update visuals on sub report when main report is modified

[dax_bi]

Hi 

I have published a report from my desktop version to the web containing data / images on 5 users and on the web platform I made individual sub reports for the 5 users using filters. Then I made some changes (changed images jpg or png) on the main report from the desktop version and published again, the data got updated on the sub reports but the images did not update. I had to manually open 5 subreports on the web and change the images maually. 

Now here is there a way to automatically update the 5 subreports at one go when i update the main report ?

Thank you for your time. Hopefully, someone can help me.

[v-jingzhang]

Hi @dax_bi 

How did you create these individual sub reports from the main report? Through copies of the main report or URL filters or any other ways? And how did you add the images into the report? Through image URL or inserting static images from local drive? 

Based on my testing, if images are added through URLs, they will be updated successfully. Sometimes it seems not updated because Power BI Service needs some time to update the report after refreshing the dataset. In this circumstance, you just need to wait a while or refresh the report page to see the update. 

Kindly let me know if this helps. If not, please share more details about above questions thus I can investigate further for other causes and workarounds.

Community Support Team _ Jing Zhang
If this post helps, please consider Accept it as the solution to help other members find it.

[dax_bi]

Hi @v-jingzhang 

Thanks for your reply. 

the sub reports were created from the main report, i edit the main report and do a "save a copy of this report" then use filters for each users. The images were added form the local drive. Its been few days now and the sub reports are not updated yet.

Im not sure if this is the right way to create a sub report, if its not can you please suggest me a way to update 5 subreports when i update the main report. This would be really helpfull.

Thank you for your time. 

[v-jingzhang]

Hi @dax_bi 

If you insert images from Insert>Elements>Image, these images are like static visuals not data-bound visuals. When you "save a copy of this report", the copy is an independant report from the main report. It means that no matter you add/remove visuals, or do any other editting operations in the main report or the copy report, it will not affect the other one. However, because they are based on the same dataset, data-bound visuals will be updated when the dataset is refreshed, but static visuals will not. Actually the update is data update passed from dataset to report, rather than report design update passed from main report to copy report. The report designs between main report and copy report are independant from each other.

One workaround is to display images in data-bound visuals. You can display images in a table, matrix, slicer or other custom visuals you could find in App Source. You can upload images to a cloud service storage location and store image URLs in a table of your dataset. You can also use local images but there is some data size limitation. Please refer to this video or this blog. 

Another workaround is that probably you don't need to create sub reports. If your sub reports are all the same as main report except the filtered data for different users, you could explore Row Level Security (RLS) to see whether it is applicable for your scenario. RLS can restrict data access based on users. Otherwise, you could also explore URL filters if you just want to do some pre-filters for users rather than restrict data access. However, if you want the sub report users to be able to edit sub reports, RLS and URL filters are probably not appropriate.

I cannot tell which workaround will be better. You could consider your specifc situation and the limitations of each choice in the links. Maybe you will come up with better ideas than those above. 

Kindly let me know if this helps.

Community Support Team _ Jing Zhang
If this post helps, please consider Accept it as the solution to help other members find it.

[aj1973]

Hi @dax_bi 

I don't see a reason for the images not to be updated other than the Power BI service could take up to 15 mins to update the views coming from a refresh through the desktop. So give it some time until you can confirm that the update didn't accure

[dax_bi]

Hi @aj1973 

The images on the main report is updated but not on the sub reports, it been few days now and the images did not automatically update. The images i used to add is from the local drive. 

Im not sure if this is the right way to create a sub report, if its not can you please suggest me a way to update 5 subreports when i update the main report. This would be really helpfull.

[aj1973]

Hi @dax_bi 

I join @v-jingzhang with his work arrounds. 

Try them and let us know please.