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CarlsBerg999's avatar
CarlsBerg999
Helper V
4 years ago
Solved

Using PowerBI Datasets in multiple reports

Hi,   I'm trying to use a single PowerBI Dataset for multiple reports. The issue here is that i uploaded the dataset with the original report and now modifying the dataset is very cumbersome if I'm...
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  • v-angzheng-msft's avatar
    v-angzheng-msft
    4 years ago

    Hi, CarlsBerg999 

     

    Q:

    In other words, we have 3 icons on the left side (Report, Data and Model). I only see Report and Model when i open a report that is connected to the PowerBI Dataset. I need to download the original PowerBI Dataset from the service to add calculated columns or tables. Is this a setting thing?

    Yes ,it's a setting thing. When you connect to a Power BI dataset, you can only see the Report and Model Icons, and the connection is Live Connection. You cannot create calculated columns or calculated tables, but you can still create report-level measures.

    You can think of it as creating a copy connected to the source data, so you can't modify the original PowerBI Dataset directly. When you download the original PowerBI Dataset from the service, then you can modify the original PowerBI Dataset.

     

    Q:

    What becomes difficult is determining where a calculated column or a measure is used. Is there a functionality of "Where used" or some way to get this data? 

    Power BI desktop itself doesn't offer such a feature, but you can still use third-party tools to help you.

    Refer to my answer in the thread below to help you:
    Unused measures affecting performance?

     

    more:

    Monitor/Measure & Improve Power BI Dataset Performance

     

    Hope this helps.

     

     

    Best Regards,
    Community Support Team _ Zeon Zheng

    If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

aj1973's avatar
aj1973
Community Champion
4 years ago

Hi CarlsBerg999 

Changing anything in a Dataset for one report might hurt the other reports attached to that Dataset. Exemple: Changing a measure that is used in multiple reports it will affect them reports. what you can do is add a new measure, or calculated column or Calculated Table and use it to update your specific report. Be aware that you can't change anything (names,columns,measures..) in the existing dataset or you will hurt the other reports.

  • CarlsBerg999's avatar
    CarlsBerg999
    Helper V
    4 years ago

    Hi, Actually it seems i can't even view the underlying data of the original PBIX file. This means that i can't add calculated columns or calculated tables to any reports, except the original one. In other words, we have 3 icons on the left side (Report, Data and Model). I only see Report and Model when i open a report that is connected to the PowerBI Dataset. I need to download the original PowerBI Dataset from the service to add calculated columns or tables. Is this a setting thing? I am the admin so this shouldn't be an issue.