Seeing Sharepoint libraries in file explorer

Question

Hi.

I have synced my one drive files with my computer successfully and all the folders are showing in file explorer. However, the same process does not work with my Sharepoint libraries. I am selecting 'sync' and sometimes it says 'copy library ID' but that link does not work. Sometimes it just says 'syncing' but nothing happens.

The practical problem is that I want to store Power BI desktop files (.pbix) and Excel data files in a Sharepoint library rather than One drive so they can be shared with a team. However, if I do this it is not currently possible to then open the reports from within power BI desktop as the file/open command takes you to file explorer and not to sharepoint.

Can you help?

Thanks

Answer 1

Hi

Thanks for this!! When I synced one drive in the Mac environment, it worked perfectly and the Sharepoint libraries came through as well.

Then Parallels lets me see my Mac files through Windows File Explorer (on the Z: drive) so I have been able to pin the Sharepoint folders to Quick Access

It is now working - perhaps not as intended but it doesn't matter

Thanks

Jane

Answer 2

Hi Jane,

We appreciate that you posted back and shared the results with us, we’re glad to hear that you can access them now, if you have any other questions in the further, you can also post a new thread in our forum and we will try our best to help you.

Best regards,

Sukie

Answer 3

Hi Jane,

We appreciate that you posted back and shared so detailed information with us. We also you spent your precious time doing those tests.

And according to your description, it seems that all SharePoint libraries have the same problem on your side, and you are using Windows through parallels on Mac. And you want to open report in Power Bi Desktop, however, you can only find OneDrive sync folder instead of SharePoint libraries.

If so, since you mentioned all SharePoint libraries have the same problem, we assumed this issue may be related to OneDrive sync client or SharePoint libraries.

We noticed that you are the only one user in those SharePoint libraries, if so, to narrow down this issue is related to OneDrive sync client or SharePoint libraries. We’d suggest you go to Mac local environment and use OneDrive sync client to check if you can sync those SharePoint libraries successfully.

If the same issue doesn’t occur on Mac, it may be related to OneDrive sync client in Windows, we’d suggest you try the steps in this article to reset OneDrive to check if it will help you: Reset OneDrive (microsoft.com)

Thank you for your patience so far.

Best Regards,

Sukie

Answer 4

Hi Suki

Thanks for this.

Your understanding is right on the sync issue - I cannot get the sharepoint libraries to show up in file explorer. To answer your points:

1 and 2) all sharepoint libraries have the same problem - they will not sync. However, only one his showing the 'copy library id' dialogue box. The others have a simpler dialogue box - I am attaching two screen shots.

3. I am only just setting this up so noone else has tried to use it. I do not want to deploy it to other users until I know it works
4. screenshot of one drive attached.

Please note, I am running windows through parallels on a Mac - does this make a difference?

Note you have not understood the .pbix point. It is the same one. I want to store the file in a Sharepoint library which is shared. I have saved the report in the right place. However, I now want to reopen the report from PowerBI Desktop to amend it. I cannot do this because I cannot see the Sharepoint library as a locationwhen I go 'file-open' in power bi desktop. I can only see my onedrive folders.

Answer 5

Hi Jane,

Thank you for querying in this forum.

From your description, it seems that you cannot sync SharePoint library to the local and when you clicked Sync, nothing happens.

At the same time, you stored Power BI desktop files in SharePoint document library, however, when you open Power BI files, it will take you to file explorer instead of opening it in Power Bi desktop.

May I know if my understanding is right? If so, for opening Power Bi files from SharePoint via the Power Bi Desktop, per our search, if you want to open Power Bi files which are stored in SharePoint in Power Bi desktop, you may need to sync files to the local, then you can open it from File explorer. For your reference: Open PBIX File from SharePoint

Then we will focus on your SharePoint library sync issue, for syncing issue of SharePoint Document libraries, we have also tested it on our side and we cannot reproduce the same situation as yours.

Given this situation, to narrow down this issue and better understand your situation, could you provide the information below?

1. May I know if all SharePoint document libraries have the same problem?
2. Could you provide the screenshot of “it says 'copy library ID'”?
3. May I know if the other colleagues have the same problem?
4. Could you provide the version of your OneDrive sync client? You can click cloud icon at the right upper corner of task bar in Windows > Settings > About and provide the screenshot of it.

Your understanding and patience will be highly appreciated. I hope that you are keeping safe and well!

Best Regards,

Sukie