Forum Discussion
Storage Mode Mixed
Hello,
I have a power bi report with storage mode mixed.
I have Analysis services on the back and connected with live query to SSAS. After that I created a new tables into power bi report and now my storage mode is mixed.
I have a report uploaded into power bi service.
Now, i created a measure on SSAS.
I want to refresh model on power bi service to see a measure, but its not working into mixed mode. I need to download a report, then refresh manually and re-upolad.
Do anyone have a solution for this?
Thanks
Hi Anonymous - Yes, you're running into a limitation of Mixed Storage Mode in Power BI when using Live Connection to SSAS. In this mode, Power BI does not automatically detect new measures added in SSAS unless the dataset is refreshed manually in Power BI Desktop and then re-published.
suggest, If you don’t have Premium Capacity, but your dataset is in Power BI Pro, you can use Tabular Editor (external tool) to refresh the model.
Download and install Tabular Editor 2 (free) or Tabular Editor 3 (paid).Open Tabular Editor and connect to your dataset in the Power BI Service.Select Refresh Metadata and save changes.This will update your Power BI dataset without needing to manually re-upload.
Hope this helps.
Hi Anonymous
The issue arises because Power BI Service does not support automatic refresh for models in Mixed Storage Mode when using Live Connection to SSAS (SQL Server Analysis Services). Since your report initially had a Live Connection to SSAS and you later added new tables directly into Power BI, the storage mode switched to Mixed Mode, causing refresh conflicts. Power BI cannot automatically refresh SSAS measures when the model contains imported tables, which is why you must download, refresh manually in Power BI Desktop, and re-upload the report.
To resolve this, consider using DirectQuery instead of Import Mode for the additional tables, ensuring the report remains dynamically connected to the source without requiring manual refresh. Alternatively, you can split the report into two models—one with only Live Connection to SSAS and another for additional imported data, then link them using Composite Models or Dataflows in Power BI Service. If modifying the model structure is not an option, scheduling a manual refresh process using Power BI REST API or Power Automate may help automate the download-refresh-upload workflow. These approaches help maintain a seamless, refreshable report in Power BI Service without manual intervention.
4 Replies
Hi Anonymous
The issue arises because Power BI Service does not support automatic refresh for models in Mixed Storage Mode when using Live Connection to SSAS (SQL Server Analysis Services). Since your report initially had a Live Connection to SSAS and you later added new tables directly into Power BI, the storage mode switched to Mixed Mode, causing refresh conflicts. Power BI cannot automatically refresh SSAS measures when the model contains imported tables, which is why you must download, refresh manually in Power BI Desktop, and re-upload the report.
To resolve this, consider using DirectQuery instead of Import Mode for the additional tables, ensuring the report remains dynamically connected to the source without requiring manual refresh. Alternatively, you can split the report into two models—one with only Live Connection to SSAS and another for additional imported data, then link them using Composite Models or Dataflows in Power BI Service. If modifying the model structure is not an option, scheduling a manual refresh process using Power BI REST API or Power Automate may help automate the download-refresh-upload workflow. These approaches help maintain a seamless, refreshable report in Power BI Service without manual intervention.
Hi Anonymous ,some possible solutions that may help in your case:
1. Use a Pure Live Connection
If all your data is in SSAS and you don’t need imported tables in Power BI, consider removing any imported tables so that the entire model runs on Live Connection mode. This way, when you update the SSAS model, the changes (including new measures) will be immediately reflected in Power BI Service without requiring a manual refresh.
2. Use a Composite Model with DirectQuery Instead of Import
If you need the extra tables in Power BI:
- Change those additional tables from Import mode to DirectQuery mode.
- This keeps the storage mode composite, but Power BI will still treat the SSAS connection as Live.
To check and switch:
- Go to Model View in Power BI Desktop.
- Click on each additional table.
- Set its storage mode to DirectQuery instead of Import.
- Save and re-publish.
Hi Anonymous - Yes, you're running into a limitation of Mixed Storage Mode in Power BI when using Live Connection to SSAS. In this mode, Power BI does not automatically detect new measures added in SSAS unless the dataset is refreshed manually in Power BI Desktop and then re-published.
suggest, If you don’t have Premium Capacity, but your dataset is in Power BI Pro, you can use Tabular Editor (external tool) to refresh the model.
Download and install Tabular Editor 2 (free) or Tabular Editor 3 (paid).Open Tabular Editor and connect to your dataset in the Power BI Service.Select Refresh Metadata and save changes.This will update your Power BI dataset without needing to manually re-upload.
Hope this helps.
