External Tools questions

[Anonymous]

Hello

1)

External Tools is missing despite being installed via https://powerbi.tips/product/business-ops/.

• I can see them under C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Power BI Desktop\External Tools (though I think my PBI is x64 and not x86 if that is the problem)
• I have run as Admin (no option to install for All Users given).

Any idea?

2) Can I use these tools without installing anything, ie. on a business laptop?

3) Do I need these tools to create/amend my report and then share it, or they will be a dependency for my report to be shared or uploaded, i.e. they will need to be installed to other machines make use of the report?

4) Can I start the tools as standalone (not via PBI) and then connect them to my PBI report to work with it? That way, no need to see the 'External Tools' ribbon?

Thanks!

[MFelix · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous ,

1) Check this link for the registration

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/transform-model/desktop-external-tools-register

2) This depends on the tools, not sure if any have portable  version.

3) You use the tools to create / ammend and then you share the report, there is no dependency on those tools

4) This may depend on the tool but most of them have the option to be standalone and then connect to PBI report.