Use Exchange distribution list as data source

[mobcdi]

Is it possible to access exchange distribution lists (on Global address list) as data sources in PowerBI and if so whats the best way of doing so?

I would like to be able to take the members of a distribution list and use their details as a data source in a dashboard with data from Sharepoint List but when I connect to Exchange data via my mailbox I get tables  with no data and no way to search the address book for the distribution list I want to work with

[v-yuezhe-msft]

Hi @mobcdi,

Which items do you import from your Exchange account to Power BI Desktop? Could you please post a screenshot?

Based on my test, when I connect to my mailbox using Microsoft Exchange connector in Power BI Desktop, I can load these items (Mail, Calendar, People, Tasks and Meeting Requests) to Power BI Desktop. For the People table in Query editor, I note that Power BI Desktop retrieves  data from Suggested Contacts folder in Exchange. There is an example for your reference.

When you expand the EmailAddress column, you can see the detailed email addresses of your contacts in your mailbox.

 
And you can get email addresses of recipients in Mail table.

Thanks,
Lydia Zhang

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

@mobcdi,

Can you access your import your Distribution Lists via Active Directory rather than Exchange - e.g. https://matt40k.uk/2016/11/dangers-of-distribution-lists/

[mobcdi]

@Anonymous thanks for the pointer the "group" container in Active Directory was able to get me the list of members in the distribution list. Thanks for the help.

If it helps others I needed to expand out the group.member list by converted it to a table and ended up wiht 700+ columns for each member of the distribution list.