Using the SharePoint Folder connector

[Caitlin_Knox]

Trying to use this new connector that became available in the April update, but it doesn't seem to be working as expected. I have a site created, with 3 separate document libraries. I'm trying to connect to one of those document libraries but am only able to successfully connect to the root site- which brings in all csv from the 3 document lirbaries. I also tried adding a folder in each of those document libraries and trying that URL as well, but I get the same error message as trying to query the doc library. I get the following error message:

[Anonymous]

Any update on this?

As others have pointed out filtering the folder/directory path isn't really viable as everything in the entire site is loaded in order to filter.

We've done a fair bit of business logic planning around this kind of folder specific loading.

If the comnnector can only pull in every doc from a site/doc library then why call it "Sharepoint Folder" - the connector should be called "Sharepoint Site" and the limitation made clear.

Cheers

[HansTheEnforcer]

This is copied from: http://www.microsofttrends.com/2015/07/29/connecting-to-sharepoint-online-document-libraries-from-po...

If you want to connect to your document libraries (for example if you wanted to report on the number of documents being uploaded) you can do this through the OData feed instead.

The URL for the OData feed is: https://yoursharepointsite/_vti_bin/listdata.svc to bring up all the lists and document libraries in Power BI Desktop or if you want to connect to a specific list the URL will be: https://yoursharepointsite/_vti_bin/listdata.svc/ListName. 

Once you have created a connection to your list or document library, you can use the table of items as a data source and create dashboards and reports based on this data.

----------------------------------

We had a similar issue at our company, this was the only way I found that works.  Basically abandon the Sharepoint Folder type and use OData instead.  Hope this helps!

-Fellow Frustrated User

[Anonymous]

Any update on this?

As others have pointed out filtering the folder/directory path isn't really viable as everything in the entire site is loaded in order to filter.

We've done a fair bit of business logic planning around this kind of folder specific loading.

If the comnnector can only pull in every doc from a site/doc library then why call it "Sharepoint Folder" - the connector should be called "Sharepoint Site" and the limitation made clear.

Cheers

[jtran]

I too am stuck with this issue.

I get an access error pop up.

[Llewbear]

@Caitlin_Knox I get the same error, have you managed to get past this error? Thanks!!

[Anonymous]

I too am experiencing this error.  Any word on a resolution?

[Llewbear]

Two things here

1. Create a SharePoint sub-site as the restrictions are different to the teamsite. 

2. In Query Editor, use = SharePoint.Files("https://clientsite.sharepoint.com/", [ApiVersion = 14])

This seems to work. 

If you struggle with SharePoint.Files, also try SharePoint.Contents

Let me know how it goes.

[HansTheEnforcer]

Had the same issue here using the Sharepoint Folder Connector.  I was able to load ALL of the folders and then filter to the one that I wanted, however when I tried to refresh, it took over an hour because it reads All the files then applies the filter.

Until they fix the connector, To connect to a document library use the info in this article.  SO MUCH FASTER...

http://www.microsofttrends.com/2015/07/29/connecting-to-sharepoint-online-document-libraries-from-po...

[gdackerm]

Same problem with the May update for Power BI

[gdackerm]

I get the same issue with the May update as well.

[Anonymous]

After a 2nd attempt to make this work I figured out a way to use this new connector.  I'm not sure if it is supposed to be this way but for now, it works.

When I tried to add the SharePoint folder method it asks for the URL for the site folder.  I thought it wanted the http://www.________.com/Site/Subsite/Shared_Documents/Parent_Folder/Folder_X/ reference.  What I ended up trying was each level up until I was at the link for the subsite, not the document folder and it worked.  The results were one massive table with every file from every document library on the subsite, but then it's possible to add in a filter to only select the files you want. 

So the link that worked for me was similar to http://www.________.com/Site/Subsite/

I hope this helps

[neds]

That works for me, but no Meta Data loads so it's kind of worthless.

[zolle04]

Hi tazman95,

for my sharepoint online it doesn't work. Is your SP on-prem?

my url is kind of: 'https://[company].sharepoint.com/[Subsite]

[Anonymous]

Same problem here.

[DAN]

Hi, just to inform that i have the same problem..

[zolle04]

I've the same problem.

[v-yuezhe-msft]

Hi Caitlin_Knox,

I test the scenario as yours, and get the same error when connecting to SharePoint document libraries or SharePoint folder using the new SharePoint Folder connector in Power BI Desktop April update.

I have reported this issue internally, I will update this thread when I get response.

Thanks,
Lydia Zhang

[DAN]

Hi,

I have information maybe useful with you:

When i try to connect to a sharepoint FOLDER (belong to a subsite), Power BI Desktop returns the error like yours.
But when i try to connect to the parent site "https://onexakis-my.sharepoint.com/", PBD catchs the link.

And the problem, i think, is that in Power Query, they recognize the link as a SharePoint FILES, not a FOLDER.
Power query:
= SharePoint.Files("https://onexakis-my.sharepoint.com/", [ApiVersion = 15])

Regards,
DAN

[Gabriel]

This did it for me.

I use only the path to my site in the first dialog and I get a table with all the files in all the subfolders.

Then, with a simple filter on the Folder Path column, I remove all the unwanted files.

Thank you!

Gabriel