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PowerQuery Initialization of the data source failed - Excel 2013 on Windows 7 Using Excel Workbooks on SharePoint as PowerQuery data source

Anonymous
2016-06-28T21:35:24+00:00

Using PowerQuery I have created some Excel workbooks that pull data from another workbook.  The purpose is to pull out specific pieces of information that some users need to see and keep the other data confidential.

All of these spreadsheets are stored on SharePoint because they need to be accessed by many users.  However, when users attempt to open the workbooks that are using the PowerQuery to pull the information, they get the following error: “Initialization of the data source failed.  Check the database server or contact your database administrator…” 

My SharePoint administrator is telling me that I need for all of the users to have PowerQuery installed on their machines and they will all need to be given rights to the original workbook which holds the confidential information.  This seems to defeat the purpose of using PowerQuery if that is actually the case.  Has anyone else encountered this and is there another solution than what the SharePoint administrator has proposed?

Thank you for your assistance.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-06-29T15:22:24+00:00

    Hi,

    For issues with uploading Excel files from SharePoint to Power Query, your issue would best be addressed at the Excel IT Pro forum.

    http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/office/en-US/home?forum=excel

    If you have any other questions related to Office products, you can always reply and I’ll be happy to assist you.

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