Customize the Default Dataset

October 22, 2020 By Mike Carlo

In the October 2020 release of Power BI desktop you have the ability to load a dataset from the splash page. For this tutorial we dig in on how Microsoft enables a default dataset. Additionally we show you how to customize the default dataset for your needs.

Quite often I need to prototype a visual, or work on some sample data to design a report. The very first step is always loading some sample data. Now that Power BI desktop comes with a default dataset, we leverage this feature to speed up our development process.

Watch the YouTube Video

Additional Thoughts

In this video I explain that the dataset does not auto load with datatypes enabled. This was due to my default setting within Power BI desktop. If you’d like you can make Power BI Desktop auto detect your datatypes for you.

This setting can be changed by the following steps:

Click on the File button
In the drop down menu, Click on the Options and Settings
In the menu on the right Click the button labeled Options
Under the Global section in the Options menu Select the item labeled Data Load
Change the Type Detection for loading data

Mar 25, 2026

Git Best Practices Diff Noise & Naming - Ep. 513

Mike and Tommy break down the Git habits that make pull requests easier to review, cleaner to merge, and less painful to maintain over time. If your team fights diff noise, inconsistent naming, and mystery changes buried in commits, this episode gives you a practical framework for cleaning that up.

Mar 20, 2026

Publish to Web vs. Embedded - Ep. 512

Mike and Tommy break down the real difference between Publish to Web and Power BI Embedded, and why mixing them up creates security and governance headaches fast. If you need to share reports outside your organization, this episode gives you the practical framework for choosing the right option without accidentally turning convenience into a data leak.

Mar 18, 2026

Scaling a Power BI Side Hustle - Ep. 511

Mike and Tommy break down what it actually takes to grow a Power BI side hustle from occasional freelance work into a repeatable consulting engine. If you're balancing client delivery, productized offers, and the reality of limited time, this episode gives you a sharper playbook for scaling without creating chaos.