PBIR Tools CLI
The pbir CLI edits Power BI reports in PBIR format from the terminal: visuals, formatting, validation and Fabric publishing
- 334 ★ on the repository
- Last commit
Broad access
Why this level
- Commands write and delete report files, and the `-f` flag enables bulk irreversible edits
- `pbir publish` pushes the report to a Microsoft Fabric workspace and changes what colleagues see
Install
- Works in
In your terminal, with SkillFoxx CLI
npx skillfoxx add cli/pbir-toolsDetects the agents on your machine, shows the access level and pins the version.
Other ways to install
Access and checks
How we reviewBroad accessThe tool can change data, run commands or handle secrets.
- Commands write and delete report files, and the `-f` flag enables bulk irreversible edits
- `pbir publish` pushes the report to a Microsoft Fabric workspace and changes what colleagues see
This is third-party code. Review the repository files before installing.
What it does
PBIR Tools adds a `pbir` command to the terminal for Power BI reports in PBIR format, that is, reports stored as folders of files. Commands browse the structure (`pbir ls`, `pbir tree`, `pbir model`), add visuals (`pbir add visual card`), bulk-edit formatting (`pbir set ... --value 14 -f`), validate a report (`pbir validate`) and publish it to Microsoft Fabric (`pbir publish`). A path inside a report reads `Report.Report/Page.Page/Visual.Visual`. An agent such as Claude Code, Codex or GitHub Copilot calls the same commands instead of hand-editing JSON. The authors published a separate set of skills, plugins and hooks for it in the power-bi-agentic-development marketplace, which teaches work with reports, semantic models, themes, DAX and Fabric. Before large edits `pbir backup` saves a copy of the report. The project is in beta: the developer advises copying the folder by hand and running `pbir validate` after every change. Installers for macOS and Windows are on the releases page.
Who it is for. Analysts and BI developers who keep Power BI reports in PBIR format and hand routine work to an agent: formatting dozens of visuals, validation, publishing.
Good fit when
- Title font size has to be set on every visual of a report in one pass
- An agent adds a card to a report page, binds fields and checks the result with `pbir validate`
- The report lives in Git, and edits are easier by script than with a mouse in Power BI Desktop
- A finished report gets published to a Fabric workspace from the terminal
Not a fit when
- The report is stored as PBIX without conversion to PBIR: the CLI works with PBIR folders
- You need a commercial license: the project ships under custom terms for non-commercial use only
- Edits are bulk and there is no backup: the project is in beta
- The task is about a semantic model and DAX: the authors point to skills from the marketplace for that
Example request
With pbir, back up the Sales.Report report, set title font size to 14 on all visuals and run validateLimitations
- The project is in beta: bulk formatting, conversion, merge and publish can corrupt a report, so copy the folder in advance.
- The license is custom and commercial use is not allowed.
- The repository holds documentation, the CLI source code is not published there; the program installs from PyPI or an installer.
- The macOS and Windows installer may be unsigned, and the system will ask for confirmation at launch.
How to disable. `uv tool uninstall pbir-cli` or `pip uninstall pbir-cli`. Marketplace plugins are removed with `/plugin` in the agent. Native installers are removed with the operating system's tools.
FAQ
How do I install pbir?
With `uv tool install pbir-cli` or `pip install pbir-cli`, then `pbir --version` in a new terminal. Installers for macOS and Windows are on the releases page.
Which agents work with pbir?
Claude Code, Codex and GitHub Copilot call the CLI themselves. Skills install from the marketplace: `claude plugin marketplace add data-goblin/power-bi-agentic-development` for Claude Code and `copilot plugin install data-goblin/power-bi-agentic-development` for Copilot CLI.
Is it safe to let an agent run pbir publish?
Publishing and bulk edits change the report, so the developer treats `pbir publish`, `convert`, `merge` and `split` as the most delicate operations. Have the agent run `pbir backup` before editing and allow `pbir publish` separately.
What does pbir validate check?
The command runs a health check of the report. The README calls it a required step after every change.
How do I edit many visuals at once?
With `pbir set` and a path mask plus a value: `pbir set "Sales.Report/**/*.Visual.title.fontSize" --value 14 -f` changes the title font size on every visual of the report. The `-f` flag enables bulk irreversible edits.
Discussion
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Comparison with similar tools
Cards that share the main search query, and how they differ.
| Tool | Official | Authentication | Repository stars | Main difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PBIR Tools (this card) | no | 334 | ||
| pbi-cli | no | 487 | a CLI and 13 skills for data models, DAX and report pages from Claude Code, while pbir works on PBIR report folders | |
| Power BI Authoring MCP Server | yes | OAuth | 1,265 | Microsoft's MCP server for semantic models, while pbir edits report files |
README in short
The README opens with a beta warning and a link to the skills marketplace. Then come installation, a quick start of seven commands, a section on agents, a documentation table, safety rules and a disclaimer.