Forum Discussion

Naveen_Kumar's avatar
Naveen_Kumar
Microsoft Employee
8 years ago

Target string size is too small to represent the XML instance

I have a field which stores query plans(XML data type) ,when i try to show those plans in report using table visualization getting the below mentioned error. Error: "Target string size is too small ...
Need Help
Naveen_Kumar's avatar
Naveen_Kumar
Microsoft Employee
8 years ago

Hi v-jiascu-msft

 

I'm using latest Desktop version (feb 2018) only but with Azure sql server . the avg size of xml field is 162340 Bytes

 

My test environment:

1. Azure SQL Server

2. Direct Query mode in the Desktop 2.55.5010.621 64-bit (February 2018);

3. A Sql table with one column of type xml;

4. Created a table visual.

Naveen_Kumar's avatar
Naveen_Kumar
Microsoft Employee
8 years ago

Hi v-jiascu-msft

 

When i used SQL server Import method to get the data into report it is working as expected. As the size of the report is limited (in Import) we cannot use this approach . Please suggest

 

Thanks & Regards,

Naveen.

 

  • v-jiascu-msft's avatar
    v-jiascu-msft
    Microsoft Employee
    8 years ago

    Hi Naveen_Kumar,

     

    I have reported this issue to the Product Team. I will update the news here.

     

    Best Regards,

    Dale

    • v-jiascu-msft's avatar
      v-jiascu-msft
      Microsoft Employee
      8 years ago

      Hi Naveen_Kumar,

       

      I have gotten replies from the Product Team. 

      This is one of many by design limitations of DirectQuery models. Fundamentally speaking, an Import model processes all kinds of external data types into internal data types which Power BI engine supports so that all following operations can work on the internally supported data types. But DirectQuery models must push operations to the remote database which doesn't support all BI operations. There are many BI operations which are not supported for XML data type. Currently, Power BI casts XML data type to NVARCHAR(4000) data type in DirectQuery mode. When the data is longer than 4000 characters, users will get the error in this incident.  In general, XML is not a supported data type for DirectQuery models.

       

      Best Regards,

      Dale

      • Yashaswini13's avatar
        Yashaswini13
        Frequent Visitor
        2 years ago

        Hi,

         

        I am facing the same issue. Do we have any alternative for this or how to proceed further?

        Thanks,

        Yashaswini