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Dataflow-based Datasets in service

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Richard Power BI User on 30 Nov 2019 14:48:27

The dataflows product is potentially very useful - I especially like the idea of being able to append historical data to incrementally refreshed data.

However, one major drawback is the fact that in order to use a dataflow in a dataset, you have to download it to the desktop, and then upload it back to the service once you've completed your data model.

It would be great if you only had to use the preview version of the dataflow in desktop, or even better, if you could do all modelling, DAX etc. completely within the service.

If there are workarounds for this I'd love to hear them.

Comments (31)
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Graeme Gourlay on 12 Oct 2021 12:24:23

RE: Dataflow-based Datasets in service

This functionality seems like core capability needed in the service.

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Salvatore Cagliari on 01 Oct 2021 14:08:32

RE: Dataflow-based Datasets in service

I agree with all comments above.
It is a mess that it's not possible to create a dataset online, which is based on a Dataflow.

There are a lot of people out here, that have large amount of data.
This feature should be implemented very soon.

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Sujay Dutta on 12 Aug 2021 18:41:07

RE: Dataflow-based Datasets in service

Need the ability to build PowerBI dashboard from multiple SharePoint Lists and also API calls without having to use PowerBI Desktop. A lot of us are on the Mac and cannot use the Windows only PBI desktop! Please make the PowerBI feature rich as the desktop. Everything is API driven these days, not sure why PowerBI Desktop even exists!!

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Harsh Kothari on 29 Jun 2021 13:42:27

RE: Dataflow-based Datasets in service

Completely agree! very much needed.

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Eijaz Sheikh on 05 May 2021 14:31:41

RE: Dataflow-based Datasets in service

This is the difficulty i am currently facing. It means creating a dataflow in PBI Pro Service, connecting and downloading it to Power BI Desktop, modelling it and then copying the Source Code from Advanced Editor for each Entity and pasting it in same Entity in PBI Service. Wish there was a way to allow modification and update to a PBI Service Dataflow once connected via Power BI Desktop.

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Al B on 20 Jan 2021 07:54:51

RE: Dataflow-based Datasets in service

Completely agree. Very much needed

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Greg McNamara on 06 Oct 2020 04:06:24

RE: Dataflow-based Datasets in service

It's definitely counter-intuitive to have the ability to create a dataflow in my Power BI Service workspace, but then not be able to use that dataflow as a source for datasets in that same workspace. I hope this functionality gets added soon.

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Jeff Nixon on 06 Jul 2020 00:13:51

RE: Dataflow-based Datasets in service

Also, an external guest user can create a dataflow but there is no way to create anything useful (i.e. pbix) from that dataflow. How is a consulting partner supposed to create reports from the dataflows they just created on the client's tenant? Interim solution is to teach client to create a pbix based on the dataflow, publish to the service, from where I can download the pbix, edit, and use the Get Data in the service to upload the modified dataset/report. Rather a kludgy method.

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Power BI User on 06 Jul 2020 00:10:44

RE: Dataflow-based Datasets in service

And can we refresh dataflow by automate?

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Aakash Gupta on 06 Jul 2020 00:07:38

RE: Dataflow-based Datasets in service

This is very much required as when the size is large, PBI desktop does not help