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Anonymous's avatar
Anonymous
Not applicable
7 years ago

OneDrive Excel workbook automatic refresh - how can I get it to work?

Hi there,   I'm a little confused. In this documentation https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/refresh-data it says that, for OneDrive refresh:  "Unlike a dataset refresh during which Power BI...
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v-cherch-msft's avatar
v-cherch-msft
Icon for Microsoft Employee rankMicrosoft Employee
7 years ago

Hi Anonymous 

Please have a look at the document:Refresh a dataset stored on OneDrive or SharePoint Online

'When you store a Power BI Desktop file on OneDrive or SharePoint Online, any data you’ve loaded into your file’s model is imported into the dataset, and any reports you’ve created in the file are loaded into Reports in the Power BI serviced. When you make changes to your file on OneDrive or SharePoint Online, such as adding new measures, changing column names, or editing visualizations, once you save the file those changes will be updated in the Power BI service too, usually within about an hour.'

Some threads for your reference:

https://community.powerbi.com/t5/Integrations-with-Files-and/Automatic-Refresh-not-working-when-conn...

https://community.powerbi.com/t5/Service/Auomatic-Refresh-reports-successful-refresh-but-doesn-t-rea...

Regards,

 

Anonymous's avatar
Anonymous
Not applicable
7 years ago

Hi v-cherch-msft 

 

Thanks for the documentation. Can I confirm the following:

 

I have used Get Data/OneDrive for Business/Connect to connect the Dataset from OneDrive (in the PBIX file) to the Power BI Service. I have connected that PBIX to an Excel workbook in my OneDrive for Business folder.

If I make a change to the PBIX, I don't have to click on Publish, because it automatically syncs between OneDrive and Power BI Service.

However, if I make a change to the Excel Workbook (the data source), I need to either (a) initiate a manual refresh and/or (b) set up a Scheduled Refresh (up to 8 times daily maximum). It does not automatically refresh the data source like the PBIX sync above.

  • twilbour's avatar
    twilbour
    Icon for Helper I rankHelper I
    6 years ago

    Can anyone confirm the last post?  I'm struggling with the same thing.  I have both the .pbix and an excel file which serves as the datasource on One Drive for Business.  I can see that if I change the .pbix file, PowerBI service picks up those changes.  I do not see, however, that changes in the Excel file are picked up and populated through the datasource to the Reports on the Service.  Further - Scheduled Refresh is not an option.  The option is "available" but when I open it to schedule. the button to schedule (and all else within the Scheduled Refresh is greyed out.

     

    One last thing...does it matter if I choose "publish" to service, or start at the service and upload the file.  It seems that to upload the file my One Drive subdirectories have to match my Power BI workspaces.