Export to PowerPoint - files are not created after the first export of the day

[MiraNi]

Customer has exported a report to PowerPoint and the first attempt was successfull. Customer could see a file in Windows explorer in Downloads folder. She exported the same report the second time and got the normal message in Power BI service, that the file is created. She expected to find a second file with (1) at the end of the file name in Windows file explorer but the file was not there. 

This only happens for her, not her colleaque or in my test case. Exporting works fine in other Office applications so this seems to be a Power BI connected issue.

Edit: Files are created but named ending with timestamp. Where is this coming from?

[v-jiewu-msft]

Hi @MiraNi ,

Based on the testing, file with (1), (2) at the end of file name in windows downloads.

So, try to use different browser to export powerpoint to see if the problem exists. Try to check if there are any settings in the power bi service might be affecting the name of exported power point.

Export entire reports to PowerPoint - Power BI | Microsoft Learn

Best Regards,

Wisdom Wu

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

[MiraNi]

I have no idea, where to check, what could affect the naming - any suggestions? 

[Sahir_Maharaj]

Hello @MiraNi,

Sometimes, the browser's cache and cookies can cause unexpected behavior. Have the customer clear the cache and cookies and then please try exporting again.

Also, some browser extensions, especially download managers, can interfere with the download process. Temporarily disabling these extensions may resolve the issue.

Hope this helps.

[MiraNi]

Thanks! I'll ask customer to test this. 

[MiraNi]

Files are actually created but not ending with (1), (2) etc. but with the timestamp. When user is exporting to pdf, the files ARE named ending with (1), (2) etc. Why is this happening, where is the setting for the timestamp coming from?

[Sahir_Maharaj]

Hello @MiraNi,

When you export reports to PDF or PowerPoint from Power BI, the platform uses different mechanisms to avoid overwriting files with the same name.

• For PDF, Power BI typically appends (1), (2), etc., to avoid overwriting files in the destination folder.
• For PowerPoint exports, Power BI appends a timestamp to the filename. This is done to ensure that each export is unique and traceable to a specific time.

Hope this helps!

[MiraNi]

Hi, 

you said: "

• For PowerPoint exports, Power BI appends a timestamp to the filename. This is done to ensure that each export is unique and traceable to a specific time."

For me, on my computer the Powerpoint files are named with (1), (2) etc. not with the timestamp. This customer is first time, I see the timestamp at the end of the name. 

And anyway, the problem still is that there is only one exporte file found in Downloads folder, even if the user has exported many during the same day.