Forum Discussion

matthewt's avatar
matthewt
Frequent Visitor
8 years ago
Solved

Cannot Get Data from Data Gateway

Hi There   I've been testing connecting PowerBI to our company database and have created a local copy of the Postgre SQL database on my wokstation. I've then installed the PowerBI gateway successf...
Need Help
  • matthewt's avatar
    matthewt
    8 years ago

    So. Solution.
    (Kinda)

     

    When performing the tests locally, I was able to publish the reports to powerBI.
    When impoted, it created a dataset, and from there, I was able to actually set it to automatically refresh and point it at a data gateway.

    Upon the refresh, it successfully pulled from the database.

     

    So, rather than importing the data directly via the gateway.

    Create the report locally, connecting to the SQL database.

    Publishing that report with its dataset to PowerBI online.

    Opening the dataset imported during the publishing.

    Going to its settings.
    Selecting automatic refresh.

    Selecting my data gateway.

     

    Whew.

Anonymous's avatar
Anonymous
Not applicable
8 years ago

When you use a gateway, the gateway will attempt to use the same connection settings and log on data as your set up query.

So if your connection details when setting up the query differs, you experience what you are seeing now.  The most common difference is when people access a file that is hosted on their C:\ but is actually a shared folder for the gateway.  This is because when you set up the file, it was C:\Folder\File.ext and the gateway goes "I don't have a C:\Folder\File.ext" and doesn't know you actually meant "\\Computer\folder\file.ext"

Now you are probably thinking "Well thats all well and good, im using a database and not a file".  In your description you set up the database locally.  So when you connect to your local database, how do you specify the connection?  If you used that exact same specification while on the gateway, would it work?  Its likely on the gateway you would have needed to give it additional Network IP information.

The solution is to set up the query on your desktop and connect to the database as if its on another computer, even though it isnt.  Sort of like mailing yourself a letter.

  • matthewt's avatar
    matthewt
    Frequent Visitor
    8 years ago

    Hi Ross

     

    Thanks for the reply.

    I'm not having an issue with the connection to the database, it's using the data.

     

     

    I used localhost as the server address but the issue remains ad the connection is fine regardless of that being localhost, 127.0.0.1, or my address on the local network.

     

    From this point, I'd hypothetically go to "create report" or "create dataset" however I'm unable to add the data.

     

    I'm not sure how the addresses you've mentioned could affect this, only the server name makes sense to me. 
    I'm guessing we've misinterpreted eachother.

    • Anonymous's avatar
      Anonymous
      Not applicable
      8 years ago

      Does your file have any other data sources?  This can also cause an issue as the gateway is a jealous type and its either an all or nothing deal.

      • matthewt's avatar
        matthewt
        Frequent Visitor
        8 years ago

        Nope.

        The only connection to the database is through the gateway, and the admin panel anyway.

        PowerBI Online is pretty much empty as this is the first attempt at using it.
        It's a very boring and fresh setup soley to test whether it works.

         

        From what I can gather, the next step would be going to "Get Data", "Databases", SQL Server Analysis Services", which would have the gateway appear.

        I get the below though.

         

         

        There's no issues using the local PowerBI app connecting directly to the database either. But online just seems to go nowhere.