How to connect to CSV files on server at datacenter?

Hi nokia447,

Regarding the RDP
If users need to create reports based on the same data model, you should create a single dataset on the server and then publish it to the Power BI Service. This will create a dataset (that will be refreshed using the data gateway). Users will then be able to connect to the dataset (see here) and design different reports.

If each user needs to create his own data model, you have a couple of options:
1. Make sure that the users connect to the files using a path that can be recognized from on the server (create identical local paths with sample data on the users machines or use a connection to a shared folder that can be identified from the server itself by the same hardcoded path as from the users machines).
2. Use dataflows to upload the csv files to the Power BI Service (using the data gateway). You can set a scheduled refresh for the dataflows. users will then be able to connect to the csv files hosted on the cloud.
3. Note that, using Power BI Desktop, only the connection to the csv files and Power Query transformations must be done on the server. After you'll load the data, you will be able to continue the work on your local machine until the next time you'll need to make a Power Query change...

Regarding the gateway & connection
You should create the connection in Power BI Desktop, then publish it to the Power BI Service.
This will create a dataset object with a datasource. You will need to connect the datasource to the data gateway. See the example here (This is for an on prem SQL Server, but the steps are the same for csv files).

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