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Anonymous's avatar
Anonymous
Not applicable
6 years ago

Connectivity: connecting to Excel file: Sharepoint folder vs Web

Hi,    I am working on a dsahboard that uses an Excel file stored on sharepoint as a database, and I was wondering about any experiences that would lead you to favor using the Sharepoint Folder con...
General Comment
Anonymous's avatar
Anonymous
Not applicable
6 years ago

Hi DataChant / Gil, 

 

I know how to use both of them, my question is rather if any of them have any benefits over the other one, so far the only difference i can really find is that going via the web connector could enable to move the file easier, but I am interested if there are any other benefits / drawback to using either of the connectors 🙂 

 

And I am using 2 files, each with one table that gets refreshed every time, and one of the files contais 3 supporting tables, but they are only imported initilally as the value do not change.

 

Best, 

Julius

 

 

DataChant's avatar
DataChant
Most Valuable Professional
6 years ago

Hi Julius,

 

Are the two files with the same format? If so, I would use the Folder connector to make the solution robust to append similar tabs together. IN the future, if you have three files of the same format, you would not need to make any change to keep the query refreshing.

 

The Share Point Folder option is slower because you first load folder details, and if you have many folders and files under the Share Point site, it can have an impact on the performance of the import. Nevertheless, I think that the impact is minimal compared to the sustainability you achieve with the folder approach, so I would go with the Folder approach.

  • Anonymous's avatar
    Anonymous
    Not applicable
    6 years ago

    Hi Gil  (DataChant ),

     

    Not quite, 

     

    I am using 2 excel files where 

    the first has a table filles with KPI's as well as 3 tables with suppproting data (used for calculations that do not change) and

    the second one which has a number of locations and extra data to them, which is linked via a relationship in power bi, so i'm not using the combin function of the folder connector.

    The quesiton is really just if the connectors have any benefit in terms of connecting to the file itself.

    The only difference i have found so far is that the web connector could have the benefit that the file could be moved to another sharpoint site without havig to reconstruct the dashboard, but that does not seem likely at this point...

     

    Best,

    Julius

    • DataChant's avatar
      DataChant
      Most Valuable Professional
      6 years ago

      Hi Anonymous,

      In that case, I would use the Web connector and create a parameter for the URL hostname and relative path and pass them to the Web.Contents function.

      Web.Contents(
    hostname, [
        RelativePath = path & "/Exce1.xlsx"
    ]
)

      Performance-wise you get a slightly better refresh time using Web.Contents.

    • v-juanli-msft's avatar
      v-juanli-msft
      Community Support
      6 years ago

      Hi Anonymous 

      Where is the data not changed, power bi desktop or power bi service?

      If it is on Power BI Desktop, please check if you click on the button "refresh all" or if you click on the "close &&apply" when closing the edit queries and back to report view.

      If it is on Power BI Service, when you use web connector, please add the data source under the gateway and provide the same credential used in Power BI Desktop.

      https://www.axioworks.com/2018/07/how-to-publish-sharepoint-data-to-power-bi-using-the-enterprise-gateway/

       

      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.