Why is it you cannot preview the data from a dataflow when you use it in a desktop model

[jak8282]

Hi,

I have created a data flow and have connected to it in the desktop model - however - I can not preview the data to see where the joins should be ... is this on purpose?

Is there anyway round this?

TIA

[jak8282]

Hi Otravers - yes that would be good.

The issue I was having was the table was completly empty for some reason - it worked after I refreshed the data flow and then the desktop.

It looks like it doesnt do an initial refresh when you submit the dataflow.

[otravers · Accepted solution]

When you submit a dataflow the service should prompt you to refresh it (i.e. populate it if it's new) but it won't refresh by itself if you don't accept the prompt.

[otravers]

This is working as intended where only the dataflow's final output is what's visible to Power Desktop and not the prior steps within the dataflow. I too would like to be able to author/review dataflows from Power BI Desktop, but I don't have high hopes.