topic Re: Direct query refresh dashboard automatically instead of manually refreshing in Developer

Direct query refresh dashboard automatically instead of manually refreshing

smdaly218 — Thu, 18 May 2017 22:00:42 GMT

I have connected to an Oracle DB using Direct Query which solved my refresh issue. However I am using this dashboard to show real time data updates for the Service Desk. If I manually refresh the data, I will see the updates on the dashboard. What I am looking for is the data to be automatically refreshed on the screen just like it is in the background. Simply put, can I continuously update the visualizations without clicking to refresh the dashboard?

Extract from Power BI helps to explain my predicament.

When you interact with a visualization, queries are sent from Power BI directly to the database. Updated data is then returned and visualizations are updated. Because there is a direct connection between Power BI and the database, there is no need to schedule refresh.

Success would be direct query that updates visualizations every 15 minutes per refresh schedule. I appreciate any help on this one!

Re: Direct query refresh dashboard automatically instead of manually refreshing

Eric_Zhang — Fri, 19 May 2017 09:48:28 GMT

@smdaly218 wrote:

I have connected to an Oracle DB using Direct Query which solved my refresh issue. However I am using this dashboard to show real time data updates for the Service Desk. If I manually refresh the data, I will see the updates on the dashboard. What I am looking for is the data to be automatically refreshed on the screen just like it is in the background. Simply put, can I continuously update the visualizations without clicking to refresh the dashboard?

Extract from Power BI helps to explain my predicament.

When you interact with a visualization, queries are sent from Power BI directly to the database. Updated data is then returned and visualizations are updated. Because there is a direct connection between Power BI and the database, there is no need to schedule refresh.

Success would be direct query that updates visualizations every 15 minutes per refresh schedule. I appreciate any help on this one!

@smdaly218

The answer is no. Without any interaction, the internal cache will be refreshed every 15 minutes by default. The real 'realtime' feature in Power BI is Real-time streaming.

By the way, maybe you can install some brower extentions to do the auto "F5".

Re: Direct query refresh dashboard automatically instead of manually refreshing

smdaly218 — Wed, 24 May 2017 21:35:27 GMT

I did not delve into streaming as yet due to the extensions you mentioned worked for me. I was able to add a Refresh extension in Chrome and have it refresh every 5 minutes. This is a good interval for me and using F11, provides a "decent" experience. I will continue to evolve my skills with streaming when time allows.

Thanks for the solution!

Re: Direct query refresh dashboard automatically instead of manually refreshing

DMiradakis — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 22:06:56 GMT

Although this is 6 years after the fact, I wanted to chime in here:

Import Mode

There is nothing native to Power BI that force visuals to autoupdate themselves autonomously/without user interaction when the report's dataset is Import Mode. Even Automatic Page Refresh does not work with Import Mode, period.

Direct Query

Direct Query also does not achieve this natively. DQ can update visuals, but that only happens when users interact with report visuals, for example, clicking, applying a slicer, cross-filtering, etc.

So this won't work for your use case either.

Automatic Page Refresh

Automatic Page Refresh was designed to accomplish this, and it works well, but be forewarned of a few limitations:

APR does NOT work with Import Mode, regardless of licensing, period.
For Power BI Pro users, APR only works up to every 30 minutes max - that may not be nearly realtime enough for many people.
There is no concept of a slideshow or tab rotation in APR.

Streaming dataset

Streaming datasets can force visuals to autoupdate, but they are extremely limited in what they offer - you don't get DAX, Power Query, or Power BI Desktop when you make a Streaming dataset. All you get is a really limited dashboard (not a report, a dashboard), and you can only build extremely simple visuals with it.

My App: Displagent

I made a custom Power BI app called Displagent to handle these use cases better than all of the other alternatives. My app can actually force visuals to autoupdate themselves even if you are using Import Mode. No other app in the ecosystem can do this. Also, if you are using Direct Query, Displagent can do refreshes up to every 15 seconds.

It also has extremely advanced slideshow capabilities that you won't find elsewhere in the Power BI ecosystem.