How to create a power BI app with pinned dashboards without including the base report.

[SrishtiSoni]

I have a Power BI report with multiple tabs published in a workspace. I pinned some of those tabs as separate dashboards and included them in an app. However, I don’t want to include the original report in the app. The problem is, when I exclude the report from the app, the dashboards don’t work properly.

Could you please help me find a way to make the app work correctly without having to include the original report?

Below is the error I am getting when the report is not included, even after giving all the required access.

Need help

[v-sgandrathi]

Hi @SrishtiSoni,

You're correct in noticing that dashboards relying on visuals from a report won't function properly if the base report is excluded from the app even if access permissions are in place. This is a known limitation, as also pointed out accurately by our Super User thank you @MasonMA for the helpful response!

To ensure your pinned dashboards work as expected in the app without displaying the full report, here’s the recommended approach:

A workaround is to include the report in the app but hide it from end users. You can do this by adding the report to the app content and then navigating to the Audience tab during the app publishing process. From there, simply turn off the “View” toggle (or visibility option) next to the report. This ensures the report remains available in the backend to support the dashboard functionality, while keeping it hidden from the app interface.

If this solution worked for you, kindly mark it as Accept as Solution and feel free to give a Kudos, it would be much appreciated!

Thank you for using Microsoft Fabric Community Forum.

[v-sgandrathi]

Hi  @SrishtiSoni,

We wanted to follow up since we haven't heard back from you regarding our last response. We hope your issue has been resolved.

If my answer resolved your query, please mark it as "Accept Answer" and give Kudos if it was helpful.

If you need any further assistance, feel free to reach out.

Thank you for being a valued member of the Microsoft Fabric Community Forum!

[v-tejrama]

Hi @SrishtiSoni,

May I ask if you have resolved this issue? If so, please mark the helpful reply and Accept it as the solution and give a 'Kudos'. This will be helpful for other community members who have similar problems to solve it faster.

Thank you.
Tejaswi.

[SrishtiSoni]

Hi @v-tejrama ,

Thanks for your reply.

I have already tried the workaround you shared but unforfunately, somehow that also didn't work for me and gives the error i have attached in my query for the audiences for whom I have kept the base report hidden.

Thanks and Regards,

Srishti 

[v-tejrama · Accepted solution]

HI @SrishtiSoni ,

Thanks for reaching out to the Microsoft fabric community forum.
Try this Solutions :

1. Include the Report in the App and Manage Visibility :

Add the Report to the App: Ensure that the report from which the dashboard tiles are pinned is included in the app.
Manage Audience Visibility: If you don't want the report to appear in the app's navigation pane for certain audiences, you can hide it from them.
Allow Access to Hidden Content: Even if the report is hidden, you can enable the "Allow access to hidden content" option. This allows users to access the report when they interact with the dashboard tiles, even though it's not visible in the navigation pane.

This approach ensures that users can interact with dashboard tiles without granting them full visibility of the report in the app's navigation.

2. Create a Dedicated Workspace for App Content:

Separate Workspace: Consider creating a dedicated workspace that contains only the reports and dashboards intended for the app.
Manage Access: By isolating app content in its own workspace, you can more precisely control user access without exposing other unrelated reports or datasets.
Publish the App: From this dedicated workspace, publish the app and manage audience permissions accordingly.

This strategy simplifies access management and ensures that users only have access to the content intended for them.

3. Use Paginated Reports for Specific Scenarios:

Paginated Reports: If your scenario involves paginated reports, ensure that both the paginated report and any related datasets are included in the app.
Manage Permissions: Ensure that users have the necessary permissions to access these reports and datasets.
This ensures seamless access and interaction with paginated report content within the app.

While Power BI doesn't allow users to interact with dashboard tiles without access to the underlying reports, you can manage report visibility within the app and control user access through dedicated workspaces and audience settings. By including the necessary reports in the app and configuring visibility and access appropriately, you can provide users with the desired dashboard experience without exposing unnecessary content.

If the response has addressed your query, please Accept it as a solution and give a 'Kudos' so other members can easily find it.

Best Regards,
Tejaswi.
Community Support Team 

[v-tejrama]

Hi @SrishtiSoni ,

Just wanted to check if you had the opportunity to review the suggestion provided?

If the response has addressed your query, please Accept it as a solution and give a 'Kudos' so other members can easily find it.

[v-tejrama]

Hi @SrishtiSoni,

I wanted to check if you had the opportunity to review the information provided. Please feel free to contact us if you have any further questions. If my response has addressed your query, please Accept it as a solution so that other community members can find it easily.

Thank you.

Tejaswi.

[v-tejrama]

Hi @SrishtiSoni,

May I ask if you have resolved this issue? If so, please mark the helpful reply and Accept it as the solution. This will be helpful for other community members who have similar problems to solve it faster.

Thank you.

Tejaswi.

[MasonMA]

Hi @SrishtiSoni, 

If you refer to Publish an app in Power BI - Power BI | Microsoft Learn, you will see this is a known limitation from Microsoft:)

One of the workarounds you may try would be you can include the report in the app content but disable it from visibility. you can achieve this by turning off the View button under the 'Audience' tab. 

Thanks 

Mason