Permission to View & Copy reports from a workspace

[danxshap]

Hi,

We have a workspace with reports that are all built on the same dataset, and we have granted build permissions for that dataset to a particular user group.

We're trying to achieve the following objectives:

1. Allow the user group to View (not modify) all of the reports in the Workspace
2. Allow the user group to save a copy of the reports to their "My workspace"

Up until yesterday, we achieved this by using an App. We granted the user group access to the App, with build permissions for the underlying dataset, and they were able to copy reports from the app.

However, we just upgraded to the new app authoring UI, and Power BI Support said that the feature I linked to above — the ability to save a copy of a report from an app — has been removed.

Can anyone suggest a workaround for us that wouldn't be too much trouble if we needed to repeat it across multiple workspaces, each with many reports?

Thank you!

[v-yueyunzh-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi, @danxshap 

According to your description, you want to let other users implement copy report, but don't want them to be able to modify the report in the workspace.

I'm very sorry, the app had the "Allow Copy report" function before the revision, but the checkbox has been cancelled after the revision.

Through the test, even the Viewer+Bilud permission of the workspace cannot copy the report of the workspace.

Reports that currently want to copy a workspace must at least have the role of Contributor for that workspace. However, the Contributor role can edit the content in this workspace by default, so your needs may not be met at the moment.

Documentation can be found here:

Roles in Workspaces

Copy Reports in Power BI Service

If this method does not meet your needs, you can provide us with your special sample data and the desired output sample data in the form of tables, so that we can better help you solve the problem.

Best Regards,

Aniya Zhang

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

[Anonymous]

We are experiencing the same problem. Is this planned to be reset in near future? 

Thanks & Kr

David

[danxshap]

Thanks for confirming, this looks correct.

It's really unfortunate that this regression in functionality was introduced!

[Adescrit]

Hi @danxshap 

Adding the user group to the Workspace as a "Viewer" would satisfy the first condition (allowing them to View (not modify) all of the reports in the Workspace).

However in order to allow the user group to to save a copy of a report to their own workspace I think you'd need to upgrade their workspace role to "Contributor", as per the table below:

Unfortunately upon doing so you would grant them permission to create, edit and delete content in a workspace.

[Adescrit]

@danxshap 

Perhaps by granting them "Build" permissions on a dataset, but assigning them as a Viewer role within the workspace, you could satisfy your requirements.

[danxshap]

Hi @Adescrit — the accepted answer confirms that your suggestion does not work. Thank you anyway for trying to help!