Excel data refreshes from OneDrive and Power BI Desktop?

[eskyline]

I would like to put an Excel file out in OneDrive (preferrably in a group workspace OneDrive), be able to Get Data from the Power BI Desktop to create a .pbix, then deploy that to the Power BI Service and have the regular Power BI Service OneDrive refresh pull updates to the data if there are any pushed out to the Excel file.

It appears to me that this is not possible at present as the dataset that gets created in the Power BI service indicates I need the Personal Gateway. when I review scheduling or attempt a refresh manually.  In my test scenario I first syncronized my group workspace OneDrive and then created my XLS and saved it to this syncronized folder.  I then selected that field from the Get Data in the Power BI Desktop.  It appears to me that whatever gets published to the Service from the PBIX is making the service recognize the source for the dataset as local as opposed to cloud/OneDrive.

Has anyone got this scenario with getting data and creating the report in the Power BI Desktop, not the service, to work? 

I understand and have verified that if you put an XLS (with data formatted as a table, or with a Power Pivot Model) on OneDrive and then GetData from it out out of hte Power BI SERVICE the refreshes will work.

[amysmith]

Hi,  if you wish, you will be able to learn more here:

https://www.udemy.com/power-bi-business-intelligence-with-query-onedrive-and-flow/?couponCode=PB7773...

[v-haibl-msft]

@eskyline

As smoupre said, the excel in your synchronized folder is recognized as local file. After we use a personal gateway, the schedule refresh will be available. I also found there is an similar idea and you can vote it.

Best Regards,

Herbert

[Greg_Deckler]

You should be able to go to "Get Data" | Files | OneDrive although I am not sure that supports O365 group workspace OneDrives, I have used it with Business and Personal OneDrive. I use "Connect" and it works and refreshes like a champ, no gateway required.

I believe that what is making it be recognized as local versus cloud is that you are synchronizing it to a local file and then selecting that file. At that point, it is a local file, not a cloud file, just a cloud file that is synchronized to a local file.

[eskyline]

Get Data / Files / OneDrive in the Power BI Desktop?  I'm not sure that exists.

[Greg_Deckler]

Sorry, was referring to the Service.

[eskyline]

No worries, thanks for looking and responding.  Just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something.  I appreciate the feedback from the community.

[eskyline · Accepted solution]

I found a solution with the help of the Guy in the cube. 

https://www.skylinetechnologies.com/Blog/Skyline-Blog/September_2016/RefreshingPowerBIReports