Scheduled dataset refresh to begin at a precise and regular time

[Anonymous]

Hi All

We have a requirement that the dashboards we are using are refreshed every 15 minutes and that the refresh (the dataset refresh) begins at 00, 15, 30 and 45 minutes in the hour.

This is a direct query data set to an Azure SQL DB. There are regular updates to the database between these thime so it is import to have some control on when the report refresh to avoid contention.

Currently we set up a 15 minutes refresh interval. I would not define this as being a 15 minutes interval. I would describe this as being approximatly every 15 minutes with variable start intervals. 🙂 

How can we be precise ?  I though of calling the API from an Azure function. But I think to get a precise time on that I would have to call it from a logic app. This is an over head and more things to maintain ......

Any suggestions appreciated ...... 

[Seth_C_Bauer]

@Anonymous There are no controls to auto refresh the dashboards themselves (to my knowledge). All refreshes revolve around the dataset, which you don't need in this case because it is a Direct Query connection. Alternatively, rather than using a dashboard, the report itself could be shared instead, and whenever the report is accessed it will show what is in the database because you are using Direct Query... Also, Pro licenses only allow for 8 refreshes per day for an imported dataset, and 48 if you have Premium.

[GilbertQ]

Hi there,

I recently found out that now on Premium Capacity the number of refreshes has been lifted.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/service-premium

[Seth_C_Bauer]

@GilbertQ That's awesome! Thanks for sharing. (link ends in a 404)

[GilbertQ]

Thanks @Seth_C_Bauer, there was a space at the end of the link that crept in!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the info guys. This is a Direct query report so it is possible to schedule a refresh every 15 minutes. Then using an app and dashboards the reports do refresh automatically.

But in this senario we want the report / dashboard to refresh at a specified times during the hour. Seems like a lot of money to pay for the premium for such a simple piece of fuctionality! If one did pay for it, is it possible to put the precise time in (for direct query report) i.e

8:00, 8:15, 8:45, 9:00, 9:15

And would the report refresh at precisly this these times ?

[GilbertQ · Accepted solution]

You can actually fire off a refresh via the Power BI API

I don't have the link off hand but you should be able to. Google it

[Seth_C_Bauer]

@Anonymous From my understanding, Dashboards cannot be refreshed on their own. They run on their own automated schedule, which if documentation can be believed is every 15 minutes). The APIs only support dataset refresh and those are bound by the same license terms (8x for Pro, 48 or Unlimited for Premium - depending on what documentation you look at.)

Lots of info here - > https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/refresh-data

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your help guys, we have some API calls set up using Azure Functions 🙂 So will experiment with that a little see if we can get the timing correct for our senario.