Templates using SharePoint lists

[simonmoseley]

Hi,

 I have created some reports added some charts and slicers linking to a SharePoint site that I would like to use as a template for other subsites.

My questions are:-

• Should I save my report as a template or just change the data source and save as a new report each time? Best practice?
• My second question relates to pointing my report to a new site (data source) I have changed the source to another site then have to go Edit Queries to sort out the errors which are navigating to the same field names then deleting the duplicate applied steps which works ok but should I have to do this?
• The next issue is if a new site has the same fields but no data I get empty table error in the edit queries. How can I get round this or cant I?

Thank you so much in advance

[v-yuezhe-msft]

Hi @simonmoseley,

Firstly, you can create a data source parameter in your current Power BI Desktop file, then create a Power BI Report template. This way, users can use the Power BI Report template to instantiate new Power BI Reports on their machine by choosing different SharePoint site. For more details about Power BI template, please review the following blog and similar thread.

https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/deep-dive-into-query-parameters-and-power-bi-templates/
https://community.powerbi.com/t5/Desktop/How-to-create-a-template-with-a-different-data-source-every...

Secondly, what is the exact error you get? Generally, you would need to check applied steps in query editor and remove incorrect steps.

Thirdly, in this case, click on your query in query editor , and check APPLIED STEPS in Query Setting panel, some steps (for example,“Renamed Columns” ) should make changes to your columns, as long as you remove these steps, the error should go away.

Thanks,
Lydia Zhang

[simonmoseley]

Hi,

 thankyou for taking the time to get back to me. I thought the template was the better option and feel better for having that clarified. I will also add the paparemeter to promp the new data source.

The errors I get are warning triangles in the Queries field on the left which are expression errors the key didn’t match any rows in the table. Details Key=Record Table =Table. I click go to error then edit settings. When the Navigation windows pops up I selected the resource which is the same as the Queries on the left. On the applied steps it shows a duplicate called renamed columns1 which I delete, close and apply and all works ok until I get a site without any data in it I get a picture of a table next to the queries then when I apply and close I get Expression.Error The column id for the table wanst found. Can I get round this or will I have to populate it with some kind of demo data?

[v-yuezhe-msft]

Hi @simonmoseley,

The error which you get again indicates that the column has been deleted in the data source. You should have some steps in your query that explicitly reference the deleted column. You can open advanced editor on  your query, then find the deleted column in it, then correct the codes in  advanced editor.

Thanks,
Lydia Zhang

[simonmoseley]

Hi,

 thanks again for your help. I think my issue is because its a new site, it has the same feilds but no data as yet and I will have to tell my boss we cant show anything untill all the fields have something? I dont get this error picking other subsites with Data

Below are a few screen shots which may help explain myself better

At this point I go to the error and pick the same table I then get this

When I clicked Renamed Columns I get this

[v-yuezhe-msft]

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@simonmoseley wrote:

Hi,

 thanks again for your help. I think my issue is because its a new site, it has the same feilds but no data as yet and I will have to tell my boss we cant show anything untill all the fields have something?

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Hi @simonmoseley,

Yes. Or you would  need to delete "Rename Columns" step in Applied steps.

Thanks,
Lydia Zhang