Use dataset as a workflow

[PZUDGW]

How can I use a uploaded dataset from de PBI-service as a dataflow for other reports?

Greetings.

PZU

[collinq]

HI @PZUDGW ,

I am not sure of the process there.  A dataflow is used to help create a dataset.  A dataset uses the workflow to access the data.  The dataset is the model layer.  So, if you are asking if a dataset can be used in multiple Power BI reports, the answer is yes.  I don't believe that you can have a workflow that uses a dataset to create another dataset.  You maybe could do this with PowerApps or some other tool.   

Other Power BI reports can also use an established Power BI Dataflow - without using an established dataset.  

I would appreciate Kudos if my response was helpful. I would also appreciate it if you would Mark this As a Solution if it solved the problem. Thanks!

[PZUDGW]

Thanks collinq for your reply!

I have this excelfile with content that changes once or twice a year. Originaly I wanted to upload the local Excel-file in de PBI-service as a dataflow (to use in more than 1 report). But trying this from my local workspace, I did not manage to do this succesfully truth our gateway. I know it easy when using Office 365, but we still are on Office 2016.

So I was thinking of uploading a dataset + empty report, remove the empty report and use the dataset from the PBI-service.

Could you advice me how to proceed futher?

[collinq · Accepted solution]

Hi @PZUDGW ,

For reports on the service, particularly if you want to share them one day, using a local machine's locatoin is strongly not recommended.  There are a lot of reasons for this that I won't get into right now.  I understand that you are not on O365 but do you have Dropbox, or OneDrive or some other fileshare program that is cloud based?  If you do, then putting the file there is the way to go and then the Report and Gateway can both get there relatively easily.

I think that this would be the best approach to your issue.

As for creating a dataset that hits an empty report you still have the same problem - you are going to have to link to the local file and that will cause problems for you from the service.  And, to be honest, I don't know quite how that would work.  A dataset by definition needs at least one data source.  I guess an empty Excel file is a datasource....but, there is nothing to manipulate and so you can't build a report.  And, so, whenever you actually start a report, you have to start from scratch anyway.  I don't see the benefit of having an empty shell of a dataset on the Service.

I would appreciate Kudos if my response was helpful. I would also appreciate it if you would Mark this As a Solution if it solved the problem. Thanks!