Forum Discussion
Helper IExcel style input in PowerBI
Hey guys 🙂
So i have this task i'm working on. Basically i am trying to convert an existing excel tool to a powerBI tool.
This tool calculates values based off user inputs. Standard excel stuff. User inputs a bunch of values for each row, it looks at some data, gives each row a score. Now my boss would like this tool as a powerBI dashboard for various reasons.
So, i need to make a dashboard with a lot (maybe 20-40) rows where the user can input some data, just a few fields for each row, and i then do some calculation and create a nice looking dashboard and visuals based on that.
My question is if there is a way for me to somehow embed a live excel sheet into power bi, where the user can input data and the report will respond based on that data. Basically a little mini excel sheet just for the input data. Or something to that effect.
Right now i'm trying to solve my way out of it with a lot of parameters and slicers and measures, and while it works pretty well it's a lot of work, a lot of measures and parameters and slicers, just to replicate what takes me 5 minutes to do in excel. Is there a better way to do mass user input in powerBI? I thought about having an excel sheet just linked to the dashboard where i load data from, but i want the tool to be effecient and responsive. No long refresh times, no multiple tabs open (otherwise i feel like i should just build the whole thing in excel then, i dont want the dashboard to just be cumbersome, but to be a natural extention of the excel input). And also multiple users need to be able to use it at the same time, meaning i can't just point to a single excel sheet somewhere anyways.
I hope i explained everything alright. And i hope there's a way to do this, i've started looking and some power app stuff or whatever, but i'm not really familiar with it, and i just want to know if what i want is possible, and what the best way to go about it is. At least before i make 50 parameters with a slicer each and 100 measures to try and "powerBi" myself out of this excel problem.
2 Replies
- mahoneypat
Microsoft Employee
The idea of having an excel-table like input is a good one. If it isn't already posted as an idea, you should (I would vote for it). For now, one way to approach this would be a Power App (w/ an Excel table or SharePoint list back end). You can put Power Apps on your Power BI dashboard. It isn't a great option but it should work. Note you would have to make a button for your app too, to trigger refresh of the Power BI dataset, to get the newly input data.
If this works for you, please mark it as the solution. Kudos are appreciated too. Please let me know if not.
Regards,
Pat
- amitchandak
Super User
JohnCavil , As of now power app is the way. We have done automation using a power App and one drive with Power BI.
One drive link is given at the end.
Or refer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxuRzj0X348
mahoneypat , please share Idea link to vote
