Forum Discussion
onedrive refreshWITHOUT gateway
CahabaData, would that it were that simple. You'll need to use Desktop (or excel) to create a Data model. This may contain data from Cloud-based and on-premise files. That then is published to Power BI service. If you've only used Cloud based data, refresh is (relatively) easy and won't need a gateway. If you've used any on-premise data you'll need a gateway to refresh that data.
However if you connect to data through Get Data in power BI service, and choose a Service, that will connect to the cloud-based service and set up the data model for you along with the refresh. So you don't need desktop here.
I guess that if you only ever want to access cloud based data as provided in Services, you can do without Power BI desktop, but if you want to access on-premise data, you'll need to use Desktop.
Stuart
When you say "If you've used any on-premise data you'll need a gateway to refresh that data" do you include Excel files stored on OneDrive for business?
If so your information contradict what i understand from others and from what i read here:
Question: What if my Excel workbook just has rows of data I typed in?**
Answer: A gateway is not required. You only need to install and configure a gateway if your workbook uses Power Query or Power Pivot to query and load data to the data model from a supported on-premises data source
From <https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/documentation/powerbi-personal-gateway/>
jmdh A couple things:
You are correct, if the Excel file is stand alone in the One Drive it does not need a gateway, because you aren't refreshing any data in the file from an on premises source.
To your previous post:
When you reference the Excel file in the One Drive location you need to use the external facing link. Details here
Thank a lot: this is the first time that i can have a refresh working without a gateway as it should.
The link you sent was very useful since i had tried using a Onedrive link before as a source of data , but without success, when with your link it was a pleasure.
So i am left with : can automatic refreshes work when i use the same data file in PowerBI Desktop , but i access it with Get Data Excel insteadof Get Data Web (that has never worked for me)
jmdh I guess I don't understand the question. The link I provided was for the Desktop, it should work either way...