Using a Dataset twice - can't filter separately

[James452]

My organization is using PBI Service datasets as the primary delivery of data, but it’s not performing as expected if we pull the same dataset multiple times. We would like to have single dataset for Accounts, and allow users to use it multiple times in a single report as necessary. For example, to use the dataset once to identify clients with an account of type ‘D’, and separately with an account of type ‘L’.

Dataset Relationship:

Tables:

I uploaded this as a dataset to Power BI Service and tried to pull this into a PBI desktop report twice with a composite model; however it seems to be treating them as a single data source. I don’t have the two dataset instances connected at all, but putting a filter on one of them is placing that filter on both of them.

Desktop model:

Filter pane:

Why is it passing the filter to the other dataset instance when they’re not connected? I’m assuming it’s because it’s the same dataset in PBI Service even though it’s pulled separately in desktop. Any thoughts on why this is happening or how to work around it would be appreciated. We have other methods we can use if necessary, but this would be the simplest.

[lbendlin · Accepted solution]

I remember there was a discussion about this many years ago when composite models were new. I recall that this is by design. If this is important to you please consider voting for an existing idea or raising a new one at https://ideas.powerbi.com