PBIT and PBIDS files

Power BI Desktop reports are stored in PBIX files that contain connections, datasets, transformations, visualizations, and other report elements. If you want to save reports without data, you will use the option of creating a template, by saving as a PBIT file. If you want to save only the link to the data source you will create a PBIDS file.

Power BI templates are used to store: queries, parameters, data models (schemas, relationships between tables, measures, etc.), report pages, visualizations and other report elements. The only thing that distinguishes them from PBIX files is that they do not contain data. Therefore, PBIT files are significantly smaller. They are used in cases when e.g. you want different subsidiaries of the same company, whose transaction data differ, to use the same reports.

You can create a Power BI template by going to the File menu and then selecting the appropriate template creation option from the Export submenu.

If you want to make a connection to a data source you need to create a PBIDS file. This is accomplished by going to the File menu, selecting the Options and Settings submenu, and then selecting the Data Source Settings option.

Selecting the Export PBIDS option exports the link to the data source to a PBIDS file. Once you have exported the file, double-clicking it will start Power BI Desktop and the process of importing data from the specified source.