How to implement a live data visualisation in the fabric ecosystem?

[JordanAdam98]

Hi.

Sorry this is going to be a very general question however im stuck on even architechting what I want.

To make a crud application in the fabric universe is not too complicated. Create a power app that can update a data source, maybe slap a visualisation on top using PowerBI, make it direct query and every time you enter data and refresh the browser you will have the latest data. However there is a requirement that this visualisation will just sit on a screen and auto update and noone needs to touch it. I don't immediately know how to do this. I know there is a way to refresh data in a power app using a refresh function and a timer but this seems a bit hacky. I also know there is real-time intelligence in fabric however I believe this is more to do with streaming rather than new data enetering a source maybe every half an hour.

Is there an obvious solution that I am missing in the fabric or azure ecosystem. The visualisation doesn't need to be complex at all so having a CRUD power app that can update with live data will fit the requirements.

Thanks.

[v-veshwara-msft]

Hi @JordanAdam98 ,

Just checking in to see if you query is resolved and if any responses were helpful.
Otherwise, feel free to reach out for further assistance.

Thank you.

[v-veshwara-msft]

Hi @JordanAdam98 ,
Just wanted to check if the responses provided were helpful. If further assistance is needed, please reach out.
Thank you.

[v-veshwara-msft]

Hi @JordanAdam98 ,

Thanks for sharing your requirement in Microsoft Fabric Community.

As mentioned by @MJParikh  and @tayloramy , the two main options in Fabric are either Power BI with Direct Lake/DirectQuery and automatic page refresh, or Real-Time Dashboards connected to KQL/Eventhouse for continuous updates.

Since your scenario sounds closer to a CRUD-style application where updates may only happen every few minutes or half an hour, using a Fabric Warehouse or Lakehouse as the data source with DirectQuery/Direct Lake and enabling auto page refresh in the report is usually the simplest approach. That way, the report can stay open on a screen and pull in changes without any manual refresh.

For Reference: Automatic page refresh in Power BI Desktop - Power BI | Microsoft Learn

If you need the visuals to update every few seconds instead of minutes, using Real-Time Dashboards would be the better option.

Please reach out for further assistance.

Thank you.

Thanks to @MJParikh and @tayloramy for your valuable inputs.

[MJParikh]

To create a live data visualization that updates automatically in the Microsoft Fabric system, the best option is to use Power BI’s Direct Lake/DirectQuery mode or the new Fabric Real-Time Dashboards that refresh on their own. These approaches allow dashboards to update automatically without any user intervention.

1. Power BI with Direct Lake/DirectQuery

• Use a Fabric Data Warehouse or Lakehouse as your data source.
• Build your semantic model in Direct Lake or DirectQuery mode so Power BI visuals always query the latest data.
• Set up auto page refresh (down to every few seconds for DirectQuery, or continuous for streaming).
• Suitable for scenarios where changes in data may occur every few minutes or more.
• Updates to the source are reflected live in the visual users never have to refresh manually.

2. Fabric Real-Time Dashboards

• Designed for both streaming and frequent batch-updated data, supporting auto-refresh rates as low as 10 seconds (or continuous update for streams).
• Connect to KQL Databases, Eventhouse, or other Fabric real-time data sources.
• Easy setup via "auto refresh" in dashboard properties no code required.
• Allows displaying up-to-date metrics and even triggering alerts or reflexes as data changes.
• Maintains a separation of dashboard and data permissions for security compliance.

3. CRUD with Power Apps Embedded in Power BI

• Use Power Apps inside a Power BI report to let users perform CRUD operations.
• When Power Apps writes to a Fabric data source (like Data Warehouse or Lakehouse), and Power BI uses Direct Lake/DirectQuery, updates are reflected instantly in the visuals.
• Automate further actions (like notifications) using Power Automate in the workflow.

Minimal Implementation Steps
Store your data in a Fabric Lakehouse, Data Warehouse, or KQL Database.

Build a semantic model with Direct Lake/DirectQuery in Power BI, or use Fabric Real-Time Dashboards for KQL/Eventhouse sources.

In Power BI, go to the report “Page Information” and configure "Auto Page Refresh" with the required interval.

For dashboards, open the “Manage” or dashboard properties and enable “Auto Refresh,” choosing your desired interval.

When using CRUD, embed Power Apps into the report to handle writes; pair updates with Direct Lake/DirectQuery for instant reflection in visuals.

Example Scenario
For a CRUD dashboard where users update data through a Power App, and managers see a live-updating status board:

• Fabric Data Warehouse stores entries.
• Power App embedded in Power BI allows updates.
• Power BI report is based on a Direct Lake semantic model.
• Enable auto-refresh; new or updated records sync to visuals within seconds, with no manual refresh needed.

[tayloramy]

Hi @JordanAdam98, 

For Power BI, I believe that the page needs to be refreshed or the refresh button at the top right of the report needs to be clicked to refresh visuals if the semantic model changes while the report is open. 

Have you considered using a realtime dashboard sitting on a KQL database? This will refresh in near real time. 

Create a Real-Time Dashboard - Microsoft Fabric | Microsoft Learn

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