Forum Discussion
Specify Database in Snowflake Connection in Power BI Service with VNET Gateway
Greetings.
We are using a VNET Gateway to connect to Snowflake from Power BI. We have a Snowflake Warehouse with multiple databases.
However, there is no way to specify a database in the Snowflake connection created in the Power BI Service.
When natively connecting from Power BI Desktop, this is not an issue as there is an option setting for Database. I can even use Power Query parameters with the connection to make it easy to change.
Extensive searching through docs and blogs is not proving fruitful.
What are our options here?
Thanks.
Hi Anonymous ,
Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Community Forum.
Hi tayloramy and lbendlin , Thank you for your prompt response.
Hi Anonymous , In addition to tayloramy response, i have added some more points.
Please try below options to Specify the Database in Power BI Service with VNET Gateway.1. You can configure default roles and databases for users in Snowflake to streamline access and reduce ambiguity.
2. If you are using Microsoft Entra ID or Azure AD for SSO, check that the Snowflake user mappings and network policies are correctly configured.3. Check your VNET Gateway is properly configured and that the subnet delegation is set to Microsoft.PowerPlatform/vnetaccesslinks.
I hope this information helps. Please do let us know if you have any further queries.
Regards,
Dinesh
6 Replies
The standard approach is to include the database name in the SQL query.
Hi Anonymous,
In the Power BI Service (including VNET Gateway connections), you can’t pick a Snowflake database in the connection UI. That’s by design. Your options are:
- Author in Desktop with the Snowflake “Database” advanced option (or fully-qualified object names), then publish - the service honors the M code. See Microsoft’s connector notes where “Database” is Desktop-only. Power Query Snowflake connector.
- Fully qualify in Power Query (e.g., DB1.SCHEMA1.TABLE) so the database is baked into the query, not the gateway connection. Connect to Snowflake in Power BI Service.
- Set a default namespace in Snowflake for the login/role (e.g., ALTER USER ... SET DEFAULT_NAMESPACE=DB1.SCHEMA1;) so the “default database” is resolved server-side. Snowflake: Power BI SSO and the connector’s troubleshooting note on DEFAULT_NAMESPACE. Connector doc.
If you found this helpful, consider giving some Kudos. If I answered your question or solved your problem, mark this post as the solution.
Hi Anonymous ,
Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Community Forum.
Hi tayloramy and lbendlin , Thank you for your prompt response.
Hi Anonymous , In addition to tayloramy response, i have added some more points.
Please try below options to Specify the Database in Power BI Service with VNET Gateway.1. You can configure default roles and databases for users in Snowflake to streamline access and reduce ambiguity.
2. If you are using Microsoft Entra ID or Azure AD for SSO, check that the Snowflake user mappings and network policies are correctly configured.3. Check your VNET Gateway is properly configured and that the subnet delegation is set to Microsoft.PowerPlatform/vnetaccesslinks.
I hope this information helps. Please do let us know if you have any further queries.
Regards,
Dinesh
Hi Anonymous ,
We haven’t heard from you on the last response and was just checking back to see if you have a resolution yet. And, if you have any further query do let us know.
Regards,
Dinesh
Hi @markv_greenleaf ,
We haven’t heard from you on the last response and was just checking back to see if you have a resolution yet. And, if you have any further query do let us know.
Regards,
Dinesh
