Get Data from Power BI Service datasets

[Anonymous]

I want to understand how the PBI Desktop feature, "GET DATA from Power BI Datasets", works. I have a large user group and would like them to be able to connect from their Desktop to a Power BI Service Workspace dataset to which we they have read only access. This would allow them to create their own reports from the centralized data source. I was able to click on the Workspace, and see a dropdown list of available datasets. I was able to load the dataset to my desktop,  create and save a report. However other users only see the workspace list, and when they click on the workspace option, no underlying datasets are displayed.

If this limitation is because the users have read-only access to the Service Workspace, then changing the access to Edit is not not an option, due to security policy. 

Please advise on a solution or alternate approach to provide users the ability to customize reports. They have been using Content Packs, but since these are not being supported, what other options do we have?

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Thanks for the link to the documentation. It is very helpful, and yes, it probably answers the June vs. January question.

Regarding this caveat in the documentation, "when using the Power BI service live connection, there are a few limitations and considerations to keep in mind: Read-only members of a workspace cannot connect to datasets from Power BI Desktop."

If I understand this correctly, I would only be able to load a dataset (live connection) to my desktop if I have edit access in a workspace. However, three users I know of who (including me) have read access and are able to load the dataset to their desktop. Am I missing something? or has the functionality changed since this doc was generated?

BTW, aggreed! not all users being on the same version is another issue I am working on.....

[Anonymous]

Update: one of my users who can't see the datasets has the January desktop version, while another user who has the June desktop version can.

In what version of the desktop did this feature become available?

[RMDNA]

Hi @Anonymous,

It looks like the documentation for this feature was written in June, so that might be a cause. Why not have all users on the most recent version of Power BI? That would ensure consistency between reports and relevant bugfixes, etc.

To address your second question, Content Packs are being replaced with Apps, so I'd start by looking there.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Thanks for the link to the documentation. It is very helpful, and yes, it probably answers the June vs. January question.

Regarding this caveat in the documentation, "when using the Power BI service live connection, there are a few limitations and considerations to keep in mind: Read-only members of a workspace cannot connect to datasets from Power BI Desktop."

If I understand this correctly, I would only be able to load a dataset (live connection) to my desktop if I have edit access in a workspace. However, three users I know of who (including me) have read access and are able to load the dataset to their desktop. Am I missing something? or has the functionality changed since this doc was generated?

BTW, aggreed! not all users being on the same version is another issue I am working on.....

[KiranKr]

Hi, I am actually looking to connect to the published datasets in Power BI service for use in Dataflows/Microsoft Power Apps and Flow. Here is the idea. Please vote it.

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@Anonymous wrote:

Thanks for the link to the documentation. It is very helpful, and yes, it probably answers the June vs. January question.

Regarding this caveat in the documentation, "when using the Power BI service live connection, there are a few limitations and considerations to keep in mind: Read-only members of a workspace cannot connect to datasets from Power BI Desktop."

If I understand this correctly, I would only be able to load a dataset (live connection) to my desktop if I have edit access in a workspace. However, three users I know of who (including me) have read access and are able to load the dataset to their desktop. Am I missing something? or has the functionality changed since this doc was generated?

BTW, aggreed! not all users being on the same version is another issue I am working on.....

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https://ideas.powerbi.com/forums/265200-power-bi-ideas/suggestions/34323318-flow-and-power-bi-data-connectors-to-power-bi-data

[v-chuncz-msft · Accepted solution]

@Anonymous,

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