Power BI : Data refresh error

[ZidhinSaleem]

I was previously able to refresh data by a on premises gateway personal mode on my laptop. but now it shows me this error when i try to connect to the OracleDB. I tried connecting to the DB via cmd and it worked fine. 

: An error happened while reading data from the provider: 'Object reference not set to an instance of an object.'

it shows that the data source is offline, i'm assuming it is because of this. i had installed a personal gateway on another PC to keep it running full time. but then deleted it due to this error that i got and then switched on the gateway on my laptop to see if it would revert.

any help would be appreciated.

[grazitti_sapna · Accepted solution]

Hi  @ZidhinSaleem 

It looks like the error "Object reference not set to an instance of an object" combined with the "data source is offline" message often indicates an issue with the gateway connection to OracleDB, even if direct connection tests (like via CMD) seem to work fine.

A few troubleshooting steps to try for resolving this:

• Verify that the on-premises data gateway personal mode on your laptop is fully updated to the latest version.

• Ensure the Oracle client software and drivers installed on your laptop match the requirements of Power BI and are correctly configured.

• Restart the gateway service on your laptop to clear any temporary connection states.

• Double-check the gateway data source settings in the Power BI service portal to confirm the connection details exactly match your working configuration.

• If you had installed a gateway on another PC and removed it, ensure there are no conflicting configurations or references to the deleted gateway in Power BI or your workspace.

• Sometimes, deleting and recreating the data source in the gateway configuration resolves stale state issues.

  If these steps don’t help, collecting gateway logs and enabling detailed diagnostics in the gateway might shed light on deeper issues.

  This pattern of error usually comes down to gateway or driver connectivity mismatches rather than the database itself, since connection tests succeeded externally.

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[v-sgandrathi · Accepted solution]

Hi @ZidhinSaleem,

Just wanted to follow up and confirm that everything has been going well on this. Please let me know if there’s anything from our end.
Please feel free to reach out Microsoft fabric community forum.

[govind_021 · Accepted solution]

It looks like your Power BI gateway can’t properly talk to the Oracle driver on your system. That “object reference” error usually happens when the gateway can’t find or load the Oracle client.

Here’s what you can do:

1. Go to Power BI Service → Manage Gateways and remove any old or duplicate gateways, especially the one from the other PC.

2. Make sure your personal gateway on this laptop is running (you can check that in the Windows “Services” app).

3. Install or repair the 64-bit Oracle Instant Client, and make sure its bin folder is added to your system PATH (not just your user PATH).

4. Restart your laptop so the changes take effect.

5. Go back to Power BI → Manage Gateways, add the Oracle data source again, and test the connection.

   If it connects fine through CMD but fails through Power BI, it’s almost always because the gateway service can’t see the Oracle driver — fixing the PATH or reinstalling the 64-bit client should sort it out.

    

   Best Regards
   Govind Sapkade ( Microsoft Certified Data Analyst , PL 300 Certified , MS Fabric Enthusiast)
   Let's Connect
   Linkdin - www.linkedin.com/in/govind-sapkade-845104225
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[v-sgandrathi]

Hi @ZidhinSaleem,

Thank you @Shahid12523  and @grazitti_sapna  dor your response to the query.

Just looping back once to check if everything's good on your end. Let me know if you need any final support happy to assist if anything’s still open.

Thank you.

[v-sgandrathi · Accepted solution]

Hi @ZidhinSaleem,

Just wanted to follow up and confirm that everything has been going well on this. Please let me know if there’s anything from our end.
Please feel free to reach out Microsoft fabric community forum.

[v-sgandrathi]

HI @ZidhinSaleem,

We strive to make sure every issue gets addressed completely. Still facing issues? Just reply here and we’ll be right with you.

Thanks for being a valued part of the community.

[Shahid12523]

Ensuring Oracle client is properly installed and configured.
Removing stale gateway entries in Power BI Service.
Restarting the personal gateway on your laptop.
Rebinding the Oracle data source with correct credentials.
Testing the connection in Power BI Desktop and republishing.

[grazitti_sapna · Accepted solution]

Hi  @ZidhinSaleem 

It looks like the error "Object reference not set to an instance of an object" combined with the "data source is offline" message often indicates an issue with the gateway connection to OracleDB, even if direct connection tests (like via CMD) seem to work fine.

A few troubleshooting steps to try for resolving this:

• Verify that the on-premises data gateway personal mode on your laptop is fully updated to the latest version.

• Ensure the Oracle client software and drivers installed on your laptop match the requirements of Power BI and are correctly configured.

• Restart the gateway service on your laptop to clear any temporary connection states.

• Double-check the gateway data source settings in the Power BI service portal to confirm the connection details exactly match your working configuration.

• If you had installed a gateway on another PC and removed it, ensure there are no conflicting configurations or references to the deleted gateway in Power BI or your workspace.

• Sometimes, deleting and recreating the data source in the gateway configuration resolves stale state issues.

  If these steps don’t help, collecting gateway logs and enabling detailed diagnostics in the gateway might shed light on deeper issues.

  This pattern of error usually comes down to gateway or driver connectivity mismatches rather than the database itself, since connection tests succeeded externally.

🌟 I hope this solution helps you unlock your Power BI potential! If you found it helpful, click 'Mark as Solution' to guide others toward the answers they need.

💡 Love the effort? Drop the kudos! Your appreciation fuels community spirit and innovation.

🎖 As a proud SuperUser and Microsoft Partner, we’re here to empower your data journey and the Power BI Community at large.

🔗 Curious to explore more? [Discover here].

Let’s keep building smarter solutions together!