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cnorris3570
Helper I
Helper I

Frequent Updating Excel files for Publish

Hi all,

 

This question is a "getting others thoughts" from the folks of the PBI community.  We are putting together a process for taking excel files filled out by people in the field > submitted and placed in SharePoint > and added to a PBI Template for reporting and cast on a TV.   Right now this is a manual process (adding the file location to the template and publishing)..... but we are trying to automate it as much as possible.

 

1.) Is it possible...... that when a excel file is placed in the SharePoint folder as NEW, that it can automatically be added to the PBI Template?  Could we also automate the publishing??

 

2.) is it possible..... These excel files, initially placed in the SP folder as NEW, are constantly updated throughout the day.  The users in the field, update their excel files and will "replace" the same name excel files that were in the SP library.  Basically replacing/overwriting the files.  (Yes i know this is not optimum and i am working on a better and logical solution but for now they use excel files and constantly update them).  By doing it this way, will it break #1, if #1 is even possible???  What could i do to make this work??

here is a screenshot of how it works.... Excel > SharePoint > PBI > Cast

 

cnorris3570_0-1648226673773.png

 

 

thoughts and suggestions much appreciated!!!!  Thank you in advance!!!

1 REPLY 1
lbendlin
Super User
Super User

1. yes and yes.  Use the Sharepoint Folder connector and process any files that are in that folder, or that satisfy other conditions (namepattern, for example

 

2.  Sure.  Be aware that there might be hickups when the Power BI Service tries to access the file while the user is updating/replacing it.  BE AWARE that users are notoriously bad at maintaining the structural integrity of the Excel files.  Build lots and lots and lots of safeguards into your Power Query code.

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