Scheduled refresh - ignore tables without connection

[Oimat]

Hi, 

I have three data sources : 

1. An Excel file that I loaded from my computer

2. A Sharepoint on Cloud

3. A Sharepoint on premise

So of course, I cannot connect on Powerbi Premium online to two of the three sources, so when I do a refresh I get an error. In Desktop -> transform data, I unchecked for those two sources "Include in report refresh".

When I ask for a scheduled refresh, I want to be able to refresh everything that it can connect to, or at least choose which sources refresh to. 

I tried makiing Direct Query to the Cloud, but I cannot do visuals with mixing data sources, so it's useless. 

Thank you

[v-jianpeng-msft · Accepted solution]

Your ideas is so great ibarrau

Hi, @Oimat 

 If you want to use scheduled refresh on top of Power BI service, you need to configure a gateway connection for each data source used in your semantic model.
If you have one of them and are unable to configure a gateway connection, then you will encounter errors such as Refresh Failed or Unable to Use Scheduled Refresh.
Based on your earlier communication with Super user, you have a data source that cannot connect to you through Power BI service, and you are requesting that this data source will update your reports, both of which are in conflict with the current refresh logic. Since Power BI service is not able to connect to your data source, then it is not able to fetch your updated data.
In this case, you mentioned that you tried to select enter data in Power BI, but your data was too large and conflicted with your need to refresh this data source.
At this point, you have the following two options:
1. move your data source to a place where the Power BI service can reach it, and then use the Enterprise Data Gateway to connect to this new data source. This you can negotiate with your IT group.
2. you can consider using Power BI report server. in Power BI report server you can build completely on-premises in your company without the need of a gateway. it can access your data source and set up a schedule refresh just like Power BI desktop. When you choose this approach, you need to understand it:

What is Power BI Report Server? - Power BI | Microsoft Learn

Best Regards

Jianpeng Li

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

[Oimat]

It is not possible to connect to the source, since one if on my local computer, and the other one is on a on-premise server that cannot be connected to through PowerBI Online (even though I can on Desktop, I checked with IT group).

So I'm stuck on the Online part.

[ibarrau]

The best alternative would be moving everything to online sharepoint. Another could be if it's not a lot of info and it's static data. You can paste it in "Enter Data" at Power Bi Desktop.

Regards

[Oimat]

Not possible for first option, for cybersecurity concerns.

For the second option, the excel files I need to paste are 1M lines split into 5 excel files and 2 sheets each. Copy/pasting everything would remove all automated treatment. I can load the files from my local computer though, that is an option : but I would still need to refresh it...

[ibarrau]

Hi. The include in report refresh it's a feature that will prevent the refresh at the Power Bi perspective, however the first time and the source need the connection for the source tested and running. You can see a very detailed 5 minutes video about the feature to understand all that it involves:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_jY87oo9Sw

You can also vote this idea that looks like the scenario you would like to build: https://ideas.fabric.microsoft.com/ideas/idea/?ideaid=c464fb1a-25e4-4c93-ba72-288a6ff12127

I hope that helps,