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granthworth's avatar
granthworth
Kudo Kingpin
8 years ago

OAuth2 reverting back to Anonymous - OneDrive Excel File

Hello,   I recently updloaded a PBI desktop file to the service that uses 7 different Excel workbooks stored in OneDrive for Business as the data source. I connected all of them per the documentati...
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granthworth's avatar
granthworth
Kudo Kingpin
8 years ago

Anonymous

 

Hi Lydia,

Thank you for your reply. I have since uploaded the .pbix file to OneDrive for Business and added it to another workspace in the Power BI service via "Get Data" in the PBI service. I now see the "Onedrive refresh" option which I have turned on. Now my question is...will this connection "pull-through" the .pbix file to retrieve the refreshed data from the Excel files also stored on OneDrive?

 

This is the current structure:

 

Excel files (the data changes here - these files contain the updated data) stored in OneDrive and imported into .pbix desktop file via Web link > .pbix file also stored in Onedrive > Imported the .pbix file into PBI service via "Get Data" with OneDrive refresh enabled

 

So technically, we are telling the PBI service to refresh the .pbix file, not the Excel files. Does this type of connection extend through to the data source Excel files and query for updated data even though we aren't directly refreshing them through the PBI service?

Anonymous's avatar
Anonymous
Not applicable
8 years ago

granthworth,

In your current scenario, when you add new measures, change column names, or edit visualizations in Power BI Desktop file, once you save, those changes will be updated in Power BI within about an hour. Data changes in Excel source file will not updated in Power BI Service unless you click Refresh now or set up a refresh schedule by using Schedule Refresh.

Reference:
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/refresh-desktop-file-onedrive

Regards,
Lydia

    • Anonymous's avatar
      Anonymous
      Not applicable
      8 years ago

      granthworth,

      You would need to directly connect to the Excel file from Power BI service.

      Regards,
      Lydia

      • granthworth's avatar
        granthworth
        Kudo Kingpin
        8 years ago

        Thanks again Lydia. So, is there any way to build a report from a dataset with OneDrive Excel files in PBI Desktop while retaining the ability to refresh that dataset hourly via OneDrive refresh once it is published to the PBI service? If not, what was the purpose in this documentation which does not mention anything about limiting the features of the OneDrive connection? Frankly, I have a LOT of work in this dataset and report which I have built in PBI desktop. Is there a way to change the connection now in the PBI service to directly connect to the Excel files?

         

        https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/desktop-use-onedrive-business-links

         

        "Many people have Excel workbooks stored on their OneDrive for Business drive that would be great for use with Power BI Desktop. With Power BI Desktop, you can use online links for Excel files stored in OneDrive for Business to create reports and visuals. "

         

        Another source stating the same procedure that I tried. No mention of degrading the refresh frequency here either.

         

        http://community.powerbi.com/t5/Desktop/How-can-I-connect-to-an-excel-source-or-any-source-on-onedrive/m-p/8889/highlight/true#M1591