Refresh failure in Dataset created with Excel file

[adrian84]

Hello. Sorry if this a is very basic question.

I have created a Dataset from an Excel file which contains a data model as required.

Unfortunately, my data is not being refreshed, neither automatically nor manually. I have checked this by analyzing it in Excel, and both my published Reports and Power BI Desktop confirm it by displaying outdated information.

You can continue editing your workbook. When your changes are saved, they’ll be synchronized with the dataset in Power BI, usually within about an hour.
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/connect-data/service-excel-workbook-files#import-excel-dat... 

The docs seem to indicate what I'm trying to achieve is possible. What am I missing?

[aj1973]

Hi @adrian84 

What does it say when you try refreshing manually? Also can you refresh you excel file manually? 

[adrian84]

By "manually" I mean I attempt to refresh by pressing the button in the dataset list.

[az38]

Hi @adrian84 

It could depends on where is your Excel file stored: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/connect-data/service-excel-workbook-files#where-your-workb...

what is your option?

[adrian84]

That would be option 2: my Excel file is stored in Onedrive-Business under the same account that I use for Power BI.

[az38]

Do you use import or direct query mode? if import, did you activate scheduled refresh?

[adrian84]

I believe I am using Direct Query mode.

When creating the dataset, I chose the one on the left, Import...

...and to build my report in Power BI Desktop, I selected the Power BI datasets option from the Common data sources list.

Lastly, my refresh settings look like this:

[aj1973]

It looks like you are using 2 different modes of connection to the source! one is Import mode and the other is Live connection mode!

[adrian84]

Oh, OK, I see.
But how can I fix it?

What I'm aiming for is to able to keep adding rows to my Excel file and have my reports be up to date with the data present in said Excel file, without having into Power BI Desktop to publish each time new data is added.
The file would be updated only about once a week.

Is there any way I can acomplish that?

[V-lianl-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi @adrian84 ,

In desktop, although it is a live connection to the dataset in the service, this dataset is based on the onedrive import mode, so it is not updated in real time, but almost every hour. If you want to refresh immediately after adding data, please refresh the dataset manually.

BTW, you can use desktop to connect Excel files on onedrive directly instead of importing them in service and then connecting.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/connect-data/desktop-use-onedrive-business-links 

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

[adrian84]

Thank you so much!

Thanks to all the others that tried to help me as well.