power bi service(free) sql server data refresh

[ajinkyagaikwad]

Hi All,

I have developed reports on Power BI desktop and published them to Power BI service.
I have used SQL server data source. I have simply integrated those reports in a custom web app using Publish to Web feature(using iframe).
Now I want the report data to be refreshed say every 5 minutes. How can it be done?
I can see Scheduled refresh option in dataset, but I need to set Timing for refresh which is limited to 8 times in a day only.
Also will it be OK if I delete the PBIX file from my desktop as I have already uploaded them on service OR it is needed for scheduled refresh?

Thanks in advance

[GilbertQ · Accepted solution]

Hi there

Currently the Publish to Web feature will only update the cache once every hour.

Also with Power BI Pro or Power BI free you can only update the dataset 8 times a day.

If you had to delete and re-upload the PBIX you would then have to re-create the Publish to Web link as far as I know

If you are looking for something more real-time you could look into DirectQuery, this might work with Publish to Web, but best solution is to use a Power BI Pro license with DirectQuery which will work.

[ajinkyagaikwad]

Hi

1)So you mean data will be AUTOMATICALLY refreshed after every hour for power BI service free version without any need to schedule?
2)as I have already uploaded reports on Power BI service I can delete them on my desktop and it will not affect data refresh on service. right?

[GilbertQ]

No the data will only refresh once an hour no matter how many times the underlying data is refreshed.

Yes that is correct, but I would HIGHLY recommend keeping a local copy of the PBIX as this is your original source of truth

[ajinkyagaikwad]

Sorry bit confused by your reply.
1)You mean I can only schedule refresh dataset 8 times a day. If I do not configure schedule refresh, dataset will not get refreshed.(Power BI service free)?

2)If I want to refresh data once in every hour(i.e 24 times in a day) is there any need to configure schedule refresh?

[GilbertQ]

Hi there

1. Yes unless you configure the scheduled refresh, it will NOT auto refresh.

2. Currently unless you have got Power BI Premium you can only refresh 8 times a day.

[ajinkyagaikwad]

Thank you so much for clarifying my doubts