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    Excel Binary file support

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    Krati's profile image

    Krati on 08 Feb 2016 02:25:42

    Excel binary file .xlsb as a data source works well for few query steps but starts crashing soon with error as "External file format not supported". Please enable excel binary file format support or provide an error in the beginning so that query steps are not performed at all.

    Comments (22)
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    7116c414 11e9-ea11-a817-000d3a8faea9 on 28 Aug 2020 09:36:06

    RE: Excel Binary file support

    I can load xlsb into Power BI desktop without issue, but having the source refreshed via schedule on the gateway breaks because the company server (??) likely doesn't have the old MS DB Access Engine installed. I don't want to rename the file to xlsx because it will block embedded macros.

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    7252dcab 00c8-ea11-a813-000d3a579c38 on 14 Aug 2020 10:37:53

    RE: Excel Binary file support

    Big data is getting more and more important but the file size is getting larger and larger.
    This could help save the power bi file size if we can import data with xlsb excel file to power bi!!

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    dbe6fb2e 852c-4409-a09c-f4eb373517ab on 06 Jul 2020 00:12:27

    RE: Excel Binary file support

    This is very important to save on space!

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    47230dff a649-4b72-b904-abb4cee91c62 on 06 Jul 2020 00:03:45

    RE: Excel Binary file support

    We need to be able to work with xlsb files...

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    16339e99 1e62-4576-94a7-e8f59aaff1cf on 05 Jul 2020 23:58:00

    RE: Excel Binary file support

    Its essential that we have the ability to use excel binary files with BI.

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    931a9321 3085-4522-bc7f-db00b7f79c5d on 05 Jul 2020 23:42:37

    RE: Excel Binary file support

    Hello all,
    I was having this same issue trying to combine XLSB files, but as a few comments mentioned below I was able to fix this issue by downloading the Microsoft Access Database Engine 2010 Redistributable.exe file from this link: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=13255.

    After I downloaded and installed this I was able to load the XLSB files in Power BI.

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    207c4d09 fa07-4357-a51f-6db465fc4743 on 05 Jul 2020 23:42:24

    RE: Excel Binary file support

    Hi, Please enable this feature in Power BI, it will be very useful.

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    e48d22c2 e61f-4dcd-bfb6-a5e77dd5af5d on 05 Jul 2020 23:34:52

    RE: Excel Binary file support

    Does this have any traction? Agree with everyone below..

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    ea6ec532 5e33-445c-a892-eafa85a604a3 on 05 Jul 2020 23:29:48

    RE: Excel Binary file support

    This nonsensical limitation makes it difficult to convince users that Excel is still marketable as a viable BI source. Even with tableau we are having issues pertaining to Binary files, and such even if we are using Legacy Connections.

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    1dc65cff 4723-48fb-90d6-aa885036c668 on 05 Jul 2020 23:24:12

    RE: Excel Binary file support

    Please provide a solution as companies do work with Windows 64-bit version combined with a 32-bit office version.
    Migration to all 64-bit is sometimes a big step for big companies