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The Cognite Data Fusion 3D Visual uses Cognite’s Reveal 3D library to embed industrial asset models in your dashboards. You can navigate and select model components to connect your Power BI data with physical asset locations for enhanced spatial analysis.
Power BI model viewer

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Before you start

Make sure you have:
  • Access to a CDF project with permissions to view 3D models
  • An active CDF license that allows token acquisition
  • Power BI Desktop installed.
To use this visual, your 3D models must be stored in CDF using Cognite’s asset-centric data models. Models stored in CDF core data models are not yet supported.

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Step 1: Configure Microsoft Entra ID permissions

This allows the Power BI visual to securely connect to your CDF project.
This step requires administrator permissions and is a one-time setup per tenant.
1

Prepare two consent URLs by replacing the placeholders with your information

  • Replace TENANTID with your tenant ID (found in Azure Portal > Microsoft Entra ID > Overview)
  • Replace CLUSTER with your Cognite cluster name
First URL:
https://login.microsoftonline.com/<TENANTID>/adminconsent?client_id=https://powerbivisual.cognitedata.com
Second URL:
https://powerbivisual.cogniteapp.com/consent?tenantid=<TENANTID>&cluster=<CLUSTER>
2

Grant permissions

Open both URLs in your browser and sign in with an admin account to grant permissions.

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Step 2: Add data to your report

1

Prepare your data set

Prepare a data set that you’ll connect to your Power BI report. It should include the following 3D model information:
  • Model name (string) — the name of the 3D model
  • Model ID (number) — the unique identifier for the model in CDF
  • Revision ID (number) — the revision identifier for the model
2

Connect to data

Select Get data from the Home ribbon in Power BI to connect to data. Once you load the data to the report, it’s visible in the Data pane.

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Step 3: Add the 3D visual to your report

1

Open the Visualizations pane

In your Power BI report, select More options (…) in the Visualizations pane.
2

Add Cognite Data Fusion 3D Visual to your report

  • Option 1: Import from local file
  • Option 2: Download from AppSource
Import the visual from a local .pbiviz file.
  1. Select Import a visual from a file.
  2. Browse to your file location and select it.
  3. Confirm the import when prompted.
3

Activate the visual

Select the new visual icon in the Visualizations pane to use this visual in the report.

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Step 4: Authenticate with CDF

Connect the visual to your CDF project.
1

Start the authentication process

Select Get Started on the landing page.
2

Enter your credentials

In the authentication dialog, enter your CDF project name and cluster name.
3

Complete authentication

Select OK to authenticate.
If authentication fails, verify that your CDF project name and cluster name are correct, and that your access token is valid.

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Step 5: Bind the data

1

Bind data fields

From the Data pane, drag Model name, Model ID, and Revision ID to the visual’s Filters section.
If your data set doesn’t have these fields, or they are incomplete, you can browse and select models manually using the Show model list icon in the 3D toolbar.
2

Verify that the model loads

After binding the data, verify that the visual loads the specified 3D model in the viewer.

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Step 6: Interact with the 3D viewer

Once a 3D model is loaded, you can navigate and interact with it using the viewer’s toolbar. Toolbar features
  • Filter the list of available 3D models
  • Analyze and measure objects
  • View node properties of the selected CAD model components

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Troubleshooting

Find information to help you troubleshoot common issues.
If the authentication fails or you cannot acquire a token:
1

Verify license permissions

Verify your CDF license includes token acquisition permissions.
2

Refresh your access token

Check if your access token has expired:
  1. Sign out of Power BI.
  2. Sign back in to generate a new token.
If the visual displays No data available:
1

Verify data set columns

Check that your data set includes Model ID and Revision ID columns.
2

Verify data binding

Ensure the data is bound to the visual.
If you see a server error message:
1

Check cluster status

Verify the CDF cluster is operational.
2

Re-authenticate with CDF

  1. Select Get Started in the visual.
  2. Enter your credentials again.

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More information