Forum Discussion

FrustratedPM's avatar
FrustratedPM
New Member
8 years ago

Why is "Get Data" so difficult?

So here's my exprience: 

 

We have data on prem, and in cloud. No problem understanding that. 

This tool is also about data. Big data. Lots of data. So it's automatically going to be about thousands of datasets and millions of rows. That's called "Normal" in this business. 

 

So why is it so difficult to make this bucket of bolts just work with that?

 

Get data from on prem needs gateways. Gateways don't work unless third party products are developed to solve authentication problems between Office365 and Windows Domains. I thought they were both Microsoft? Maybe I missed something, 

 

The advice from the technical experts is "just publish your data to the cloud". Every time you want to refresh your report. It's less than 100,000 rows right now, but as we get into the groove (assuming we can), it's going to be millions. Who on earth thinks that rebuilidng the data warehouse everytime I want to refresh a report is a clever way of doing things? 

 

Get data from SharePoint: Can't be done. 

Get data from Access: Need special drivers

Get data from gateway: The gateway has been dismanteled because it wasn't used in the last week. 

 

To even get into Power BI Desktop needs me to sign in every time I use it. Not even my browser asks for that. 

 

Get data is glossy slick advert with very little substance.  

4 Replies

  • Greg_Deckler's avatar
    Greg_Deckler
    Community Champion
    8 years ago

    I'm not sure why you believe you can't get data using gateways unless third party products are installed, can you elaborate?

     

    I get data from SharePoint all the time, both on-premises and in Office 365.

     

    I don't have to sign-in every time I use Power BI Desktop, you may want to talk to your IT department about that.

     

    Authentication to O365, use OAuth.

     

    Don't use Access. No one should use Access. For the love of all that is good and decent in this world, stop with the Access already. :)

     

    If you think Get Data in Power BI is difficult, stay way from Alteryx and SSIS.

     

     

    • FrustratedPM's avatar
      FrustratedPM
      New Member
      8 years ago
      Perhaps your role is more important than mine. We are only 2,000 employees spending about $1.5b per annum... I suspect we are too small to for serious support. My Power BI Desktop had an update every month... But I need special permission to update it.

      I cannot control OAuth. Power BI Desktop offers me a windows authentication, anonymous, and one other, but its definitely not OAuth.

      As for MS Access, well, let's just say that mature tools beat these beta apps any time, in my books.

      What specifically would you like to know?

      (Love the way I've posted 1 message. One. Visited this site twice. Now I've veen awarded the "Frequent Visitor" badge. What a joke)
      • Greg_Deckler's avatar
        Greg_Deckler
        Community Champion
        8 years ago

        Sounds like you aren't using the right connector. If you use the SharePoint Online list connector, you should definitely be offered to use OAuth. Perhaps you are using the SharePoint (on-premises) connector by mistake?

         

        If you have a specific issue or question we are happy to help. Please see this post regarding How to Get Your Question Answered Quickly: https://community.powerbi.com/t5/Community-Blog/How-to-Get-Your-Question-Answered-Quickly/ba-p/38490

         

        If you just want to complain, well, you probably won't get much help. Please vent to co-workers instead. That's not really the purpose of this forum.