Forum Discussion
PowerBi and Power Automate
the use case is a generic HTTP POST to a REST API – Power Automate sends us a file as the body. This file should now be processed with Power BI.
Is there a supported way to achieve this?
Thanks in advance.
- You’re very close — and no, you don’t need a custom connector for this.The key point is that Power BI cannot consume a file directly from an HTTP POST request. The file needs to be stored first in a location that Power BI/Fabric can access.The usual pattern is:
- Power Automate receives the HTTP POST
- Save the file to SharePoint / OneDrive / ADLS / Lakehouse
- Power BI reads the file from that location
Regarding your questions:- You do not need a custom connector for this.- A gateway is only required if the file is stored in an on-premises location.- If you store the file in SharePoint or OneDrive Online, Power BI can access it as a cloud source.Official Microsoft references for the building blocks:- Power Automate HTTP request trigger / authentication:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-automate/oauth-authentication - SharePoint connector actions in Power Automate:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint/dev/business-apps/power-automate/sharepoint-connector-actions-triggers - Power Query SharePoint Folder connector for Power BI/Fabric:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-query/connectors/sharepoint-folder
A closer step-by-step example of the exact pattern, HTTP POST file upload to Power Automate and then SharePoint, is here:
https://blog.ninethsense.com/technology/automation/power-automate-post-a-file-to-trigger-a-http-flow-and-upload-to-sharepoint/So the important part is the staging step: receive file → store file → let Power BI read it. Power BI is pull-based, while your HTTP POST scenario is push-based.
10 Replies
Hi thankegyssling,
Power BI can't directly access a file from a POST request.
Power Automate would need to put the file somewhere that Fabric/Power BI can access it. The easiest place is prbably sharepoint, but you could also put the file in a Azure Storage Account in Azure data lake gen 2 storage, or you could use the storage APIs to shove the file directly into a lakehouse for Fabric to pick up.
Regardless of which option you choose, you need to stage the file somewhere that Fabric/PowerBI can access it
Hi thankegyssling ,
I would also take a moment to thank tayloramy , for actively participating in the community forum and for the solutions you’ve been sharing in the community forum. Your contributions make a real difference.
Since the XLSX file is being sent through an HTTP POST request, it would first need to be saved to a location that Power BI/Fabric can access, such as SharePoint, OneDrive, ADLS Gen2, or a Fabric Lakehouse.
Best Regards,
Community Support Teamtayloramy Thanks for that so if i understand correct i need an place like sharepoint where Power Automate stores the file and then our On-Prem PowerBI Gateways can take the file and forward this?
i did also some search with copilot and the answer was that i need an custom connector in Power Automate!Regards
Thorsten- You’re very close — and no, you don’t need a custom connector for this.The key point is that Power BI cannot consume a file directly from an HTTP POST request. The file needs to be stored first in a location that Power BI/Fabric can access.The usual pattern is:
- Power Automate receives the HTTP POST
- Save the file to SharePoint / OneDrive / ADLS / Lakehouse
- Power BI reads the file from that location
Regarding your questions:- You do not need a custom connector for this.- A gateway is only required if the file is stored in an on-premises location.- If you store the file in SharePoint or OneDrive Online, Power BI can access it as a cloud source.Official Microsoft references for the building blocks:- Power Automate HTTP request trigger / authentication:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-automate/oauth-authentication - SharePoint connector actions in Power Automate:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint/dev/business-apps/power-automate/sharepoint-connector-actions-triggers - Power Query SharePoint Folder connector for Power BI/Fabric:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-query/connectors/sharepoint-folder
A closer step-by-step example of the exact pattern, HTTP POST file upload to Power Automate and then SharePoint, is here:
https://blog.ninethsense.com/technology/automation/power-automate-post-a-file-to-trigger-a-http-flow-and-upload-to-sharepoint/So the important part is the staging step: receive file → store file → let Power BI read it. Power BI is pull-based, while your HTTP POST scenario is push-based.
Hi thankegyssling ,
Thanks for reaching out to the Microsoft fabric community forum.If Power Automate is sending a file through an HTTP POST request, one option is to save the file in a location that Power BI/Fabric can access, such as SharePoint, OneDrive, Azure Blob Storage, or a Fabric Lakehouse. Power BI can then load and analyze the data from there.
Could you please share a few more details?
- What type of file is being sent (CSV, Excel, JSON, etc.)?
- Where is the REST API hosted?
- What would you like Power BI to do with the file after it is received?
Best Regards,
Community Support Team
Hi
thanks for the fast response. as i know from the user the file will be delivered via HTTP Post
i have this informations:
Content-Type: application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet
Body: raw XLSX fileIs this helpfull?
Regards
Thorsten
