Change the data source connection

[m_abergo]

We are an ISV with thousand of customer and we need to change the data source connection to each specific database (SQL Azure). How can do programmatically ?Is there any API to do that ? It is absolutely fundamental features for any ISV.

[malinda_jepsen]

Is there a way to change the data source after sharing a .pbix file besides going into each query?

[jliu]

Yes. this is a fundamental requirement for any third party developer to deploy a .pbix file

[bob16]

Completely agreed - either all identical connection strings to be changed in bulk, or allow queries to be grouped and then associate the connection string with the group

[judy1]

maybe something like the Linked Table Manager in MS Access, where you can not only create an new ODBC datasource (similar to PowerBI's current data connection wizi), but also have an option to relink current tables to another existing dsn.

[jorge_catala]

Absolutely agreement, but I think very interesting to do PowerPI DESKTOP API's, not only for AZURE REST API.

[m_abergo]

It is right. We tried to use Power BI Embed immediatly for what you are saying, unfortunately we can change the connection string but ONLY with Direct table. If you use the standard import table it doesn't work and an error occurs because is not supported. Every user use the cache mode with refresh scheduled. Actually we have been waiting this feature for 18 months !

[jychung]

If you're using Power BI Embed, you can actually update the connection string. If not, I think you're still SOL. Go to the Data source connectivity (and multi-tenancy of data) section of this page: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/power-bi-embedded/power-bi-embedded-iframe

[fbcideas_migusr]

The problem is that power Bi desktop does not let you connect to a shared data source which you can create on the power BI report server. Similar to the older versions of SSRS , Other IDE's allow developer to connect to data source stored on their report server, such as Report Builder, mobile report published etc. but they missed the mark on the Power BI desktop which essentially makes it so you have to update the datasource on each an PBIX