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Anonymous's avatar
Anonymous
Not applicable
9 years ago
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Dataset SQL Question

In the very near future, I will be migrating away from flat-file supported dashboards, to connecting PowerBI to a data store in SQL.  We expect this will eliminate much oif the manual file movement a...
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  • Anonymous's avatar
    Anonymous
    9 years ago

    Anonymous,

    When you connect to SQL Server database in Power BI Desktop, any time you make schema changes(for example, add new columns), you can click “Refresh” button in Power BI Desktop to bring the changes.

    And after you publish PBIX file to Power BI Service, you can set schedule refresh for your dataset, this way, when data are changed in SQL Server database, the dataset will be updated automatically based on  the schedule. However, please note that refresh in Power BI Service is purely data refresh, it will not load your schema changes. In other words, after you publish PBIX file to Power BI Service, if you make schema changes(for example, add new columns) in the SQL database, you will need to firstly refresh the dataset in Power BI Desktop, then re-publish the PBIX file to Service.

    Regards,
    Lydia

  • Anonymous's avatar
    Anonymous
    9 years ago

    SQL wont have that issue.  Column names are the important factor there.

Anonymous's avatar
Anonymous
Not applicable
9 years ago

Thanks all for being so engaged on this topic.

 

There have been instances that when using a .csv file and expanding the dataset over time, I needed to go to "Edit Queries", Source and Change the Column count from 25 to 26 so that PowerBI will recognize the new column(s).  Columns=25

 

Simply "Refreshing" the data through Desktop does not allow the new column to be recognized.

 

I am asking if when I start using SQL will the expanded dataset (new columns) be automatically recognized?

 

Thanks.

Anonymous's avatar
Anonymous
Not applicable
9 years ago

Anonymous,

In addition to other's post, you can remove the Columns=25 part from your code in Advanced Editor, this way, Power BI can bring new columns after you click "Refresh" and you don't need to edit the columns count in the code.



Regards,
Lydia

  • Anonymous's avatar
    Anonymous
    Not applicable
    9 years ago

    Can you tell me more about this, and how to do it?

    • Anonymous's avatar
      Anonymous
      Not applicable
      9 years ago

      Anonymous,

      To aviod changing column counts after you import CSV file and add new column in the CSV file, you can remove the "Columns=number" part in Advanced Editor as shown in the following screenshot. This way, each time you add new columns in the CSV file, Power BI Desktop will bring you the new column after you click "Refresh" button.  And you don't need  to change its value from 25 to 26, then 27, 28 and so on.



      Regards,