Power bi desktop auto refresh how to#

The diagram below shows what I’m talking about: That way, the transformations happen on a different process, it loads the output into Azure Data Lake storage of Power BI service, and then you can use that output as the input of the Power BI dataset. If your dataset refresh takes a long time because you have applied a set of heavy data transformations in Power Query, then what you can do instead is to push that set of heavy transformations to a dataflow. And that is exactly, how it can help with reducing your Power BI dataset refresh time. Power BI Dataflow is a set of Power Query transformations running in the Power BI service independent from a Power BI dataset.Ī Power BI dataflow can run Power Query transformations, and load the output into Azure Data Lake storage for future usage. If you are new to Dataflow, here is a very brief explanation:

Power bi desktop auto refresh how to#

I have previously explained about Power BI dataflow and use cases of it, I also explained how to create your first dataflow. The Solution: Push the Transformation to Dataflow Now instead of us waiting for a long time to get this refreshing, and seeing a message like below, we want to speed it up You can apply the same method of refresh processes that take hours long. I’m just showing how to make it faster, even for a refresh that takes 5 minutes. and I created that sample model for training purpose here. Note that 5 minutes for refresh is not a long refresh time. For example, the Power BI report below takes 5 minutes to refresh. Having a long refresh time can cause a log of challenges, for example, you are doing a refresh to develop some changes, but due to the long refresh time, your development speed also reduces, and many other reasons. The long refresh time can be because the data source is slow, or the set of transformations steps used are heavy and makes the process of data preparation a lengthy process. You have a Power BI file that takes a long time to refresh. To learn more about Power BI, read Power BI book from Rookie to Rock Star. I have previously explained some of the benefits of dataflows, and here is another one in action, let’s see how it can help.

Does it take a long time to get your data refreshed in your Power BI model? Should you wait for hours for the refresh to finish because you have complex transformations behind the scene? Does the long refresh time make it hard for you to develop your solution? The good news I have for you in this article is how to use Power BI dataflows to help with reducing the refresh time of your Power BI models.