Updating the app data set?

[A-E]

So we have created an app with a data set which lies in workspace nr 1. This feeds in to the data set which exists in the app and the app workspace (which we can call workspace nr 2) through direct query.  We made some changes to the original data set and re-published it so it was overwritten and everything works fine in workspace 1. However data set in workspace 2 (the app) seems to be looking for the old data set in workspace 1 and does not want to refresh. Throwing error messages that it cant find a old table that we removed and so on.

So the question is how do we get the app data set to update? I know we can delete the app but then we might have to remake some of the reports in the app since they have been changed in the app workspace and cant be downloaded.

[v-yueyunzh-msft]

Hi , @A-E 

Based on your error message given and issue description, it seems the root cause for the desktop refresh and data loading failure is due to your data source changed and the desktop has no object to point to, which leads to the error message (because the dataset been replaced, the ID will also change) For the solution of this issue, you can consider to to the Power query part of the already developed Power BI report file, Double click on the "Source" step:

Then you are able to slelect the current dataset again to select the entity and make sure all the transformation steps won't give error message, if there's error message, please use the guiance for them to delete the deleted tables/columns or change the name, and save the PQ transformations again into the .pbix file and the visuals should also work now.

Thank you for your time and sharing, and thank you for your support and understanding of PowerBI! 

Best Regards,

Aniya Zhang

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[A-E]

Hi, @v-yueyunzh-msft. This part has already been done. We have change the data source and it work in desktop and in workspace nr1 when its published there. It is only in the app workspace that it won't refresh and update to that data set. Do we have to remake the app if we make changes to the original data set?

[v-yueyunzh-msft]

Hi , @A-E 

Thanks for your quick response! According to your description, the dataset in your workspace No.1 is re-published and it can refresh normally . Instead the dataset in the Workspace No.2 can not refresh which may caused by the data structure is changed in the raw dataset in  workspace No.1.

If this , you need to download your dataset in your Workspace No.2  which is using DirectQuery mode to your raw dataset in workspace No.1.(If you have this .pbix file , you can just check in it). Then you can re-connect the dataset in the Workspace No.1 to check if it can refresh in your desktop. 

Before re-publish the dataset to your Workspace No.2, you can first copy your report based on this dataset to a new one:

The "tool2-copy" is copied from "tool2". After copy the same name with this dataset name , then we can re-publish the dataset to Workspace No.2.
Then we can refresh the visual to see if get the newest data in the raw dataset which is in your Workspace No.1.

And if you can get your new data in this dataset , and you also create an app in this workspace , i think you need re-publish the app again to make this app update:

Publish an app in Power BI - Power BI | Microsoft Learn

Thank you for your time and sharing, and thank you for your support and understanding of PowerBI! 

Best Regards,

Aniya Zhang

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

[A-E]

Yes, that was our plan as well but PBI wont let us download the data set in the app (or the reports).

We have also tried uploading a new version from an old report that has the DirectQuery-link but then it either uploads a copy data set or connects directly to the data set in workspace 1 instead of updating the data set in the app.

We might try to upload old versions of reports with a direct link to the data set in workspace 1. I dont really know why a second data set (in the app) was created when we made the app.

[v-yueyunzh-msft]

Hi , @A-E 

Thanks for your quick response!  For this question ". I dont really know why a second data set (in the app) was created when we made the app.".

In the normal situation, we connect the dataset using live connection , and when we publish the report , it will just create a report and will not create another dataset based on it .

And if you use the Direct Query mode to connect to the raw dataset , when you publish it , it will create a report and another dataset based on your raw dataset.This is due to it create the data structure in the pbix file so it need to create a new dataset instead of directly live connecting to your raw dataset.

DirectQuery for Power BI dataset: How does it work? - RADACAD

And if you can not download this pbix file , you may try to :
(1)Reconnect your dataset, then connect all your previous data sources, and then copy the current report in your workspace No.2 (to prevent the report you created from disappearing). Then change your local .pbix file to the same name and republish it. [If you know how to create this .pbix file , you can use this method.]

(2)If you want to get this .pbix file , you can try this method if it can help you (This may need to have a Premium capcity with XMLA endpoint and external tools). 

Copy Power BI data model back to PBIX file - thinkBI

Thank you for your time and sharing, and thank you for your support and understanding of PowerBI! 

Best Regards,

Aniya Zhang

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