Refresh report data using REST API

[Tom-ADV]

Hi, we are developing an app that uses Power BI to generate reports. The data we are using comes from a local MySQL server hosted on our local network. The PBI reports use the tables from the MySQL database, which are regularly updated. Naturally, we need to update the reports with fresh data as it becomes available. Typically, the "refresh" button does the job, but we need to automate this process.

We recently started using the PBI REST API, and while browsing the documentation, I couldn't find the term "refresh data." So, I am not sure if "update report content in group" is what I am looking for...

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/rest/api/power-bi/reports/update-report-content-in-group

If there are multiple steps involved, I would very much appreciate it if someone could list them.

Thanks!

[NandanHegde]

Hey,

Can you be a little clear on your ask?
Is your dataset following an incremental refersh or full refresh?

The below blog explains automation of refresh(full) via ADF

https://datasharkx.wordpress.com/2022/11/07/refresh-power-bi-dataflow-dataset-from-azure-data-factor...

Dataset API to refresh :

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/rest/api/power-bi/datasets/refresh-dataset

[Tom-ADV]

Hey @NandanHegde , we are currently consume the data by:

Get Data -> MySQL databae -> Connect -> Credentials -> Connect -> Navigator -> Select Tables -> Load
To refresh the Data we simply clicked "Refresh" and the new data would be introduced to the report.

We wish to automate the above proccess and could  be wrong about the whole approach...

[NandanHegde]

Hey, The above manual approach you are suggesting is being done in your local system via PBIX file refresh.

You need to publish the report to Power BI service post which you can leverage REST APIs to automate the refresh as stated in above blog.

[Tom-ADV]

@NandanHegde , Yes, we did publish the report. It is available online and can be accessed externally by anyone with a link to that report.

I just can't figure out the equivalent API method to trigger that refresh functionality, if such a thing even exists, we don't use a "DataSet" object. How can I trigger a refresh in this case?

EDIT:
@NandanHegde , Well, it seems like there is a dataset which I wasn't aware of that is being created after publishing a report. But this dataset has to be configured to get the data via an On-premises Gateway in order to refresh using the API.

[NandanHegde · Accepted solution]

Hey,

Yes,whenever you publish a report a dataset gets craeted along with it

Since your source is present within a vnet, in order for your report to referh in power BI service (cloud), you need to set up a gateway between your datasource Vnet and powerbi cloud which is on premises gateway