Create a Power View sheet connected to an external data model in Excel

In Excel 2013, every workbook can contain an internal Data Model that you can modify in Excel, in Power Pivot, and even in a Power View sheet in Excel. A workbook can contain only one internal Data Model, and you can base a Power View in sheet on the Data Model in the same workbook or on an external data source – another workbook, or a SQL Server 2012 Analysis Services (SSAS) tabular model. A single Excel workbook can contain multiple Power View sheets, and each of the sheets can be based on a different data model.

1. To base a Power View sheet on an external data model, insert a blank Excel worksheet in the workbook, and on the Data tab > Get External Data (by creating a connection or using an existing connection).

   • If you want to reuse a connection you already have in this workbook, click Existing Connections, select the connection you want to use, and click Open.

Note:  If you get external data while in the Power Pivot window, it is automatically added to the internal Data Model, and so it isn't a separate data model.

1. Provide the needed information in the Data Connection Wizard.

2. In the last step, the Import Data dialog box, click Power View Report.

Excel opens a new Power View sheet with the external data model in the Field List.

Each Power View sheet has its own charts, tables, and other visualizations. You can copy and paste a chart or other visualization from one sheet to another, but only if both sheets are based on the same data model.

Read more about the Data Model in Excel.