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Avits's avatar
Avits
Regular Visitor
2 years ago
Solved

Data set refresh for external user with viewer access

A question from a relative newbie.   The refresh command on the PBI report implies it will refresh data, but I guess that does not mean the data set.   The only way I have found to make this work...
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  • collinq's avatar
    collinq
    2 years ago

    Hey Avits ,

     

    To refresh the Semantic Model, you are right in your original thought, they have to have the rights to refresh the model itself in the workspace.  And, you are right that they would need "contributor" access to do that.

    However, you could create a PowerAutomate that use the API to call a refresh.  Specifically, it would be this one (Refresh Dataset): Datasets - Refresh Dataset - REST API (Power BI Power BI REST APIs) | Microsoft Learn

     

collinq's avatar
collinq
Icon for Super User rankSuper User
2 years ago

Hi Avits ,

 

I am not sure what "refresh" you are talking about.  In the Service there is a "reset" option which puts everything back to Default on a report.  In the Service, on a Dashboard, the "refresh" option will refresh the visuals to the latest refresh on the semantic model.

 

If you do not want to have the person click on anything, why not set up the semantic model to refresh automatically?  And, then, you don't have to share the workspace or report at all - you can just share the App.

 

 

Avits's avatar
Avits
Regular Visitor
2 years ago

Maybe I am getting the terminology wrong. The refresh I am talking about is indeed the one you refer to on the dashboar and I guess the fact is the data set in the semantic model has not changed, so no change for the user.

 

Yes, we can set up an automatic refresh, but the usage is fairly ad hoc. We did originally set up hourly refreshes, but there are a lot!

 

We got a bit worried about the level of transactions (not sure if there is a billing charge for that) and the load on the sql server.

 

It seems we have to allow the users to refresh the semantic model. In which case I was hoping to be able to set up a button to do that, but can't see how.


Thanks for the input.

 

  • collinq's avatar
    collinq
    Icon for Super User rankSuper User
    2 years ago

    Hey Avits ,

     

    To refresh the Semantic Model, you are right in your original thought, they have to have the rights to refresh the model itself in the workspace.  And, you are right that they would need "contributor" access to do that.

    However, you could create a PowerAutomate that use the API to call a refresh.  Specifically, it would be this one (Refresh Dataset): Datasets - Refresh Dataset - REST API (Power BI Power BI REST APIs) | Microsoft Learn

     

    • Avits's avatar
      Avits
      Regular Visitor
      2 years ago

      Thanks.

       

      I may try that as an option at some point.

       

      Right now, we are trying the Power Automate option.  Seems ok so far.

       

      Question: If I used the REST API would it still mean the user has to be a contributor or would viewer access be sufficient?