Two cloud connectors that refresh a OneDrive-hosted Excel file without a gateway

PL-300 By islever Editorial Last updated

Get or connect to data

Short answer

AE Web and SharePoint folder both reach the OneDrive file in the cloud and refresh in the service without a gateway.

Question

You have a Microsoft Excel file in a Microsoft OneDrive folder. The file must be imported to a Power BI semantic model. You need to ensure that the semantic model can be refreshed in PowerBi.com. Which two connectors can you use to connect to the file? Each correct answer presents a complete solution. NOTE: Each correct selection is worth one point.
  1. Web Correct Answer
  2. Excel Workbook
  3. Folder
  4. Text/CSV
  5. SharePoint folder Correct Answer

Key Takeaways

Both the Web connector (pointed at the file's cloud URL) and the SharePoint folder connector (OneDrive is backed by SharePoint) reach OneDrive files as cloud data and support scheduled refresh in the Power BI service with no gateway.

An Excel file living in OneDrive must load into a Power BI semantic model that refreshes in the Power BI service, requiring connectors that reach the file in the cloud without an on-premises data gateway.

Common mistake: Choosing the Excel Workbook connector because it opens OneDrive files in Power BI Desktop — locally it works, but service-side refresh of the local file path needs a gateway, which the question never offers.

Expert Analysis

Why the Answer Is Correct

OneDrive for Business is backed by SharePoint Online, so the SharePoint folder connector (E) reaches the file as cloud data and supports scheduled refresh in the Power BI service. The Web connector (A) can also target the file's direct cloud URL (the OneDrive file link), which refreshes without any gateway. Both are documented gateway-free refresh paths for files stored in OneDrive, satisfying the requirement that the semantic model be refreshable in PowerBI.com.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

Excel Workbook (B) connects through the local file system in Desktop; refreshing that connection in the service requires an on-premises data gateway, which the scenario does not mention or provide. Folder (C) is designed for local or SharePoint folders but as a plain local folder path it also needs a gateway, and it is redundant next to the dedicated SharePoint folder option. Text/CSV (D) cannot consume a binary.xlsx workbook at all, so it is disqualified on capability grounds before refresh is even considered.

Community Comment Notes

The top comment reports having tested the Web plus SharePoint folder combination end to end with refresh working, and notes that the Excel Workbook and Folder paths would need a gateway. A later comment favoring B and E overlooks that gateway requirement for the Excel Workbook connector in the service.

Official Reference

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/connect-data/refresh-data

This link opens the official vendor documentation in a new tab.

Exam Strategy

When the scenario says the file sits in OneDrive and the model must refresh in PowerBI.com, immediately look for gateway-free, cloud-aware connectors rather than local-file options. The trap is that Excel Workbook and Folder sound like the obvious choices for an Excel file, but they imply Desktop/local access and therefore a gateway. If refresh must happen in the service without a gateway, eliminate any connector that reads a local path and favor SharePoint Online or direct URL access.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the SharePoint folder connector (E) correct instead of the Folder connector (C) for a OneDrive Excel file?

OneDrive for Business is backed by SharePoint Online, so the SharePoint folder connector refreshes without a gateway, unlike a local Folder path that needs one.

Can the Excel Workbook connector (B) refresh a OneDrive file in PowerBI.com without a gateway?

No. The Excel Workbook connector uses the local file system in Desktop, so refreshing in the service requires an on-premises data gateway.

Why is Text/CSV (D) disqualified for this OneDrive .xlsx file?

Text/CSV cannot consume a binary .xlsx workbook, so it fails on capability before refresh is considered. Use Web or SharePoint folder instead.

More PL-300 FAQ →

Community Votes

AE
69%
BE
31%

69% of anonymous learners picked answer AE. Votes are pick records left by other test-takers — they are not the verified answer.

Discussion 12 contributions

Compiled from public community threads and reader submissions, lightly edited for clarity. Handles and vote tallies are shown as recorded, and comments reflect the views of individual contributors.

