Data Source published in Power BI Service deleted, PBI Desktop just can't even

[Anonymous]

I currently have some projects that I can't access in Power BI Desktop anymore.  The sequence that follows is not the most brilliant and I would love to pretend that it wasn't me that followed this path but....

1.  Create project with data model and publish to Power BI (datamodel.pbix)

2.  Create a new project that consumes that data model from the Power BI Service 

3.  Make brilliant reports (stunningreports.pbix)

4.  Stay up late and clean out Power BI Workspace holding multiple versions of the data model.

5.  Realize that I deleted the wrong data model (datamodel.pbix), start to panic but remember that I still have the project for that data model.

6.  Open datamodel.pbix on my dev machine and republish it to the Power BI Service.  Pat myself on the back.

7.  Try to open those reports to gaze upon their awesomeness.  Get error:

We encountered an error while trying to connect.

Details:"Looks like we are unable to access the dataset. Please contact the owner of the dataset."

Retry, Edit, cancel

8.  Realize that I am the owner of the data set and feel the icy fingers of panic then realize I can just open the project and change the data source to point to my new data source that I created in #6.

9.  Select Edit to make the change in the project and the project fails to load with this error:

Unable to Open Document

Object reference not set to an instance of an object

10.  Use mad troubleshooting skillz and realize that the new project has a new Initial Catalog GUID and PbiModelDatabaseName in the Connections file in the pbix file.  Again, back patting.

11.  Try all sorts of psuedo-hackery on the connections file - create a new one, change values in it, etc.  Each time when i zip the content back up and make it a .pbix, I get the following when i try to open it:

Unable to open document

This file is corrupted or was created by an unrecognized version of Power BI Desktop. It can't be opened.

12.  Admit defeat, recreate reports with newly created data set.

This is listed as a known issue but the fact that there is no way to recover the connection is quite frustrating.  One mistake and you would basically have to recreate your entire report.  Creating a separate pbix for your data is an awesome feature, getting locked out of it is not.

[v-qiuyu-msft]

Hi @Anonymous,

For your requirement, you can submit a idea here: https://ideas.powerbi.com/forums/265200-power-bi-ideas

Best Regards,
Qiuyun Yu

[tahga]

@Anonymous I have exactly the same issue. Using the edit button to change the live connection to another Power BI Service dataset still worked in the September version of Power BI Desktop but it was broken in the October version and still seems to be broken in the November version.

So when you try to open a report on Power BI Desktop which is connected to a dataset in Power BI Service but that dataset has been removed, you get this (as you should):

And when you click "Edit" you get an error instead of the dialog where you could choose a different dataset:

@v-qiuyu-msft this seems like a bug, not a new feature requirement so submitting an idea would not be a valid solution.

[tahga]

Related forum discussion:

https://community.powerbi.com/t5/Desktop/Cant-open-my-pbix-file-after-deleting-dataset-fro-the-servi...

[v-qiuyu-msft]

Hi @tahga,

I have sent email to PG team internally to consult this issue. Will update here once I get any information. 

Best Regards,
Qiuyun Yu

[Anonymous]

Thanks Qiuyun Yu!

[v-qiuyu-msft]

Hi @Anonymous@tahga, 

I confirm from PG team that this is expected. After we delete the connected dataset, we aren't able to change the dataset to a new one to make the pbix work currently. They are going to add the feature to change the PBI Service connection but without ETA. 

For your requirement, you can submit a feature request here: https://ideas.powerbi.com/forums/265200-power-bi-ideas

Best Regards,
Qiuyun Yu 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the excellent followup Qiuyun!

[tahga]

Thanks for your response @v-qiuyu-msft!

"They are going to add the feature to change the PBI Service connection but without ETA."

This is interesting because the feature already worked in Power BI Desktop September version but was broken in October and November versions.

I checked the previous Power BI Desktop release notes from Power BI Blog and the August feature summary (https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/power-bi-desktop-august-2017-feature-summary/#liveConnect) clearly states the following under Live connect to Power BI Service:

"Second, we now let you update what dataset you are connecting to. This is a very useful feature if you want to use a staging or development environment when building your reports and then switch it to point to the production dataset right before publishing and sharing. You’ll be able to switch out what dataset you are connecting to using the Data source settings option under Edit Queries in the Home ribbon."

[v-qiuyu-msft]

Hi @tahga,

The blog you mentioned is in normal scenario, when we can open the report in desktop successfully, then we can change connected dataset via Data source Settings. This is also work with desktop November version. 

But in this thread, the scenario is that we can't open the report any more to use Data source Settings. 

Best Regards,
Qiuyun Yu