Power BI Desktop with One Drive Sync

[zrichardson]

I have created a report using a local excel file to develop the report. My goal is to use OneDrive to automatically update this report. However, when I change the source to a OneDrive file, it isn't updating. I have been reading, and it seems this is because I am using Power BI Desktop to create the report. To have an in-sync dashboard, I would need to use the get data source - file - OneDrive for Business. However, in my report I have measures and columns that I need to get the stats that I want. Is there a way to use Power BI online to connect to a datasource and then upload the report that I built? 

[v-qiuyu-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi @zrichardson,

In your scenario, you can import your Power BI Desktop file from OneDrive. When you refresh the dataset, it uses information in the dataset to connect directly to the data sources to query for updated data it then loads into the dataset. Assume Excel file contains typed data without external connections, you can follow below two ways:

Method1:

1. In Power BI Desktop, get data from local Excel file, save report as .PBIX file. Then upload the .PBIX file to OneDrive for Business.

2. In Power BI Service, create a File type data source under on-premises data gateway ( make sure on-premise data gateway exists on the same server as Excel file).

3. Click Get Data ->Files-> OneDrive-Business, then check the uploaded .PBIX file.

4. Set schedule refresh for the dataset.

Method2:

1. Upload local Excel file to OneDrive for Business.

2. In Power BI Desktop, get data from uploaded Excel, save and upload .PBIX file to OneDrive for Business.

3. In Power BI Service, click Get Data ->Files-> OneDrive-Business, then check the uploaded .PBIX file.

4. Set schedule refresh for the dataset.

Reference:
Refresh a dataset created from a Power BI Desktop file on OneDrive, or SharePoint Online

Best Regards,
Qiuyun Yu

[amysmith]

Hi 

We have added a video on how to auto refresh  / sync OneDrive for Business with the Power BI Service on:

http://power-bi-training1.teachable.com/p/power-bi-free-tutorial-videos/

[zrichardson]

Will method two work? If I have an excel sheet that will be updated every hour, how is the pbix file going to see those changes and update the dataset?