Excel workbooks that use ODC/BISM

[Anonymous]

Hello guys,

I'm desperately trying to find out if Report Server can host excel workbooks that use some shared data connection, e.g. BISM or ODC. Please share your opinions.

Many thanks. 

[hugoberry]

Have you considered Office Online Server?

I've configured a setup where it hooks up into Power BI Report Server.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/report-server/excel-oos 

[Anonymous]

Hi hugoberry and thanks for your reply.

Yes, OOS is being considered. I'm just trying to understand if Excel files will be able to use a 'centralized' connection file, stored on the report server.

[andrip]

Hi

I've got a Power BI Report server setup with OOS and Excel reports connected to an SSAS Cube (MD) is working when using a connections string. When I upload an Excel report that is using a centrally stored .odc connection file defined for the same SSAS Cube I get an error saying that it's trying to utilize an ODS file and that I'm not licensed to use that feature, The file is stored in Sharepoint 2013. I also tried uploading the odc file to the report server but I'm not able to point to that location within Excel.

It would be great to get some more information regarding Excel reports and the Power BI Report Server and if there are any plans to add features to support that architecture. I would also like to see a scheduled data refresh for the Excel reports like I use in Sharepoint through the PowerPivot data refresh feature. It's very convenient to have a nightly refresh for heavy reports so they're  available for users with fresh data in the morning.