How to manually refresh data when using new Power BI app

[pgrandits]

I have developed in powerbi desktop a pbix file that I had published to the service already. The file is connected to local files, so I have to manually refresh the file in power bi desktop before I publish it.  I refresh and publish the file daily.  Now I am considering creating an app workspace, and moving this file under the workspace so I can assign administrative rights to someone else, and to make it easier to collaborate development and share.  

My understanding is that after creating the workspace, I can upload the pbix file into this space.  Then I can add others to help administrate and collaborate, before publishing the app to a broader group of users which I only want read access for.

The question I have is that once I publish this as a powerbi app, how do I refresh the data daily?  Can I still open the pbix file and publish it to the service from there by clicking on the publish button on the top menu?  Or do I have to go into the workspace, "get the data", and then republish the app?

[Greg_Deckler · Accepted solution]

Install a gateway and schedule a refresh.

[pgrandits]

Thank you. But let me clarify a couple of things.  

To update the service, I currently perform three steps.

Step 1. I open an access database and import data into the database using a macro.  The database cleans up some of the data and gets it ready for power bi desktop.

Step 2 - I then open power bi desktop and click on refresh 

Step 3 - I then click on publish in power bi desktop

I do these 3 steps when the data becomes available, and not on a specific schedule, so I didn't think I needed a gateway. But I think there may be other reasons I do need it and maybe you can help clarify what the other benefits of a gateway for me.

Also, woud you know if these 3 steps could be entirely automated using microsoft flow? I don't currently use microsoft flow for anything.

Thanks for your help!

-Pete

[v-shex-msft]

Hi @pgrandits

>>Also, woud you know if these 3 steps could be entirely automated using microsoft flow? I don't currently use microsoft flow for anything.

Current power bi not support flow, you can submit a idea to ideas forum.

Regards,

Xiaoxin Sheng