VBA & Macro Problems

How to Use JWT Authentication with Excel, MSOLAP, and Analytics Services

Elise Williams Oct 10, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to connect a custom Excel plug-in to Power BI or Analysis Services using JWT authentication.

Using JWT Authentication with Excel, MSOLAP, and Analytics Services

Product: Excel, Power BI, MSOLAP
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Developing a custom Excel plug-in to authenticate with Analytics Services using a JSON Web Token (JWT).
Observed behavior: Standard connection strings typically only accept user IDs and do not natively support passing a JWT for authentication.

Before you start

Before modifying your connection strings, ensure you have the exact versions of Excel and your OLE DB provider (such as MSOLAP.8 or MSOLAP.9) documented, as authentication support varies by version.

Solution 1Recommended

Consult Specialized Power BI and Developer Communities

Because JWT authentication via custom Excel plug-ins involves complex provider APIs, getting assistance from dedicated developer forums is highly recommended.

Advanced authentication flows involving MSOLAP and Power BI fall outside basic Excel VBA support. Developer communities have experts who can advise on specific API constraints and token exchange workarounds.

Gather environment details

Identify and note your Excel version, MSOLAP version (e.g., MSOLAP.8), and the specific Analytics Service you are targeting.

Prepare your connection string

Copy your current connection string and the required authentication flow. Be absolutely sure to remove any passwords, secrets, or actual JWT tokens from your code snippet before sharing.

Post in developer communities

Submit your detailed question to the official Power BI Support community or on Stack Overflow. Make sure to use relevant tags like 'vba', 'excel', and 'msolap' to reach the right experts.

Consult Specialized Power BI and Developer Communities

Community Guidelines: Always redact sensitive information like tokens, API keys, and client secrets when posting code publicly.

Solution 2

Understand MSOLAP Connection String Constraints

Review the official Microsoft documentation for your specific MSOLAP provider to see if JWT is supported and explore alternative architectures.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pass a JWT directly in an MSOLAP connection string?

Standard MSOLAP connection strings typically do not have a dedicated parameter for passing a raw JWT. You usually need to handle token authentication via a custom API layer or ADAL/MSAL integrations.

How do I find my MSOLAP provider version?

You can check your MSOLAP version by opening Excel, navigating to Data > Get Data > Data Source Settings, or by viewing the connection string properties of an existing Analysis Services connection.

Where is the best place to ask advanced Excel VBA authentication questions?

Stack Overflow (using 'vba' and 'excel' tags) and the Microsoft Power BI Community forums are the best platforms to get answers from specialized developers regarding complex authentication flows.

Excel & Data Problems