Deploying a custom connector to Power BI Desktop

[jasonyeung87]

Hi,

I created a simple custom connector which queries an API for data. It works fine and I've compiled it. I followed the instructions on https://community.powerbi.com/t5/Community-Blog/Custom-Data-Connector-How-to-Deploy-and-Test/ba-p/86... to deploy the file.

However when I tried to access it via Power BI Desktop, I couldn'rt find the connector. I tried to set thte Data Extensions to the second option, but it's not coming up. I was wondering whether there is an alternate way to deploy custom connectors?

Note that I installed Power BI Desktop via the Microsoft store rather than via an installation progrram. The "Custom Connectors" folder initially wasn't in the "documents\Power BI Desktop" folder. I manually created it and copied the mez file there.

Jason

[jdiperri2555]

I have this issue too. I created the folders in every single documents location, but still can't see the connector. Confirmed the .mez file is in there as well and unblocked.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Hi @jasonyeung87 ,

Please try below steps:

Please update power bi desktop to the latest version and follow stepes below:

1. Install the Power Query SDK from the Visual Studio Marketplace.
2. Create a new data connector project.
3. Define your connector logic.
4. Build the project to produce an extension file.
5. Copy the extension file into [Documents]/Power BI Desktop/Custom Connectors.
6. Check the option (Not Recommended) Allow any extension to load without validation or warning in Power BI Desktop (under File | Options and settings | Options | Security | Data Extensions).
7. Restart Power BI Desktop.

Reference:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-query/installingsdk

Thanks for your efforts & time in advance.

Best regards,
Community Support Team_ Binbin Yu
If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

[vnassau]

Hello,

I tried this solution to create both [Documents]/Power BI Desktop/Custom Connectors and [Documents]/Microsoft Power BI Desktop/Custom Connectors paths, but I still cannot see the custom connectors in the Get Data UI.

I am also using Power BI from the Microsoft Store and use OneDrive as the normal location for my Documents folder. Does this make a difference?

[DataAIEMEA]

2 years later ... Same issue here.

[jasonyeung87]

Hi @Anonymous ,

thanks for your help. This did the trick.

Jason