Option to import Data (incuding DAX functions) from Excel file data library directly ... not refreshing original data sources.

I use VBA to select JUST the data I need for my analytics of a particular period or category of info in Excel.

This way the refresh in Excel is quick and there isn't unnecessary data in the file (in fact it can be sent around easily as the file is quite small) .

But with the availabiIity of PBI I would very much like to be able to upload JUST the Data library data that is in the Excel file AT THAT MOMENT to PBI to be used in a Dashboard.

This would absolutely have to be refreshable so that I could use this on a daily, weekly, monthly basis for management reporting.

There is not need for any data beyond the period and/or data being looked at and so reaching back to the source and including ALL data available for ALL TIME is unnecessary.

Then at the end of each period I refresh my Excel file, add whatever info I need in that file (some of which would be used in the data library) and then I would update this from Excel... or I would save it to OneDrive or SharePoint and then let PBI refresh bringing in the new data to replace the old data up in PBI which would then reflect in the existing dashboard with no design changes. This way the Excel file would control the time period automatically and PBI would just present that data as time moves on. No need for any interaction in PBI.

I'm not sure anyone has suggested this because they are thing of PBI for Analytics and AdHoccery :-) .. This would open up a HUGE opportunity for PBI in just plain old Reporting and allow people like me to integrate existin Excel-based reporting into PBI with the least amount of stress. which I believe is a MUCH bigger market actually than you are currently targetting.

Dick Moffat (30+ year spreadsheet/database report writer)