Authenticating OData.Feed using Web API difficulty

[albabae]

I'm in Excel and Power BI. I made my own backend api service that provides data in OData format... That all works great.

I can use the basic authentication just fine. But I want to also be able to use the "Web API" authentication method, but it keeps telling me to provide api key name... 

note the "A web api key can only be specified when a web api key name is provided" warning message

I know this can be circumvented by using M code like this or this but I still think it would be even easier if the GUI had a section for the apiKey name or if it defaulted to a value... Does that make sense?

[albabae · Accepted solution]

In that case, I'm moving this thread to Authenticating OData.Feed using Web API difficulty - Microsoft Fabric Community

[V-yubandi-msft]

Hi @albabae ,

Thank you for engaging with the Microsoft Fabric Community. This issue is happening because Power BI’s Web API option needs both the API key and the key name. But in the UI, there’s no place to enter the key name, so it throws that error.

That’s why it works with Basic auth but not with Web API. As a workaround, you can use M code and pass the API key manually either in headers or as a query parameter. That gives you full control and avoids this limitation.

If you manage the API, you can also allow the key in headers, which works more smoothly with Power BI.

I hope this clarifies the situation. If I’ve misunderstood any part of your situation, please let us know.

[albabae]

Yes. Thank you. This is seeming like the current workaround. But it's kindof a hassle. If you can expand on 

> you can also allow the key in headers, which works more smoothly with Power BI.

That would be appreciated. I currently allow headers like "Bearer token" or "x-api-key" request header.  I also allow basic auth and url query parameter.

Also where would I go to suggest such a feature in the UI, to have the api key name?  I found giving feedback to microsoft for power bi is kinda difficult and a hassle.

[V-yubandi-msft]

Hi @albabae ,

You can share your feedback on the Fabric Ideas portal here: Fabric Ideas - Microsoft Fabric Community.

The product team regularly reviews suggestions there and considers them for future improvements.

Thanks.