I am using Microsoft Power BI with Exact Online using Data Access Point on https://data-access-point.com using queries such as select * from exactonlinexml..aroutstandingitems. However, the URL must contain the user name and password to allow Data Access Point to connect to Exact Online on my behalf.
This is not desired behaviour; I would like it to be more easy to change the password and also I would like that the pbix file to not contain the user name and especially password.
I've tried generating the pbix file contents by hand, but the format seems to change as Microsoft Power BI further matures and this causes major versioning issues.
How can I avoid embedding the user name and password for Exact Online the Data Access Point URL for Power BI?
When the distribution of the pbix files with embedded Exact Online user logon code and password is out of your control or does not meet your security standards, then you can use the ADO.Net provider for Exact Online. However (I work there) it is not a free product as currently Data Access Point. But it works fine and is compatible on SQL level (both support SQL v2 grammar).
Steps to install (might improve in the future):
Register the ADO.NET provider in machine.config.
In Power BI:
Get Data -> Other -> Blank Query or Edit Queries -> New Source -> Blank Query.
Advanced Editor and use the following as source.
let
Source = AdoDotNet.Query
( "Invantive"
, "provider=ExactOnlineAll;apiUrl=https://start.exactonline.nl;"
, "select * from PayablesListOverdue"
)
in
Source
When you need another source as ExactOnline, replace ExactOnlineAll by the corresponding provider such as Teradata or CbsNl. There is yet no support for distributed queries.
When you need another country than NL, use the corresponding URL, such as https://start.exactonline.co.uk. It does not work for France and Spain.
And then update the SQL query (put it all on one line or copy/paste from an editor which allows you to enter multi-line statements.
Click 'Done'.
Grant permission when asked (Power BI can be persistent about that, be persistent too).
When Power BI asks for your credentials, select 'Database' and enter your full Exact Online credentials.
Remember to specify a useful name.
Close and apply.
Enjoy.
You can also install the Custom Connectors for Power BI from ado.net-provider.cloud. First enable preview feature on July 2017 or later release.
Note! The custom connector program of Microsoft is not yet fully available as of 2020 for certifications by 3rd party. As an alternative connect to Exact Online using the OData connector Power BI and Power Query ship with and register a virtual database on Invantive Cloud.
And then choose a connection such as Exact Online:
And then choose a table.
Related
I'm working on creating an excel report that collects data from a local copy of a SQL Server database on my maschine, where I use Power Query to retrieve the data. These are then loaded into a PowerPivot data model. Now I'm finished with the development and on my way to put this into production on another server on the customer's server. The Excel workbook must change database settings using sql server database user Connection (not integrated). I had hoped that I could change the database Connection Properties at the Data tab, but there are not any easy way to change the connection string to the new server. Now I can't see any option that going through every Power Query query and change them manually. I have great hope that you Power Query experts have a Nice explaination and an example how I can solve this.
Hope to hear from you soon
Regards Geir F
There isn't a great solution for bulk server rename today, but we're very aware of the customer demand! (I can't promise anything about upcoming features, but at some point in the past I heard the dev team discuss this feature.) I'd recommend showing your support for this feature at https://excel.uservoice.com/
If you need to solve this soon, manually opening each query and editting the server string is what you need to do, sorry :\
(If you're building new reports again, Power BI Desktop lets you parameterize the server name to a top-level query, which would allow for quick rename operations!)
Do you only need to change the server name? If you go to the Data Source Settings window, you can select the SQL Server source you are using and click on the "Change Source..." button. If you change the server name in that dialog, it will change the server name in all of the queries that use that source (assuming it's the first step in the query).
I want to link an excel file to SQL Server 2014 whereby I can edit the file and the data gets updated on the server automatically.
Similar to what happens when you link sql server to Access whereas you can edit the data and the changes take effect in the server.
Thanks in advance
There is no out of the box solution for this. You can do this either of two ways:
Write a C# code which has a file watcher attached to the Excel file which uploads the Excel file using SSIS job to the database.
Create a scheduled SSIS job which imports the Excel file periodically.
Understanding the purpose would allow for greater elaboration.
This depends on the type of data you wish to edit.
For master data, if you have the Enterprise or Business Intelligence edition of SQL Server and Master Data Services set up, there is a plug-in for Excel:
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh231024(v=sql.120).aspx
For transactional data, I would strongly advise against using Excel as a front-end and would recommend you to consider alternatives.
However, if you are compelled to go down this route, you can achieve this using VBA scripting and linking via a DAL (Data Access Layer) such as ADO.NET. Be aware that giving such power to your users could open up your system to sql injection attacks - only proceed so if you trust the users 100%. Another thing to take into consideration is validation checks - validation checks should be applied to every cell where data can be entered. More information can be found here:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/316934
In a previous question (Options for cloud based MS Access backend) one poster, Albert D. Kallal, stated:
"...you could certainly consider to up-size your Access back end tables up to office 365 and continue to use your Access front end. And more amazing is with Access 2010 this means you get a "off line" and disconnected mode. This means that your application will continue to run EVEN WITH NO internet connection. The instant you find a wifi then the data sync process starts again. And this sync is not file based, but record based and is really replication built into the product and this setup requires ZERO extra code on your part."
I am looking for any pointers as to how I may do this. I have found how to export tables into Sharepoint (but from what I can see, there is then no local copy of the tables) and have also found how to convert to a web app - but but I can't seem to find anything about how to keep my current FE, have tables in Office365, and still get the "offline" mode whereby I can still access local copies of the BE tables when I have no internet access, as posted by Albert.
