Power BI Desktop connecting to One Drive for Automatic Refresh not working

[PatrickNealis]

I'm using Power BI Pro: If I create a report on Power BI Server (Online client), and select:

Get Data --> Impot Files --> One Drive for Business

A live connection to that file is created with a once, hourly automatic refresh. 

However, if I create a report on Power BI Desktop, then select:

Get Data --> File --> Excel --> (Navigate to file stored on One Drive for Business)

A connection is created which requires me to manually refresh the PBIX in order to update the data file in Power BI. 

I understand there is an option to setup a Data Gateway to schedule a refresh of the file using my computer, however if my computer is not turned on the Data Gateway will not run. 

The Question: Is there a way to establish a live connection to a file stored on One Drive using the Power BI Desktop client, so that the file stored on One Drive will automatically refresh? Basically, I want the functionality if the live connection of the Server client described above, using the Desktop client to build the report.

This workflow works using reports created in the Server client, but I have to use the Desktop client because RLS is currently not supported in the Server client. 

[v-ljerr-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi @PatrickNealis,

However, if I create a report on Power BI Desktop, then select:

Get Data --> File --> Excel --> (Navigate to file stored on One Drive for Business)

A connection is created which requires me to manually refresh the PBIX in order to update the data file in Power BI. 

I understand there is an option to setup a Data Gateway to schedule a refresh of the file using my computer, however if my computer is not turned on the Data Gateway will not run. 

---

Instead of using Get Data --> File --> Excel, you should be able to use Get Data > Web to connect to files on OneDrive for Business.

In this way, the files on One Drive for Business are connected directly, so no Gateway is needed. You can then configure a daily schedule refresh on Power BI service. For more details about how to use OneDrive for Business links in Power BI Desktop, you can refer to this article. 

Regards

[PatrickNealis]

Get Data --> Web worked! I have been banging my head against my keyboard for days trying to figure that out... Thank you!!!

[indhu]

I have the same issue I want to publish my powerbi file from one drive to web.  However, when i upload the file and get the .pbi file through the web Data --> File --> Excel --> (Navigate to file stored on One Drive for Business) I need to refresh manually. I tried to get the link of the .pbi file from one drive for business and get the same from power bi web as mentioned in the previous comment. But I cannot find the option to get the data from the web. I know i am missing something but cannot figure out what.

Any help is much appreciated. 

Thanks,