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Anonymous's avatar
Anonymous
Not applicable
6 years ago

Import vs Direct query for reports visualized on sharepoint

Hello everyone,

 

I am making a report that will be published and shared/visualized on a sharepoint page.

 

The data will come from an Azure DB and I don't understand if I should use import or direct query.

I notice that direct query doesn't allow me to do many operations/customization on the dataset, but I need to do many customizations in order to make the report. I would prefer to make an import connection but I am not sure if it can be 1) shared on sharepoint 2) be interactive 3) be up to date periodically.

 

So my question is:

1) Can I create an import connection to the Azure DB which allows the data to be refreshed periodically (once per day)

2) If I share this report with users in a sharepoint, can users interact with it and visualize up to date data?

 

 

Need Help

7 Replies

  • edhans's avatar
    edhans
    Icon for Community Champion rankCommunity Champion
    6 years ago

    You definitely want Import. Import is what is used over 90% of the time. Direct Query is for very specific circumstances, and as you noted, it is limited in what you can do on the report. DAX and M are also both limited.

     

    You just need to set up scheduled refresh to the Azure DB in the report dataset settings in the service once you publish. Then get the embed code for the report from the service and put that in SharePoint. The report is fully interactive there for your users.

     

     

  • V-lianl-msft's avatar
    V-lianl-msft
    Icon for Community Support rankCommunity Support
    6 years ago

    Hi Anonymous ,

     

    As edhans  said,add some details.

    If the directquery connection is used, the gateway is not needed, and the data is updated in real time. If you use import mode, you need to configure a gateway for this data source.

    Configure scheduled refresh 

    Embed the Power BI project report in SharePoint Online 

     

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

    • Anonymous's avatar
      Anonymous
      Not applicable
      6 years ago

      Hi V-lianl-msft

       

      I will be using import as suggested by @edhans.

       

      Now, I have published the report and I went into the Dataset and clicked on Schedule Refresh. I have downloaded the gateway connection and entered with my credentials. I don't get why I need to have a gateway connection if the only data I need is provided only by the Azure DB. 

       

       

      Also, I don't understand why I can't setup a refresh schedule yet.