Any help, or links to appropriate content, would be appreciated
Please note I am relatively advanced when it comes to Access, but am totally new to Sharepoint/Office365.
I've created a simple (asmx) web service which returns a DataSet.
I've added the webservice to my Excel 2007 workbook using the Data -> From Web button and I'm able to view / refresh the data.
The problem comes when I need to secure the web service: I've turned on Windows authentication for the web service and the request uses SSL.
Unfortunately, the user's logged on windows credentials aren't used by Excel when trying to refresh the data - the refresh fails.
If I click on Data -> Connections -> Properties -> Definition -> Edit Query, only then am I prompted for my windows credentials and does the refresh then succeed.... not a problem for me, but not something I want every user of this spreadsheet to have to do... any ideas how to make the prompt come up when the refresh is attempted instead of having it fail??
Thanks!!
Update Answers so far are to do with SharePoint and Excel Services (neither of which are any use to me)... and one link for which "The following procedure does not apply to data that is retrieved from a text file or a Web query"... I just want a person with a copy of excel on his desktop machine to be able to update from a password-protected web service... is that so hard Microsoft??
Another Update Still no answers accepted - because no answers so far have provided a working solution ( Nice googling though - thanks guys ;-) )
While I haven't got SSL I can attest that Excel normally shouldn't ask you for authentication when using pass through authentication.
My guess is that you will need to add the destination website (with the https) to your trusted zone in IE. The effect should be that when you go to the website you shouldn't be challenged for your password at all. IE will now pass through the authentication credentials because the destination is in the trusted zone.
Once this is fixed Excel should treat it like a normal website.
Here's a link which talks you through adding your site to the trusted zone: http://www.nateirwin.net/2007/01/19/enabling-ntlm-authentication-in-firefox-and-internet-explorer/
The last time I dealt with this issue was in 2004. If I remember correctly, this is a bug in the Web Query technology in how the query deals with the SSL certificate. This is Excel 97 technology; therefore, fairly basic implementation.
After much research and troubleshooting, the only way around this issue is to create user and password parameters and post the web query. Using POST will keep the user/password hidden from prying eyes.
Following is my note from 2004: There is a problem with https, application/vnd.ms-excel, Internet Query (iqy), and Excel 2000/2002.
Have you checked out this question: What do I need to do to make Excel access a Web Query via HTTPS?
Excel's Web Queries Enable You to Populate Worksheets from Web Sites at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa155714(v=office.10).aspx.
Sites requiring authentication and passwords provide additional
challenges. They may require coded workarounds or may be unsolvable.
Error message when you use Web query to a secure Web page () in Excel: "Unable to open" at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290347.
XL97: How to Create Web Query (.iqy) Files at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/157482 is an invaluable resource. (There was a Web Query SDK once that I cannot find, but this article is a good replacement.)
Different Ways of Using Web Queries in Microsoft Office Excel 2003 at .
I don't know if this will help, but I faced a similar situation while importing data from a remote SQL Server Database. What I did was create a role inside the database itself, and assign any users who needed access to that role.
The data is updated into the workbook when the file is loaded using Microsoft Query, so I don't know how that might differ from how you have done things.
The biggest issue with doing it this way was to open the properties for the query and check the "Use Trusted Connection" box. This worked without an issue for me. Again, this was from a remote server, not a secure website. Hope this helps.
i hope this will help you : Refresh connected imported data
We had a similar situation at work, however, we are using Office 2010. I'm not sure of the limitations of 2007. Check out these links. The last two are specifically for Excel 2007.
Link 1: Configure Secure Store Service for Excel Services
Link 2: Ten Tips for Using SharePoint Server 2007 with Excel Services
Link 3: Plan external data connections for Excel Services
I have provided users with a view of a large data set through Sql Server Analysis Services, and they find it very easy and intuitive to manipulate.
However, I am now being asked to provide them with access to smaller and smaller data sets, for which Analysis Services is not a great fit. The reason is that they like the ease of manipulation of the data, and it's pretty flexible in it's presentation of the data.
Also, many of the data sets are available to retrieve via a REST API, in a tabular form, which I'd prefer to use rather than providing database access.
Can anyone recommend any tools or libraries (ideally open source) which:
provide an SSAS-like interface for building up a pivot table (with attributes grouped together rather than in a flat list)
can retrieve their data from a web service rather than a traditional DB?
(NB I thought about trying powerpivot, but I'm not really sure what I'd be getting myself into, so if anyone has any experience of using this I'd be interested to hear)
Powerpivot is an excel plugin for excel 2010 that uses the vertipaq engine. It has a language called DAX that is very similar to MDX,
more information can be found here
If you wish to use PowerPivot, you have three options:
1) Use PowerPivot from within Excel (it's a free add-in - be sure to install the edition that matches the edition of Excel you have, i.e. 2007 or 2010 and 32-bit or 64-bit). You are using the resources of the client machine in this configuration.
2) Use PowerPivot for SharePoint - this requires SPS 2010 Enterprise. It allows you to host (render) the PowerPivot workbook using resources from the SPS server.
3) Use SQL Server 2012 SSAS installed in Tabular mode (to build a BISM). BI Semantic Models are PowerPivot models which are hosted on a SQL Server instance. This requires a full SQL Server licence, so it's certainly not cheap. However, here you have the greatest flexibility for resources, as you can use (control/monitor) the resouces of your server.
For more information see my deck on the BISM on SlideShare.