PowerAutomate: Direct Query PBI shows 'Can't Display the Visual' with Automate's export to PDF

[Josiah_Sim]

Have been using Automate to "Export To File for Power BI Reports" on a Direct Query PBI that worked fine until recently (mid Sep 2022) where visuals started showing "Can't display the visual".

I tried a few tests and visuals display correctly in PDF when it is a live connection. However when I change the storage mode of the PBI to Direct Query, "Can't display the visual" is shown in PDF instead.

PDF shows this in DirectQuery

PDF shows this in Live Connection

Connect to PBI dataset and change from Live Connection to DirectQuery

Power Automate Flow

@jeroenterheerdt 

Seems like the same issue here:
Error when export a direct query report to a PBI dataset using power automate

[lbendlin]

There are some tight timeout limitations when using Direct Query.  If your data source is not fast enough and/or inconsistent then the visual rendering in the PDF will randomly fail.

[Josiah_Sim]

Hi @lbendlin ,

Thanks for sharing. I understand on this limitation, however it should not be due to timeout limitation.

If it is due to timeout limitation, some visuals that loads fast (e.g. cards that just display number) will still be able to be displayed and some other charts/table will show 'Can't Display the Visual'. However in this case, instead of being a few visuals, all visuals shows 'Can't Display the Visual'.

Could you share if there are methods/ways in which we can increase the timeout limitation to test if it solves this issue?

Regards,

Jo

[lbendlin]

There are many more things at play. Visuals are rendered in groups of five. Your data source may have inconsistent performance. The renderer may be impacted by other activities on the capacity.

Try it on the desktop.