Excel is not pulling files from SharePoint

[Gabriel117]

I designed a structure to bring data from MS Project to Power BI:

From MS Project, I export an .mdb file using Visual Reports (since I want to export custom fields as well).

I place this .mdb file in a folder on a SharePoint site and connect that SharePoint to an Excel file (also in the same SharePoint folder) using data import (via Power Query).

Then, I connect that Excel file to Power BI, where I perform the transformations and build my dashboard using the Project data.

I do it this way to enable automatic refresh in Power BI Service, because if I connect the .mdb file directly to Power BI, the refresh fails since Power BI Service doesn't support the Access driver.

This worked perfectly with my SharePoint, but it didn’t work with my client's SharePoint. When trying to connect the .mdb file in Excel through Power Query, we couldn't find any files — the folder with the .mdb file simply doesn't appear at all.

Why does it work with my SharePoint but not with the client's? What checks can I perform with them to identify the possible issue?

[v-tsaipranay]

Hi @Gabriel117 ,

May I ask if you have resolved this issue? If so, please mark the helpful reply and accept it as the solution. This will be helpful for other community members who have similar problems to solve it faster.

Thank you.

[v-tsaipranay]

Hi @Gabriel117 ,

I wanted to check if you had the opportunity to review the information provided. Please feel free to contact us if you have any further questions.

Thank you.

[v-tsaipranay]

Hi @Gabriel117 ,

I wanted to follow up on our previous suggestions. We would like to hear back from you to ensure we can assist you further.

Thank you.

[v-tsaipranay]

Hi @Gabriel117 ,

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Fabric Community Forum.

Your method for enabling scheduled refresh in Power BI Service works well with your SharePoint, but not with the client’s. The issue may be due to differences in SharePoint settings, permissions, or Power Query connections.

To assist in identifying the root cause, please confirm the following with your client:

First, check that the .mdb file has been successfully uploaded to the correct SharePoint folder and that the user connecting via Power Query has appropriate read permissions for both the folder and the file. Then, verify the authentication method in Excel’s Power Query is set to the correct organizational account and that the sign-in process is completed successfully. Finally, ensure the SharePoint path entered in Power Query exactly matches the actual site and folder structure, as even small differences can prevent folders or files from appearing.

It may be helpful to verify whether the SharePoint library on the client side is configured with any custom settings or metadata that could limit file visibility in Power Query. Additionally, while rare, some organizations implement policies that restrict access to certain file types, such as .mdb, when using connectors. To troubleshoot, you can try accessing the .mdb file directly through a browser or check if syncing the folder via OneDrive makes the file accessible.

Hope this helps. Please reach out for further assistance.

Thank you.