Hi, I'm Tom Blessing. I'm an expert at helping small to mid-sized companies adopt Power BI. I'm also a recovering investment banker, with deep experience applying technology to otherwise manual data problems. I have dual degrees in Finance and Technology Management from Indiana University.

My hardware setup, available on Amazon: Acer Monitor, Dell Precision Workstation, Logitech Mouse, Canon Printer. I earn a small commission if you purchase.

One of the lesser-known but incredibly powerful features of Power BI is the Model View.

Model View provides a detailed and structured representation of the data model behind your reports.

While Model View is primarily a tool for developers and advanced users, knowing how to print or export it can be beneficial for documentation, collaboration, and troubleshooting purposes.

The bad news is that there isn't a way to directly print this from Power BI. So, the easiest approach is to screenshot Model View and then paste it into Power Point for archival purposes. By the way, if you're trying to learn more Power BI basics, here's a cool DataCamp course to help. Introduction to Power BI. I earn a small commission if you click and purchase.

Understanding Model View

Let's briefly understand what Model View is and why it's valuable:

1. Data Model Visualization: Model View is a visual representation of your Power BI data model. It displays tables, relationships, and measures in a structured manner, making it easier to comprehend complex data models. You can navigate to it by clicking on the third icon on the left pane of your desktop window. 

2. Development and Debugging: Model View is an indispensable tool for developers and data modelers. It helps in designing, optimizing, and troubleshooting data models.

3. Documentation: Exported Model Views can serve as documentation for your data model, allowing you to share insights with colleagues or future collaborators.

Now, let's screenshot Model View in Power BI:

Unfortunately, Power BI doesn't provide a direct option to print Model View. However, you can take a screenshot of the Model View and then print the screenshot using your printer.

Here's how:

1. Open Model View: In Power BI Desktop, go to the "Model" tab. Click on "Model View" to open the Model View window.

2. Capture a Screenshot: Ctrl + Prt Scrn (if you only have 1 screen) or Ctrl + Alt + Prt Scrn if you have multiple screens and only want to capture the active one. 

3. Save and Paste: Paste the screen shot into Power Point using Ctrl + V. Format it like you would format any picture in Power Point and then hit Print or Save!

Conclusion

Archiving Model View in Power BI can be a valuable resource for developers, data modelers, and anyone working with complex data models.

Whether you need to document your data model, collaborate with colleagues, or troubleshoot issues, knowing how to capture and export Model View can enhance your Power BI experience and help you make the most of this powerful business intelligence tool.