Insight.
  2. Open the REST API Add-On.
  3. Locate the field labeled REST API Base URL.
  4. Copy the URL.

The base URL identifies the Project Insight REST API environment that Power BI will connect to.

How do you choose the REST API endpoint?

The endpoint identifies the specific type of Project Insight data that Power BI should request.

  1. Open the Project Insight REST API references.
  2. Find the section for the type of data you want to retrieve.
  3. Expand the appropriate endpoint category.
  4. Locate the endpoint for the requested data.
  5. Copy the endpoint.

For example, to retrieve active project data, open the project endpoint section and locate the endpoint for active projects.

How do you combine the base URL and endpoint in Power BI?

Return to the Advanced web connection settings in Power BI.

  1. Paste the Project Insight REST API base URL into the URL field.
  2. Add the selected endpoint to the end of the base URL.
  3. Confirm that the base URL and endpoint form one complete REST API request address.

The completed address tells Power BI both where the Project Insight REST API is located and which data it should request.

Where do you find or create the Project Insight API token?

The API token authenticates the request and allows Power BI to connect to Project Insight.

  1. Return to the REST API Add-On in Project Insight.
  2. Locate an existing API token or create one if necessary.
  3. Select View Token.
  4. Copy the token.

In the video example, an existing token named PowerBI Demo is used.

Treat API tokens as sensitive credentials. Do not include them in screenshots, public documentation, shared messages, or unsecured files.

[SCREENSHOT PLACEHOLDER: REST API Add-On showing the API token list, with token values hidden — video timestamp 02:00]

[SCREENSHOT PLACEHOLDER: View Token option, with the actual token obscured — video timestamp 02:08]

How do you add the API token in Power BI?

In the Power BI Advanced web connection settings:

  1. Locate the HTTP request header section.
  2. Add the API token header required by Project Insight.
  3. Paste the copied token into the header value field.
  4. Select OK to start the connection.

 

What happens after Power BI connects to the REST API?

After you select OK, Power BI sends the request to the Project Insight REST API.

When the request address and API token are valid, Power BI returns the data provided by the selected endpoint. In the video example, the resulting data includes the active projects available through the active projects endpoint.

You can then continue working with the returned data in Power BI.

What should you check if Power BI does not return Project Insight data?

Check the following:

Is the REST API base URL correct?

Copy the base URL directly from the Project Insight REST API Add-On. An incomplete or incorrect base URL will prevent Power BI from reaching the API.

Did you add the correct endpoint?

Make sure the endpoint matches the data you want to retrieve and has been added to the end of the base URL.

Is the API token entered correctly?

Copy the token directly from Project Insight and confirm that it was entered in the correct Power BI header field.

Is the token still available?

Confirm that the API token still appears in the Project Insight REST API Add-On and that you have permission to use it.

Are you using the Advanced web connection settings?

The Advanced option is needed to enter both the REST API request address and the authentication header described in this process.

For additional assistance, contact Project Insight Support.

What common mistakes should you avoid?

  • Do not enter only the REST API base URL without adding an endpoint.
  • Do not choose an endpoint that returns a different type of data than the report requires.
  • Do not paste the API token into the URL field.
  • Do not expose an API token in screenshots, recordings, emails, or public documentation.
  • Do not manually retype long URLs or tokens when they can be copied directly.
  • Do not assume the active projects endpoint is required for every report. Select the endpoint that matches the data you need.

In short, how does the connection work?

Power BI connects to Project Insight by sending a web request to a Project Insight REST API endpoint. The request uses:

  • The Project Insight REST API base URL
  • An endpoint identifying the requested data
  • An API token that authenticates the connection

Project Insight does this by converting the selected API request into structured data that Power BI can retrieve and use for dashboards, reporting, and further analysis.

Related questions

Can Power BI retrieve active projects from Project Insight?

Yes. The video demonstrates selecting the active projects endpoint and using it to return active Project Insight project data in Power BI.

Do I need an API token to connect Power BI to Project Insight?

Yes. The process shown requires a Project Insight API token to authenticate the Power BI REST API request.

Where is the REST API base URL located?

The REST API base URL appears near the top of the Project Insight REST API Add-On.

Where can I find available Project Insight REST API endpoints?

Available endpoints are documented in the Project Insight REST API references.

[LINK PLACEHOLDER: Project Insight REST API references]

Can I retrieve data other than active projects?

The active projects endpoint is one example. Select the endpoint in the Project Insight REST API references that corresponds to the type of data you want Power BI to retrieve.

Can I reuse an existing API token?

The video uses an existing API token. Confirm that the token is available and appropriate for the connection before using it.

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