Direct query and sharepoint excel sources

[rpinxt]

Is it possible?

I have a model with SQL data on direct query, works just fine.

Now I need as information within the model some data that comes from an excel sheet.

Loaded the excel on a sharepoint site.

Meaning is that users can maintaine data in that sheet.

Now my dataset autorefreshes because it is a direct query.

So I am trying to link my sharepoint excel file in also as a direct query.

But where it normally asks if you want to import or direct query it does not when I use the sharepoint excel as a source.

Is there a way around and still use the excel file as a direct query?

Setting up a refrsh schedule because it is import makes no sense because there are not fixes times the data in the sheet gets updated.

We just need the latest data to show.

[rpinxt]

@rajendraongole1 ok thanks for pointing this out.

If it cannot be done (easily) then it just ends there.

Thanks.

[rajendraongole1 · Accepted solution]

Hi @rpinxt - Direct query for Excel files in SharePoint is not natively supported. Using a database or Power Automate to maintain real-time updates is the most effective workaround. 

alternative approach:

Load the Excel data into a database (e.g., SQL Server or Azure SQL Database).

Use direct query in Power BI to connect to the database for real-time updates.

Automate the Excel-to-database process using tools like Power Automate or Azure Data Factory.

Hope this helps.