Automatic page refresh in Power BI

[Anonymous]

Hi guys, 

I read through https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/create-reports/desktop-automatic-page-refresh this document, and could not really find the answer that I'm looking for.

Basically I'm trying to understand what is the mechnism behind this APR. It indicates that it sends an update query to the data source and update accordingly, but what's the difference between this APR and the Refresh command on the ribbon? 

One thing I know is that APR only refreshes on the current page and Refresh command refresh all the visuals on my report. However, I don't understand why the performance wise, APR is much quicker than Refresh command, and I'm only having one page for my report.

Say I have A,B,C three attributes from my data table and I'm only using A and B on my visual. Does APR only refreshes the A and B and it won't capture the change on C? 

Hope my question makes sense. Appreciate all the helps. 

Thank you

[lbendlin · Accepted solution]

The fine print of the documentation may have been lost. APR is only available for direct query data sources. All it does is emulate user activity. That should answer all your other questions.

[v-rzhou-msft]

Hi @Anonymous 

Could you tell me if your problem has been solved? If it is, kindly Accept it as the solution. More people will benefit from it. Or you are still confused about it, please provide me with more details about your problem.

Best Regards,

Rico Zhou

[v-rzhou-msft]

Hi @Anonymous 

For your question: If automatic page refresh succeed, all of them will refresh. (Using which column in visual won't impact.)

In addtion to lbendlin's reply,  automatic page refresh will only be available when you are connected to a DirectQuery data source.

Though automatic page refresh don't have restriction in refresh interval (1 second) in Desktop. However it will have some limitions if you publish your report on Service.

If you are not a Premium user( minimun refresh interval = 1 second), your minimun refresh interval = 30 min. Your minimun schedule cache refresh frequency = 15 min.

And there can only be a maximum of 10 models with change detection measure in a Power BI tenant.

For more info you may refer to the Restrictions on refresh intervals and Considerations and limitations part in this blog.

Automatic page refresh in Power BI

Best Regards,

Rico Zhou

If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly. 

[rajg_2312]

Hi Rico,

Your post helps me to understand the refresh rate. Also could you tell me whether we need Premium Capacity to have APR interval of 1 second? Or will it be sufficient to have Premium Per User license to have the APR interval of 1 second?

Appreciate your reply,

Raj

[Anonymous]

Hi Rico,

Thanks for getting back to me. I understand that APR needs to be on a DirectQuery data source. I think the major confusion I have had is if say I'm on a directQuery data source, what will be the difference between the APR and I manually click on the Refresh command from the ribbon? Or there is just no difference besides one is manual click and the other one is automated.

Thanks

[v-rzhou-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous 

If you compare automatic refresh with manual click, the difference between them maybe one need you to click refresh button and one is automatic.

Best Regards,

Rico Zhou

If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly. 

[lbendlin · Accepted solution]

The fine print of the documentation may have been lost. APR is only available for direct query data sources. All it does is emulate user activity. That should answer all your other questions.