url in report

Hi,

If the source column is truly null in the database, the report is likely building the URL elsewhere, not pulling it directly. Check for a calculated column or measure in the model, someone may be concatenating a base SAP URL with an invoice number field instead.

Also check Power Query's applied steps for that table, there could be a transformation adding it after import.

If this helped, feel free to give it a kudos or mark it as solution, helps others find it too.

HI powerbiexpert22​,

Have you had a chance to review the solution shared by danextian​ Prince0011​ ShivekMaharaj​ ? If the issue persists, feel free to reply so we can help further.

Thank you.

Hi powerbiexpert22​,

The existing replies are pointing in the right direction. One thing I would add is that setting the Data category to Web URL does not itself create a URL when the source value is null.

Microsoft's hyperlink documentation assumes that the semantic model already contains the URL value. The Web URL data category mainly tells Power BI how that value should be rendered.

I would trace this in a few places.

First, open Power Query for that table and check the Applied Steps. Microsoft documents that each transformation is recorded there, so select the steps one by one and watch the SAPinvoicedocumentURL column. A later step might be replacing the null or constructing the SAP URL from another field such as invoice number, company code or document ID.

Second, check whether SAPinvoicedocumentURL is actually a source column or a DAX calculated column in the semantic model. A calculated column can create values from other model fields even when the SQL source column itself is null.

Third, inspect the table visual itself for Web URL conditional formatting. This is an important one because Power BI allows the displayed field and the field supplying the hyperlink to be different.

Microsoft shows this in the conditional formatting documentation: one column can be displayed as the text while another column or measure supplies the actual Web URL.

In the visual, check the Web URL/Cell elements configuration and look at the field selected under "What field should we base this on?". If that points to another measure or column, you have found where the URL is coming from.

Finally, check the table's storage mode.

If it is Import mode, the values in Power BI are a point-in-time copy from the last semantic model refresh. Microsoft's data refresh documentation explains that Import models return values stored in the semantic model rather than querying SQL Server on every visual interaction.

So if the SQL view contains null today, also check when the model was last refreshed and whether that field previously contained values.

I would investigate in this order:

Power Query Applied Steps
-> calculated column / measure
-> visual Web URL conditional formatting
-> storage mode and last refresh

The Web URL data category by itself would not explain a null SQL value turning into a transaction-specific URL.

AI-assisted drafting: AI was used to help structure and phrase this response. I reviewed and validated the technical content before posting.