Connect Power BI Desktop with Power BI Service

Power BI Desktop is the system version of Power BI present in the local system, It is downloaded as a free application. The comprehensive report authoring tool for report designers is Power BI Desktop.  You can connect to many data sources through the desktop and then turn the data into a data model. The addition of visuals based on the data model is the last step in the report generation process. Whereas PowerBi service is a cloud-based service where users view and interact with the reports. The Power BI reports are published to the Service by report creators using the Desktop application. Users of the Service can exchange and collaborate with coworkers while editing reports and developing visualizations using the current data model.

Connecting to datasets in the Power BI service from Desktop

We can directly add, datasets from the PowerBI service, to our Desktop. 

Step 1: Open your PowerBI desktop. Under the Data section, Click on the Get Data button.  

Step 2: A drop-down appears. To add datasets from the PowerBI service, click on the PowerBI datasets.  

Step 3: A new dialogue box name, Data hub appears on the screen. Select the required dataset. For example, geeks_for_geeks.   

Step 4: As soon as we select the dataset, Connect button gets enabled. Click on the Connect button. 

Step 5: We will observe that all the tables inside the dataset are added, under the Fields section. Hence, we are successfully been able to connect the PowerBI dataset from the Desktop. 

Connecting Power BI Desktop With Power BI Service

The entire connection process, consists of two parts, the first part is to create an account on the Power BI Service, this step could be skipped if you already have an account with the Power BI service. The second part is to publish a report on the Power BI service from the Power BI desktop.

Step 1: Go to PowerBIOnline, If you have never created an account on Power BI, then click on the Try free, button, else, click on the Sign in button. 

Step 2: A new dialogue box appears. Here, we need to enter the email, for which we want to create an account. Remember, university, corporate, and organization accounts can be used, to create an account. It means, that no Gmail, Hotmail, or any other personal domains can be used. Click on the Submit button. 

Step 3: The next page will open, it comprises three steps. The step1 is to get started, we need to select what type of email account we are using, either an organization account or a personal account. 

Step 4: Create your account. Fill in the required details as per said below. Enter your first name, surname, country of living, phone number, and strong password. 

Step 5: A verification code will be sent to the entered email id, enter that verification code. Click on the Next button.  

Step 6: Step2 is almost completed. Click on the Sign In button. 

Step 7: A new dialogue box appears, which asks us to protect your account, we can skip this step for now. Note, that, this dialogue box could appear multiple times, so simply, click on the Skip for now button. Click on the Next button. 

Step 8: A new dialogue box appears. Check the box, if you want to stay signed for long. Click on the yes button. 

Step 9: Click on the Get Started button. 

Step 10: We will be redirected to the home page of the Power BI online service. We have successfully created an account on the Power BI online service. 

Publishing Report to Power BI Online Service from Desktop 

Step 1: After successfully, creating an account. Our next step is to connect the desktop with the online service by publishing a report on the Power BI online service.  Create a report, and click on the Publish button. 

Step 2: A dialogue box appears. Click on the Save button, to save the required changes to the report. 

Step 3: Save the file, at your convenient location. Name the .pbix file. For example, gfg.pbix. Click on the Save button. 

Step 4: A new dialogue box appears. Enter the email address, by which you created an account on the online service. Click on the Continue button.  

Step 5: All, the connected accounts, will be listed. Click on the desired account at which you want to save the file. 

Step 6: Enter the password, for that Power BI online account. Click on the Sign-in button.  

Step 7: Select the My workspace. Click on the Select button. 

Step 8: The report will be published to the Power BI online service.  

Step 9: Click on the Open ‘gfg.pbix’ in Power BI, to open the published file. 

Step 10: The files have been successfully uploaded to the Power BI service. We have successfully connected the Desktop with the Power BI service.