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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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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

      • Anonymous's avatar
        Anonymous
        Not applicable
        8 years ago
        granthworth wrote:

        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? 

        granthworth,

        In this case, when you change data in the underlying Excel file, it is not possible to bring updated data to Power BI Service using OneDrive hourly refresh, you need to manually refresh or set schedule refresh, please check the statement in this official article.

        When you store a Power BI Desktop file on OneDrive or SharePoint Online, any data you’ve loaded into your file’s model is imported into the dataset, and any reports you’ve created in the file are loaded into Reports in the Power BI serviced. When you make changes to your file on OneDrive or SharePoint Online, such as adding new measures, changing column names, or editing visualizations, once you save the file those changes will be updated in the Power BI service too, usually within about an hour.

        When you import your Power BI Desktop file from OneDrive, or SharePoint Online, data, along with other information about the model is loaded into a dataset in Power BI. In the Power BI service, not Power BI Desktop, you want to refresh data in the dataset because that is what your reports, in the Power BI service, are based on. Because the data sources are external, you can manually refresh the dataset by using Refresh now or you can setup a refresh schedule by using Schedule Refresh.

        Regards,
        Lydia