Forum Discussion
Question on How and where source data is changed
Aditonal info on what I did might help. Using Powert BI Desktop I imported (but alaso transfomred) data from the samele file from Microsft, Financial Sample.xlsx . I then created a report with multiple visualizatiosn, saved and then published. Next I wnet to teh power BI Service, and went to teh Workspace I created for this MS Following Along Training course and it prompted me to get data from the Financial Sample.xlsx which is in my OneDriovbe loctaion where POwer BI Service can get to it. When I di this I was told the file already had been imporeted so my question is if I try and build a new report that is unrelated to the one I published but which uses the same Financial Sample.xlsx source file will the transformations made the first time be carried over to this report too? I'm guessing that the transformations are never associated with the xlsx file but I've seen stranger things in Power BI so I don't assume anymore.
"When I di this I was told the file already had been imporeted"
This is the bit that's confusing me, it shouldn't matter what else is looking at it. This leads me to beleive you did something that involves uploading excel to PBI which is a feature I've never used. That said, if the question is (and you'll excuse the paraphrasing) "how do I re-use these transforms I did here for other reports" then the answer is to do the transforms in a dataflow, in Service, vs PBI Desktop. Connect all your reports to this dataflow, only the dataflow connects to excel, and excel remains unchanging.
In power BUI Desktop
1) Get Data ( an xlsx file stored in OneDirve Bussines ) but hit Transfomr on the Naviagtor screen (after select xlsx file) to made some changes to columns like date type, rounding, ect.
2) Create Report
3) PUblish Report - to power bi service
Switch to Power BI Service
1) View existing publsihed rpeort
2) Go to a new/different workspace and hit Upload
3) Select the same xlsx file locate don OneDrive as outlined while working in Power BI Desktop - Get msg that "Workbook Already Exists". NOTE: That looking at what all is in teh workspace there is no instance of the xlsx file shown
I don't know of any simplert way to explain what I did and the msg I got doing it. If I make a copy of the xlsx file I got data form while in Power BI Desktop and then go to the Power BI Service it WILL let me upload that copy of the file.
So my question is since I can't uploade/import that same xlsx file again whill the transfomrations I made while in Powert BI Desktop carry over to any report that tries to use that Excel workbook as a source for the report?
I think I see whats going on, you don't need to upload the excel file at all. A pbix file connected to it should be able to reach back to One Drive when it refreshes. I'd guess you can't see a previous upload either because of a filter or a display bug, PBI Service can sometimes spaz out like that.
"whill the transfomrations I made while in Powert BI Desktop carry over to any report that tries to use that Excel workbook"
No, PBI Desktop reads only and (by default) saves a transformed copy of the data within itself. The source files remain unchanged. If you want that transformed version readily accessible to other reports you need them in a dataflow.