Content Pack Datasets Do Nothing - Issue or By Design

[rayishome]

Not sure if this is by design or a bug. When a users installs the Content Pack the Dataset shows up, but when clicked does nothing. They can however view the Dataset via Excel, which seems odd. I would have believe the Dataset would allow users to build their own reports that are tied to the Dataset without updating the Reports or Dashboard directly linked to the Content Pack.

[ankitpatira]

@rayishome Users need to make a copy of content pack (right click three dots -> make a copy) which will give them a detached copy of content pack using which they can build their own reports and dashboards.

[rayishome]

Doesn't that disconnect the data refresh? 

[v-qiuyu-msft]

Hi @rayishome,

According to your description, it seems that you connect to a organization content pack, right?

In Power BI Service, only the content pack creator can modify the workbook and dataset, and schedule refresh. When the creator creates and uploads the content pack, that refresh schedule is uploaded with the datasets. For example, if User1 create a content pack and set schedule refresh, if you connect to this content pack, the dataset you get is also set with schedule refresh, so you needn't to set it again. For more information, please refer to links below:

The life cycle of an organizational content pack

Manage, update, and delete organizational content packs in Power BI

If you have any question, please feel free to ask.

Best Regards,
Qiuyun Yu

[rayishome]

We want the share a dataset the user can use to create new reports, but can not edit etc. The odd thing is excel can connect to the dataset in the content pack, but the report designer can not.

[v-qiuyu-msft]

Hi @rayishome,

When the creator shares the content pack with one user, this user can make a copy of content pack and create a report from the dataset, but this customization will not affect the source, the original content pack, or other group members. I would suggest you take a look at the first link posted in my original reply.

As you mentioned "The odd thing is excel can connect to the dataset in the content pack, but the report designer can not.", I think it's Analyze in Excel feature. This feature is provided for us to view and interact with a dataset we have access to in Power BI, but we can't use this feature to edit the dataset. So you needn't to worry about this. For more information about this feature, you can see: Analyze in Excel.

Best Regards,
Qiuyun Yu