One of the most important features released in 2017 was the ability to use published Power BI datasets as a source for Power BI reports. With Live connections to Power BI datasets, report authors can develop reports in Power BI Desktop files containing only the visualization layer (for example, report pages of visuals) while leveraging a single dataset.

The dataset, which is generally developed and managed by a different user or team, already includes the data retrieval supporting tables and columns, the data model relationships, and the DAX measures or calculations as described in previous chapters. Once the Live connection report is developed and published to Power BI, it will maintain its connection to the source dataset and will be refreshed with the refresh schedule configured for the dataset.

Prior to Live connection reports to Power BI datasets, users within teams would frequently create multiple versions of the same dataset in order to create different reports. As both a report and a dataset, each individual report would require its own scheduled refresh process (in import mode), its own data storage, and would create version control problems as the report author could modify the underlying dataset. Live connection reports therefore severely reduce resource requirements and promote a single version of the truth. Moreover, Live connection reports facilitate the isolation of report design and development from dataset design and development. 

To create a Live connection report with a published Power BI dataset as the source, the report author needs a Power BI Pro license and will need to be a member of the app workspace hosting the dataset with edit rights.

In the following example, the report author is a member of the Corporate Sales app workspace and creates a new report in Power BI Desktop by connecting to the AdWorks Enterprise dataset within this workspace:

After selecting the Power BI service from the list of Online Services within the Get Data dialog, the list of the workspaces of which the report author is a member is prompted. In this example, either double-clicking the AdWorks Enterprise dataset or clicking the Load button will establish the Live connection per the status bar in Power BI Desktop:

Live connection reports are published to the same app workspace as their source dataset. In the following example, a report file named USA Sales and Margin, which is connected to the AdWorks Enterprise dataset in the Corporate Sales workspace has been published from Power BI Desktop:

 

Per the preceding image, the report will appear in the workspace of the source dataset (Corporate Sales) in Power BI. Since the report was published from Power BI Desktop, the report (.pbix file) can be downloaded by opening the report and clicking Download report from the File menu.