I have a dashboard scheduled to refresh daily, but each time I get an error that says: "Column in Table contains blank values and this is not allowed for columns on the one side of many-to-one relatioship for coulmns that are used as the primary key of a table." I went to this table and edited the query to Remove Blank Rows, but I still get the error every time I try to refresh the data. Anyone have any suggestions or know what the problem is?

I found on the PowerBI desktop application 1. Click on "Edit Queries" Step 2 - Select the table that has the error. Step 3 - Select column which gives the error and in drop down filter select "Remove Empty" Click Close and Apply and Refresh again. This solved my problem and addressed all my refresh errors through this. Excuse for any typos or errors, this is first time i am posting a solution, I am usually on the other end, but for this realized there are many people like me. :smileyhappy:

Select the column that is part of the one-to-many relationship. Choose "Replace values". For the value to find, don't type anything. For the replacement value, type "BLANK" or something depending on data type. This will replace blank values in the column with whatever you put in. Then you should not have any real blanks.

I am also facing same error when refreshing data, were you able to find any solution/workaround to the problem.Kindly share.As suggested I replaced blank values with BLANK but that did not solve anything,

yes please check this doc https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/analysis-services/tabular-models/process-database-table-or-partition-analysis-services this will be answer for the following case if you get this error message "Table contains blank values"you cleared your database and make sure there is no empty/blank values in your database but everytime you try to run you get this issue the meta data of the DB need to be refreshed you can update the whole DB or just the table you are working on To process a databaseIn SQL Server Management Studio, right-click on the database you want to process, and then click Process Database.In the Process Database dialog box, in the Mode listbox, select one of the following process modes:Mode Description Process DefaultDetects the process state of database objects, and performs processing necessary to deliver unprocessed or partially processed objects to a fully processed state. Data for empty tables and partitions is loaded; hierarchies, calculated columns, and relationships are built or rebuilt (recalculated).Process FullProcesses a database and all the objects that it contains. When Process Full is run for an object that has already been processed, Analysis Services drops all data in the object, and then processes the object. This kind of processing is required when a structural change has been made to an object. This option requires the most resources.Process ClearRemoves all data from database objects.Process RecalcUpdates and recalculates hierarchies, relationships, and calculated columns.In the Process checkbox column, select the partitions you want to process with the selected mode, and then click Ok.

I was able to resolve the issue by :1. Removing whatever the new calculated column you've created2. Process All to refresh the Meta data of the DB3. Re-create with no blank value So basically just a glitch, in my opinion

Error on Scheduled Refresh: Table contains blank values

19 Replies

vprady
Advocate I
10 years ago

I found on the PowerBI desktop application

1. Click on "Edit Queries"

Step 2 - Select the table that has the error.

Step 3 - Select column which gives the error and in drop down filter select "Remove Empty"

Click Close and Apply and Refresh again.

This solved my problem and addressed all my refresh errors through this.

Excuse for any typos or errors, this is first time i am posting a solution, I am usually on the other end, but for this realized there are many people like me. :smileyhappy:
- fenixen
  Advocate II
  9 years ago
  EDIT: I recreated the calendar table in power bi desktop, built everything identical, works fine.
  The difference is that the old one was converted from a excel file..
  
  This did not work for me. I get the error on my calendar table and a autogenerated calendar doesn't have any blanks of course.
  The report works just fine in power bi desktop, but when refreshing online in powerbi.com i get the error.. strange..
  
  Error message: http://imgur.com/a/ZonnT
  Data model: http://imgur.com/a/Kixyw
  
  Just to really confirm to you guys that i don't have blanks: The calendar table has 366 rows, which is correct for a 2016 table.
  I double checked that the "Many" side of the relationships dont have blanks either.
  I even added the "remove empty" on the columns, even though there were no blanks. Same error.
  
  Could it be some sort of location/locale bug in power bi on web? (norwegian)
- Anonymous
  Not applicable
  8 years ago
  I was getting the same error message - this solution worked for me.
  
  Thank you!
Greg_Deckler
Community Champion
10 years ago
Select the column that is part of the one-to-many relationship. Choose "Replace values". For the value to find, don't type anything. For the replacement value, type "BLANK" or something depending on data type. This will replace blank values in the column with whatever you put in. Then you should not have any real blanks.
amitbansal
New Member
10 years ago
I am also facing same error when refreshing data, were you able to find any solution/workaround to the problem.
Kindly share.
As suggested I replaced blank values with BLANK but that did not solve anything,
guisin
Frequent Visitor
7 years ago
I was able to resolve the issue by :
1. Removing whatever the new calculated column you've created
2. Process All to refresh the Meta data of the DB
3. Re-create with no blank value

So basically just a glitch, in my opinion
Devtr
Helper III
3 years ago
For some users, this might be helpful who are simply using an Excel table.
After entering data in the table and hitting the tab key will add another row.
Just delete that.
- dennisbraun
  Frequent Visitor
  2 years ago
  Thank you so much! That hint saved my day 🙂
cwayne758
Helper IV
10 years ago
Experienced this this morning for some reason.

Try going to the table referenced in the Error message, then sort your columns in either ascending/descending order. Like me, you may find that your column does actually contain a blank. (!)

Hope that helps!
alexbar
New Member
10 years ago
Hi,

Having the same issue, replaced all the blanks with "BLANK" string. Verified that there are no empty values.
However the scheduled refresh fails with the same error.

Have anyone found a solution/workaround?

Thanks,
Alex.
khaled_cs
Frequent Visitor
9 years ago
I had the same issue I did process clear then recalc then full
and it works fine for me
because meta data has some old data so it does assume the empty value still there
- erantdo
  Frequent Visitor
  9 years ago
  Hi, what do you mean by process clear?
  - khaled_cs
    Frequent Visitor
    9 years ago
    When you connect to SQL server management studio analysis services instance , right click and process your data base , you have some options of type of process you want to apply
    There you will find process clear
    Remember I fixed my data import and made sure no blank values imported
    Then I did apply process clear and recalculate
    Try it and let me know
yji
Frequent Visitor
5 years ago
Hi, if I use direct Oracle database connection to get table, my local laptop's PowerBi Desktop use SQL Server Analysis Services (see from Task Manager), local laptop don't have Analysis Service configured at before. I'm wondering where those matadata or table caches are located? Process Clear from where? local pc or remote database server?

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Error on Scheduled Refresh: Table contains blank values

19 Replies

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