From public community threads 12

  1. VladStan 👍 5
    A and E are the correct answers. Just tested it now end to end and it works. Refreshing is performed as well. For B/C to be refreshed online, you'd need a Gateway which is not mentioned here.
  2. Rio98 👍 2
    Excel Workbook (Option B): You can connect to an Excel file stored on OneDrive using the Excel Workbook connector. This connector will allow Power BI to connect to the Excel file, and the model can be refreshed in Power BI Service (PowerBI.com) as long as the file is stored on OneDrive and is properly linked. When you use OneDrive, Power BI can automatically refresh the data in the report from the Excel file, and it will be kept in sync with the source. SharePoint Folder (Option E): A SharePoint folder connector can also be used to access files stored in a SharePoint Online document library, which includes OneDrive for Business files. By using the SharePoint folder connector, you can easily import the Excel file from OneDrive, and the Power BI model can be refreshed in PowerBI.com, similar to the Excel Workbook option.
  3. Odidepse 👍 2
    Tested this myself, A is the first obvious answer, you use the 'Excel Workbook' connector and it will grab to a one drive folder as stated on the question Microsoft Excel file in a Microsoft OneDrive folder. The other one is a definite web, as the excel file is on the one drive path and nothing is mentioned on the sharepoint folder, these are the steps that I took: Navigate the excel file stored on one drive, go to file, copy path. Then go to powerbi desktop app, get datasource, use 'web' connector and on the URL section, paste the path. SharePoint folder required root url of the sharepoint, nothing on the question outlines that the excel document is stored on sharepoint.
  4. 5767542 👍 2
    B. Excel Workbook and E. SharePoint Folder are the correct connectors because both are optimized for accessing files stored in OneDrive for Business, and they support scheduled refreshes in Power BI Service (PowerBi.com), ensuring your data stays up-to-date without manual intervention.
  5. b2775a4 👍 1
    Correct Answers: A. Web: When the Excel file is stored in a OneDrive folder, you can use the Web connector with the file's URL link. This allows Power BI to access the file directly from OneDrive, and the dataset can be refreshed in PowerBI.com as long as the URL points to the latest file. E. SharePoint Folder: Since OneDrive is backed by SharePoint, you can use the SharePoint Folder connector to access the file. The SharePoint connector ensures that the file is accessible and refreshable in Power BI. Why Not the Other Options? B. Excel Workbook: While this connector works for local Excel files, it does not guarantee refreshability when the file is stored in OneDrive. C. Folder: This connector is used to combine data from multiple files in a folder, but it is not specifically designed for OneDrive or SharePoint. D. Text/CSV: This connector is used for text or CSV files, not for Excel files.
Show 7 more comments
  1. mdnaseershah 👍 1
    To ensure that the semantic model can be refreshed in Power BI service (PowerBI.com), you can use the following two connectors: B. Excel Workbook: This connector allows you to directly import data from an Excel file stored in OneDrive, ensuring that the data can be refreshed in Power BI service. E. SharePoint folder: If your OneDrive is linked to SharePoint, this connector can be used to access and refresh the Excel file in Power BI service. These connectors support automatic refresh capabilities, making them suitable for your requirements.
  2. jaume 👍 1
    I've connected several times to excel files to get data into PBI and, while hosted in a OneDrive folder, everything refresh fine connecting directly to the file using "Excel Workbook" connector and using "Sharepoint folder" connector. Never used the "Web" connector to get data from an excel file. Gateway should be set for the option C in case that folder would be in a local network but I don't think it's needed connecting to an excel file hosted in a OneDrive folder
  3. Arnav123 👍 1
    BE It is not A because the web connector is used to retrieve data from the web not access files.
  4. BIFakeGuru 👍 1
    A & E, Otherwise you'll need to implement a data gateway (for onpremise data sources)
  5. Srilatha_B 👍 1
    excel fil - so B / E both feasible options.
  6. rcaliandro 👍 15
    For me is AE
  7. b92fc92 👍 1
    AE in my opinion

Reader comments & corrections

No reader corrections yet — spotted an error or have a note? Share it below.

Log in to comment, report an error, or add a note about this question.

PREVIOUSYEAR returns the full previous year, not the same day of last year

S-grade

Shrinking a Power BI model for monthly transaction totals with a star schema

S-grade

Northwind Traders semantic model: choosing Import storage mode for the Power BI tables

S-grade

Connecting Power BI Desktop to Azure DevOps Analytics views with the OData Feed connector

S-grade

Practice All PL-300 Questions

Access 116 questions with complete answers and detailed explanations.

View Full PL-300 Practice Test →

← Back to PL-300 Study Guide