Adding a new column to a dataset without having to update the PBIX file

[jamesoleonard]

We are a SAAS ISV that has integrated to PowerBI (Note: we are not using PowerBI embedded).  We provide our customers with standard datasets as well as a PBIX file that includes sample reports that they can use or clone and then modifiy.  When a customer contacts us to request an additional column be added in the dataset, it requires that we update the PBIX file and send it to them based on the way the data is pulled (see sample below).   When that new column is something that we think others may also be able to use, it means updating and sending out LOTS of PBIX files.   Does anyone in the community have suggestions for how we can add columns without having to generate updated PBIX files?  

let
    Source = Csv.Document(Web.Contents("https://ourwebserviceapiurl.com"),[Delimiter="^", Columns=21, Encoding=65001, QuoteStyle=QuoteStyle.None]),
    #"Promoted Headers" = Table.PromoteHeaders(Source, [PromoteAllScalars=true]),
    #"Changed Type" = Table.TransformColumnTypes(#"Promoted Headers",{{"ContactID", type text}, {"ContactType", type text}, {"FirstName", type text}, {"LastName", type text}, {"Email", type text}, {"Phone", type text}, {"AddressLine1", type text}, {"AddressLine2", type text}, {"City", type text}, {"StateOrProvince", type text}, {"PostalCode", type text}, {"Country", type text}, {"SourceName", type text}, {"BirthDate", type datetime}, {"Age", Int64.Type}, {"Gender", type text}, {"BookingCount", Int64.Type}, {"CompletedCount", Int64.Type}, {"TotalInvoiced", type number}, {"OwnerName", type text}, {"OwningBusinessUnitName", type text}})
in
    #"Changed Type"

s 

[v-juanli-msft]

Hi @jamesoleonard 

What kind of columns do your users need?

Could you show an example?

In Power BI Desktop, there are several methods to add columns

Create calculated columns in Power BI Desktop

Add columns in Edit queries

Add a custom column in Power BI Desktop

Add a column from an example in Power BI Desktop

When sharing with users, you could upload pbix file to service, then you could share via several ways:

Ways to share your work in Power BI

Best Regards

Maggie

Community Support Team _ Maggie Li
If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

[jamesoleonard]

The issue isn't how to add columns to the PBIX.  That is straightforward.  To put the issue another way, we are trying to figure out how to create the PBIX in a way that when one of the web service data sources called in the PBIX adds an additional column that at a minimum it won't break the PBIX and ideally the PBIX would be able to just pick up the new column without having to be modified.