Connect to offline/external PowerPivot model

[jakub4]

I'd like the ability to use the model in an existing excel powerpivot workbook (not uploaded to powerbi) as a data source for PBIDesigner or even directly in the powerbi dashboard. Ideally it would work similar to the connection to an on-premise tabular model. I believe tableau offer functionality to connect to a powerpivot model in an excel workbook

[nishalit]

Thanks Jakub, great suggestion! Who else would like this to be prioritized? Please add your votes to help us!

[san32in]

I would like to use the powerbi in offline mode like the tableau desktop and not using the cloud. Hope this would be addressed for enthusiasts like me.

[angiwang1]

Tableau offers this +1, why Microsoft doesn't support it by default?

[fbcideas_migusr]

I'd like this, not just for PBIDesigner but also for Excel PowerPivot/PowerQuery. As anonymous said, Tableau offers this.

[jose_vera]

It would be really convenient. Even if it is not tied to Power Pivot and it is only Excel based data. What I like the best of Power BI now is the fact that it is very, very convenient, but I also see the need to make PowerBI a datasource-agnostic service, just like Tableau tries to do. This would be overkill.

[jonny4]

I absolutely want this... I am testing PowerBI with QuickBooks right now and I would much prefer that I could manipulate the datasource in Excel.

[stevith]

Could the ability to connect to individual perspectives created in an excel powerpivot workbook be added with this?

[snpatel1]

I would definitly like to have PowerBI as an offline application which can sync with Site or OneDrive

[sivaprasadchowd]

Is it possible toconnect to the datasource using tableau in offline mode or not?

[hnehme]

I prefer that powerbi desktop connect to the power pivot data model rather than importing it, in this case you can use the in Excel and powerbo dashboard at the same time.