Error Help - Can't publish Power BI Desktop file. Looks like that we're unable to access the dataset

[CharlotteB]

Hello,

I'm wondering if anyone can help me - I gave my client a bunch of reports all connected to one dataset. He wants to upload all of these files into HIS workspace. He uploaded the dataset successfully, and he changed the connection string by changing the parameters in the dataset settings (I made it so the Server Name and Database Name are parameters so you can change the connection string in the workspace without opening the report). The problem is when he tries to upload individual reports - he gets this error: 

"Can't publish Power BI Desktop file. Looks like we're unable to access the dataset. Please contact the owner of the dataset."

It seems like he needs to open each report and repoint it to the PowerBi Dataset he successfully uploaded, and then publish it himself. Does anyone know why he can't simply upload the reports from the workspace? Why isn't it finding the dataset that he successfully uploaded? Is the only way to really open all of the individual reports and report them that way?

Thanks in advance!

[GBR1979]

Hi everyone, 

I have almost the same error message as alexasma: I now have the following message when trying to publish a Power BI report (already published several time before; I also have the same problem with all other Power BI reports, even with a newly (tiny) created one):

Could it be linked to the last version of Power BI ? My version is from May 2024:

My colleague has the version of April 2024 and is able to publish...

Thanks for any hint on this 😉

[v-zhangti · Accepted solution]

Hi, @CharlotteB 

Based on the error message you provided, it seems like the reports are still pointing to the original dataset, rather than the one your client uploaded. This could be because the connection string was not updated in the report files themselves.

To resolve this issue, your client will need to open each report and update the connection string to point to the new dataset. This can be done by going to the "Edit Queries" menu, selecting "Data source settings", and updating the connection string there.

Alternatively, your client could try creating a new report in the workspace and connecting it to the new dataset. This should create a new report that is properly connected to the dataset, which can then be published to the workspace. However, this may not be a feasible solution if there are many reports that need to be updated.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/create-reports/desktop-upload-desktop-files#republish-or-... 

Best Regards,

Community Support Team _Zhang

If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

[Anonymous]

I have the same problem actually if anyone can help me, this is the error message I'm having

[p530479forever]

I had the same issue. In the bottom right there is a green "Publish" button. I was unable to view it on my laptop - my screen looking the same as your screenshot. I could see the button when I moved my PowerBI app to my connected desktop screen. In order to fix it on my laptop - I had to go into the 'Display' settings on my PC and change my screen size/scaling ☹️ Mine was set to 150% by default, and changing it to 125% fixed it so I can see the publish button on my laptop. Very annoying though, I've got shocking eyesight haha and the -25% applies to the whole computer, and to my knowledge there is a way to apply the screen scaling to only the PowerBI desktop app. Alas, it is a work-around that I will accept for the time being.