Excel and Power BI: connected features coming soon for users with Power BI free licenses
Published Aug 31 2021 10:00 AM 14.2K Views
Microsoft

Excel and Power BI are simplifying enterprise data discovery and analysis, with new connected features such as PivotTables from Power BI datasets (now also available on Excel for the web) and Organization data types. These features build on shared technologies from the Microsoft BI ecosystem such as Power Query, and existing integrations such as publishing to the Power BI service from Excel.

 

So far, connecting to Power BI data in Excel has been limited to users with the Power BI Pro or Power BI Premium Per User (PPU) licenses (learn more about Power BI licensing). As more organizations adopt Power BI at a broader scale and provide access through Power BI Premium capacity, we are expanding the availability of connected PivotTables and Organization data types to organizations with this model.

 

Soon, instead of requiring a Power BI Pro or Power BI Premium Per User (PPU) license for each user connecting to Power BI data in Excel, you will be able to use the Power BI Premium capacity at the organization level. This allows you to maximize your investments in Microsoft’s analytics services independent of the experience you choose to analyze and visualize your data.

 

Here are some common questions about this change:

 

  • What is the change?

We are increasing the availability of connected PivotTables from Power BI datasets and Organization data types in Excel, to include users with Power BI free licenses that have access to datasets in Premium capacity in their organizations (in addition to existing access for Power BI Pro and Power BI Premium Per User licenses).

 

  • As a user with a Power BI Free license, can I use any dataset shared with me in Excel?

Users with a Power BI Free license can use datasets that they have access to. This means datasets in Premium capacity, or “My Workspace”. Other requirements such as build permissions apply. Learn more about Build permission for datasets.

 

  • When is the change happening?

We are starting to deploy the change in the coming days and expect all users in the Current Channel to have access with Premium capacity over the coming weeks. 

 

  • Can I access datasets in Power BI “My Workspace” with this change if I don’t have Premium capacity or a Power BI Pro / Premium Per User license?

Yes, as part of this change users with a Power BI free license can access datasets in “My Workspace” for use in Excel PivotTables or Organization data types.

 

  • Does this mean that connected PivotTables and Organization data types are now available with Microsoft 365 Personal and Family?

No, these features are not available for users with Microsoft 365 Personal and Family.

 

  • Does this mean that connected PivotTables and Organization data types are now available in Office 2016 or 2019?

No, these features require a Microsoft 365 for Enterprise or Education subscription.

 

To get started:

 

Create a PivotTable from Power BI datasets

Convert text to an Organization data type 

Analyze in Excel for Power BI  

 

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‎Aug 31 2021 09:46 AM
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