Download pbix after Update datasource - what do you get?

[gotters]

Can anyone help me understand this limitation in terms of downloading a PBIX file from PBI Service.
(Found here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/create-reports/service-export-to-pbix)

• If you download a live connection report (connected to SSAS or AAS) after you change its data source by using REST APIs Update Datasources or Update Datasources In Group, the downloaded .pbix will still contain the old data source.

It reads like its saying that if you download a pbix file after an update datasource has been applied to switch the datasource, then in your report you will still see the old data (from before the update datasource) even though you are looking at a live connected report.

Technically that makes no sense to me how or why it would be like that.

I assume it means the obvious that....

If you download a pbix file and then apply an update datasource to the dataset, you will still see the old data in your report pbix from before the update datasource, even though its live connected (but because it was downloaded before the update)

Bottom line - surely if a dataset undergoes a datasource update AND THEN the report pbix is download, it will be connected to the latest up to date datasource - correct?

Can someone confirm for me?

Thanks

[Shahfaisal · Accepted solution]

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@gotters wrote:

Bottom line - surely if a dataset undergoes a datasource update AND THEN the report pbix is download, it will be connected to the latest up to date datasource - correct?

Can someone confirm for me?

Thanks

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I don't think so. The documentation says the data source update made via REST API is not reflected in the pbix file when you download it. Maybe it is a limitation or intentional. 

[StefanoGrimaldi · Accepted solution]

when facing limitations just take word by word what the limitation says, in this case its exactly as they say, if you change the datasource via rest apix and download the pbix file it will be connected to the previous source not the update one via rest apis. this could be because simply the feature or fix for it to work the change directly on the file isnt implemented yet or not even on pipeline and its just changing the source on a web service parameter reference instead of the file itself, 

solution. dowload the pbix change the source and upload it with the source changed for any future use u can have.

[gotters]

By the way, not sure how your solution can work? Even if we could allow our users this kind of access, they are downloading a PBIX that is pointing to a live connected dataset. How could they modify the source? ALl they can do is select which dataset to connect to?

[gotters]

If that's true that's terrible. We are trying to build a Self Service feature allowing our users to download a report connected to a dataset. This simply won't work.
Thanks for your reponse.

[Shahfaisal · Accepted solution]

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@gotters wrote:

Bottom line - surely if a dataset undergoes a datasource update AND THEN the report pbix is download, it will be connected to the latest up to date datasource - correct?

Can someone confirm for me?

Thanks

---

I don't think so. The documentation says the data source update made via REST API is not reflected in the pbix file when you download it. Maybe it is a limitation or intentional.