Solved: Refresh API Connection

Anonymous · ‎03-17-2021

Hi All,

I'm looking into using an API connection to a dynamic dataset in Power BI using Web.Contents in Power Query.

My question is that because I want this data source as up to date as possible I'm wondering if API connections can be set to refresh as the report is accessed or if a gateway needs to be setup per report using the API connection that could have scheduled refreshes throughout the day.

Thank you

blopez11 · ‎03-17-2021

You can configure the dataset associated with your report on a refresh schedule. You probably do not need a gateway if the API is to a cloud based service. I will warn you though that Power BI is a little finicky when it comes to web based APIs, and what works in the desktop doesn't always work in the service. There are alot of factors that contribute to this and many posts about this. The easiest web APIs to use are those that use anonymous authentication, and you pass authentication data (tokens in headers). It can get quite complicated for other authentication methods

Good luck

View solution in original post

blopez11 · ‎03-17-2021

You can configure the dataset associated with your report on a refresh schedule. You probably do not need a gateway if the API is to a cloud based service. I will warn you though that Power BI is a little finicky when it comes to web based APIs, and what works in the desktop doesn't always work in the service. There are alot of factors that contribute to this and many posts about this. The easiest web APIs to use are those that use anonymous authentication, and you pass authentication data (tokens in headers). It can get quite complicated for other authentication methods

Good luck