Power BI Refresh

[Anonymous]

Hello. 

I have turned on the preview features in my Power BI Desktop settings for auto refresh, however the Visualizations tab does not contain the option to set a refresh range.   In fact, "page refresh" does not show up at all? Help please. 

[edhans]

That is only for Direct Query. Is that what you are referring to? Scheduled Refresh is what you need for Import models, which is what 95% of your models should be. Direct Query is for very specific needs.

[Anonymous]

Hi - thanks for the reply. 

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/create-reports/desktop-automatic-page-refresh  This is what I was looking at. 

[edhans]

Yes. 2nd para on that page. Direct Query sources. You have to connect to a database that support direct query (SQL Server for example), have to write your report to only use functions and formulas that DQ reports support.

What is your database?

[Anonymous]

It is a direct SQL query to an external dataset I have zero control over. 

[edhans · Accepted solution]

Ok. I'm not sure what that means. A direct connection to SQL Server, a Direct Query for to SQL server, a hand-crafted SQL query in the advanced box?

There are two basic kinds of reports. Import, which is what most are, and that is the default. You cannot switch an Import model to Direct Query. Then Direct Query, which is much less common and for specific circumstances. It has a number of limitations. You have to deliberatly check the DQ box when building a new report in a new file to get that to work. As long as you have permissions to the SQL server, that is all you need, but of course the gateway has to be set up so the service can access the server. That is needed for import (scheduled refresh) and direct query.

The new page refresh is only for Direct Query.