Why Power BI Desktop for On Premises Data

[kuldeep_kumar]

Hi

I am having confusion here after configuring Enterprize Gateway in Power BI service.

Why do I still need Power BI Desktop and then publish data to power BI service. Can't I access on Premises data directly in Power BI Service after Gateway configuration?

[Greg_Deckler]

Power BI Desktop gives you control over the data modeling and relationships. You cannot create things like measures and calculated columns in the Service for example.

[kuldeep_kumar]

But what if I dont want to create calculated columns and measures, directly want to use to existing data?

[KHorseman]

The gateway isn't a data source. It's just a passthrough for the refresh of a data source. To create the connection to the source, you have to use the desktop.

You could create a big master data model and publish it to an organizational content pack. Then you can use that as a starting point to create reports from the service.

[kuldeep_kumar]

@KHorseman  Yeah I understand Gateway is just a pass through device which will compress and enyrpt data from data source to Power BI service.

But my only confusion is: 

1) I have installled gateway and configured it on machine.

2) I have configured gateway in power BI service and define data source.

Now Power Bi service is already having data source and gateway configuration. Isn't it should have the capability of accessing the data from data source directly? If I don't need to add columns or measures.

Using Power BI desktop just for publishing data seems to me an extra step for getting data on Power BI service.

I am not able to understand why Power BI Desktop comes into picture for this case?

[GilbertQ · Accepted solution]

Hi @kuldeep_kumar

There are only some sources which you can connect to directly from the Power BI Service which is shown below. The rest you will have to do as the others have suggested.

Some of the sources below will require a gateway for SSAS Tabuar, whilst others you can connect to directly.

[kuldeep_kumar]

@GilbertQ Thanks that cleared my confusion.