Automatic Refreshes while connected to SharePoint - Does it really work as explained by Microsoft?

[morteza]

Hi,

We have recently moved some of our report datasource files (mostly csv and xlsx) into SharePoint in order to eliminate the use of Gateway connecting to on-prem data sources in Power BI service. It works great especially with the source control features that enable multi-users have access to a single source of data.

We also set up a scheduled refresh for the dataset, then found out an article in Microsoft documentations that says we can use a feature known as "OneDrive refresh" and "by default, Power BI checks about every hour if a dataset connected to a file on OneDrive or SharePoint Online requires synchronization" (https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/connect-data/refresh-data#onedrive-refresh).

As per the article, this feature supposed to be seen under dataset settings like this sample screenshot displayed in the article:

However the settings menues apparently were changed and this option can't be seen in dataset settings anymore:

I also tried to replace the .csv file saved in SharePoint with a newer version and see if the report dataset will get refreshed within 1-2 hours after the changes, but didn't see anything happens.

Has anyone had the experience of using this feature as explained by Microsoft?

Thanks,

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Hi @morteza ,

//If you created your datasets and reports based on a Power BI Desktop file, Excel workbook, or comma separated value (.csv) file on OneDrive or SharePoint Online, Power BI performs another type of refresh, known as OneDrive refresh. 

You need to use the above data source to trigger a OneDrive refresh, otherwise this option won't appear in the layout. My test process is as follows:

Suppose we have an excel file with a table in it:

Save in SharePoint.

Connect to excel file in SharePoint:

Create a report, here I simply create a table visual and save it.

Check for OneDrive refresh, enabled by default.

Go back to the data source location to edit the table.

It has been automatically refreshed after about ten minutes after editing.

Check the report, the data inside is up to date.

For your reference.

Best Regards,
Gao
Community Support Team

If there is any post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly. If I misunderstand your needs or you still have problems on it, please feel free to let us know. Thanks a lot!

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[m-colbert]

Another way to address this issue is to setup a power automate flow trigger by the update of a file in SharePoint that will then trigger a refresh of the power BI Dataset. I use this quite often and works really well.

Hope this helps.