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Updates to Report Server should be available more frequently

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on 09 Aug 2017 17:56:50

It seems unfair that Power BI desktop is updated each month with new and improved visuals but we will have to wait several months longer to have these improvements in Power BI Report Server. For example the new matrix visual is big improvement but those with Report Server will have to wait about 6 months before it is available to them. I'd like Report Server updates in parallel to Desktop updates.

Administrator on 01 Apr 2019 23:43:00

As stated late last year, we're now committed to shipping regular updates every 4 months in January, May and September. This frequency is the best balance we've found for Enterprise customers between too rapid a cadence and too slow.

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Robert Blatchford on 05 Jul 2020 23:09:33

RE: Updates to Report Server should be available more frequently

Does anybody know when we will get the next release of the Report Server and Desktop for On-Prem use?

Based upon details release by Microsoft I'm expecting regular updates of Report Server and the matching PBI Desktop on a 3 or 4 month cycle. The last release was Oct 2017, so that means that the next expected release is soon, maybe Feb 2018?

However in reply to a question I raised elsewhere a guy called Amir ( I think a Microsoft Employee ) has said "We intend to release an update to the report server towards the summer time.......". That's not a 3 or 4 month schedule, its a bi annual schedule, and if true is a big disappointment.

I cannot emphasize the importance to us of an On-Prem solution. We cannot use the cloud service, we are an enterprise that has sensitive data, and governance rules that prohibit its use.

Please clarify the situation, and if possible start publishing the road map for Report Server with some detail of when and what we can expect. I understand Riccardo’s points about the balance between frequency and productivity, I would be happy with a 4 month release cycle, but the current situation is vague and frustrating. We need confidence to plan ahead, telling our user base “it maybe some time before the summer” is not going to win us any friends.

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Frank van Zuilen on 05 Jul 2020 23:02:09

RE: Updates to Report Server should be available more frequently

Is there already an actual target date known for the next production release; Q4 2017 could be early October but also could be a "Christmas present". The functionality introduced after June, like the new Table and Matrix visuals, bookmarking (story telling) and data sources other than TM, is really important for a major roll-out; budgets will be determined before year's end...

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Mark Stacey on 05 Jul 2020 23:01:15

RE: Updates to Report Server should be available more frequently

My suggestion would be to release all new visuals released for the service as custom visuals as well - this would enable us to import the custom visuals to get the usability NOW and not wait if it was important to us

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Mike Foss on 05 Jul 2020 23:00:56

RE: Updates to Report Server should be available more frequently

Recently Report Server was updated in July of 2017. With this release came a RS version of Power BI Desktop. The problem with this is the newer version of Power BI Desktop, lets use July release as example that includes the above mentioned features of the Matrix and other visuals does not work with the report server update forcing Either to use the RS version of power BI desktop which is limited and has many features turned off or use an older version such as the June release.

Why are these not developed in parallel to ensure changes in Power BI Desktop work with Report server and then releases made available as a monthly update like windows is.

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Sam on 05 Jul 2020 22:58:16

RE: Updates to Report Server should be available more frequently

Thanks for the detailed response and well qualified reasons as to why your team chose the release cycle. While as a community of PowerBI users we'd like to see get things shipped more quickly and more frequently, being a software development team also helps us relate to your situation. There is no point in shipping buggy or partially cooked software just to ship it faster. Our direct customers want more stable and fully flushed out product even if they have to wait slightly longer to get those much requested features.

Lately, Microsoft in general and PowerBI team in particular has made significant improvements in providing much clarity and transparency and we as a Microsoft shop love it! Thanks very much and keep up the great work you guys are doing.

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jason rossi on 05 Jul 2020 22:57:17

RE: Updates to Report Server should be available more frequently

Agreed...

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Glen Brown on 05 Jul 2020 22:57:08

RE: Updates to Report Server should be available more frequently

I agree, this should be one version for both. The idea that there at two exposes a broken development process.

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Artus on 05 Jul 2020 22:56:31

RE: Updates to Report Server should be available more frequently

it should be single product...

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Power BI User on 05 Jul 2020 22:56:16

RE: Updates to Report Server should be available more frequently

Can we please update the Power BI report server when updating the Power BI Desktop.
As much as the user are happy to know that issues have been fixed on my desktop, it does't help them.

I'm left considering alternative solutions.

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Mark Richey on 05 Jul 2020 22:56:10

RE: Updates to Report Server should be available more frequently

Voted for this, not sure if its 6 months or 4 but the new matrix visual is essential.