Forum Discussion
OAuth2 reverting back to Anonymous - OneDrive Excel File
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.
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
Hi Lydia,
Anything is possible. Microsoft just hasn't realized this is a problem yet. There is no excuse for only being able to build a report in the PBI service. Users should be able to use their OneDrive data files to build their calculated columns, measures, etc in Desktop and then enable OneDrive refresh once they are published to the service. Nothing else makes any sense.
I started an "Idea" for this topic here: https://ideas.powerbi.com/forums/265200-power-bi-ideas/suggestions/33341050-enable-data-source-onedrive-refresh-in-service-for
For anyone else frustrated by this problem, I received this email in response to my Microsoft Service Request.
"We apologize for the inconvenience caused due to the product limitation or product not working as per your expectation. I totally agree with you and all of your concerns and they are completely valid. Please consider my apologies.
Our Product team pushes improvements and features on weekly basis. These improvements are planned well in advance. But there are some of the improvements which will have lot of dependencies due to which it takes long time and sometimes it becomes extremely hard for us to define an ETA even though we have a road map of improving the feature.
Your interest and efforts you take to use our product is highly valuable and I will surely pass on your community URL to be acknowledged by our product team and subjecting it to the list of future enhancements. So that we will hopefully rectify such limitations in Power BI."