Updated: 26/10/2025

Introduction

This guide explains how to connect Power BI to Qmarkets using the provided REST API template.
It enables you to import Qmarkets data directly into Power BI for analysis and visualization.

Who is this document for

Customers who already have Qmarkets API access and want to connect it to Power BI using the official Qmarkets Power BI template (.pbit).

API authentication

Power BI connects to Qmarkets through an API key.
Your Customer Success Manager or Qmarkets Support will provide both:

  • the secure API endpoint, and

  • a personal API key (token).

Keep this key private. Anyone with the key can access your data.

Impersonation (optional)

If your Qmarkets API access point allows “login as another user,” you can make API requests on behalf of a specific user.
This ensures that results are filtered and permissions are applied exactly as they would be for that user.

To use impersonation in Power BI:

  • Add the parameter

    request_by_user_email=<user@domain.com>

    to the Extra Params field in the template.

  • The email must belong to an active Qmarkets user.

  • If the user does not exist or is blocked, the system will fall back to the default access-point user.

  • If impersonation is disabled in your access point configuration, this parameter will be ignored.

Example:

subsystem_id=1&request_by_user_email=john.doe@yourcompany.com

Subsystems (optional)

If your environment contains multiple subsystems and your default URL leads to the “System Overview” page, include an extra parameter:

subsystem_id=<your ID>

in the Extra Params field.
If your setup has only one subsystem, you can ignore this parameter.

Power BI Integration

Get the template

You should receive a .pbit (Power BI Template) file from Qmarkets Professional Services.
Save it somewhere convenient (for example, your Desktop).

Open the template

  1. Double-click the .pbit file (or open it in Power BI Desktop via File ▸ Open).

  2. A Parameters window will appear.

  3. Populate the required fields according to the table below and click Load.

ParameterRequiredDefaultDescription
ApiKeyYes
Paste your personal API key (token). Keep it confidential.
ApiUrlYes
Full address of the Qmarkets REST API endpoint.
Example: https://yourdomain.qmarkets.net/api/v3/external/collections/ideas
MethodYesPOSTSelect POST or GET, depending on what the endpoint requires.
ExtraParamsNo
Optional advanced filters in the format key=value&key2=value2.
Example: subsystem_id=1&language=en. Leave blank for defaults.
CurrentPageYes0Which page of results to load. Use 0 for the first page, 1 for the next, 2 for the next, and so on. After changing this value, refresh to load that slice.
PageSizeYes200Number of rows to load per page (default 200). Larger values return more data per request but may take longer.



Tips:

  • See the Qmarkets REST API Reference for endpoint details.

  • You can update parameters anytime under Home ▸ Transform Data ▸ Manage Parameters.

Grant access

When the Access Web Content dialog appears:

  • Choose Anonymous (the template already sends your key in the header).

  • Click Connect.

Your data will load, and the table will appear in the Fields pane.

Explore your data

  • Numeric and date fields automatically format as numbers or dates.

  • Text fields act as categories.

  • Duplicate labels are auto-renamed (e.g. “Budget (2)”) to prevent clashes.

  • Any new fields added to the API will appear automatically on the next refresh.

Example visuals

VisualHow to build it
Ideas per MonthAdd a Clustered Column Chart → Drag Submission Date to Axis (use Month/Year hierarchy) → Drag ID to Values → Count.
Total Ideas by Idea Topic1 Transform Data → Select the Ideas table → Select Idea Topic column → Split Column by Delimiter (Comma) → Split into Rows → Trim → Close & Apply → Create a Bar Chart with Idea Topic on Axis and ID as Count.

Publish & schedule refresh (optional)

  1. From Power BI Desktop, choose Home ▸ Publish to send the report to your workspace.

  2. In the Power BI Service:

    • Go to Datasets ▸ Settings ▸ Parameters.

    • Edit the parameters (for example, change CurrentPage to 1 to load page 2).

    • Under Data source credentials, keep Anonymous and click Save.

    • Enable Scheduled refresh if you want it to run automatically.

Troubleshooting

IssueFix
401 / 403 UnauthorizedVerify that the API key is correct and that your user has permission for the endpoint.
Empty or missing fieldsClick Home ▸ Refresh. The template automatically adds new fields when the API returns them.
Numbers appear as textThe API may return formatted strings (“12 %”, “€5”). Contact Qmarkets Support if you need these parsed as numbers.
Only first page of data loadsCheck the CurrentPage and PageSize parameters. Each refresh retrieves the specific slice you request.
Want more pages automaticallyIncrease the CurrentPage value manually and refresh, or use scheduled refresh to rotate through pages if needed.

Security notice

  • Keep your ApiKey private—treat it like a password.

  • Qmarkets recommends assigning API keys with the least privileges required for your use case.

  • If you share this report, remove or replace the key before distributing the .pbix file.

Support

For assistance with API access, template updates, or endpoint configuration, contact support@qmarkets.net or your Customer Success Manager.