Refreshing data from an excel file

[Anonymous]

Hello Power BI Novice here, 

I keep getting this error.

"Refresh can't be scheduled because the data set doesn't contain any data model connections, or is a worksheet or linked table. To schedule refresh, the data must be loaded into the data model."

I want to be able to have information uploaded/refreshed from an excel file. Is it possible to do this/how? Any guides would be useful. (I know nothing.) 

Thank you!

[Julianaz]

I experienced the same issue - after Publish the excel table data into Power BI service, even though we get new dataset but there is no connection with the data source, say the local excel file, (it's like copy paste; there is no connection any more). The refresh action won't do anything; either we can't schedule the refresh. That's my reasoning. 🙂

[GilbertQ]

Hi @Anonymous 

In order for data to be refreshed it has to connect back to a data source.

Because your data is coming from an Excel file and it is essentially being copied there is no data source connection.

You would need to import the Excel file into Power BI Desktop, and then configure the gateway to refresh it.

[Anonymous]

Thanks @GilbertQ 

I think that I currently am only utilizing the Service (it's in my browser) I'll have to speak with my Company IT department to get the Desktop version downloaded. I don't think that I can make the data connections without it. 

Presto_RCP