POWER BI WITH SQL SERVER

[mfernandezcdp]

Good afternoon, I wanted to ask you if there is a way to connect a SQL SERVER database with power bi online (without having to do it with POWER BI desktop). If it can't be done, I wanted to know, if by creating the table in power bi desktop (linking it with local sql server) and then publishing it in the web portal, there is a way for it to update automatically. I await your reply. Thanks a lot

[v-robertq-msft]

Hi, @mfernandezcdp 

According to your description, you want to connect to SQL Server database in Power BI Service instead of desktop. I think you can go to “Get data”->” Published dataset” to connect to another dataset that uses Directquery to connect to the SQL Server database. But the prerequisite is that you have configured the gateway for the data source in this workspace. Then you can create a report and display the newest data on it.

If you don’t have access to any dataset using Directquery to connect to the SQL Server database, you can take the advice of JosefPrakljacic to create a Data Flow connecting to the SQL Server database, which is also a possible way to achieve this.

Best Regards,

Community Support Team _Robert Qin

If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

[JosefPrakljacic · Accepted solution]

If I understand you correctly, you want to connect an on-premise SQL server with Power BI?

You could create a DataFlow and then create a report based on that. In my opinion, you would not have to rely on Power BI Deskop.

But I would still recommend you to use Power BI Desktop.

In order to keep the data set up to date, you need a gateway. You can find information on this here.

Please don't forget to give a 👍 and accept the post as solution. (If it helped 😅)
Have a nice day!

BR,
Josef
Graz - Austria