SQL Server - Table empty

[Anonymous]

Hello!

I created a PBI Report (uploaded to the service) that connects via Enterprise Gateway to a MS SQL Server.

The report is set to "import mode" and datasets are scheduled to refresh hourly turing the day.

The report gets all its data form a view created in the SQL Server. This view uses tables that are constantly being emptied and updated with new date every 15 minutes!

My Problem: if the PBI scheduled refresh runs while the view is "empty" the refresh fails (error message in the service) and I have to hope the next refresh doesn't run while there is no data in the view.

Is there a solution to this? Whats the best practice for using a data source that refreshes very often and might be empty during this refresh for a short period of time? Can I tell PBI to delay the update while the view is empty?

Thanks for your help!

Chris

[v-yuezhe-msft]

@Anonymous,

When you set schedule refresh for the dataset, it is not possible to control Power BI delay the update when the view is empty. If you get any refresh errors, you can solve the problem according to the error message, then the refresh will go on and Power BI can get updated data from SQL Server.

Regards,
Lydia

[Anonymous]

Hi Lydia, thanks for your reply!

If I understand you correctly, there is no way for PBI to realise that there is currently no data in the view!?

I'm just wondering if my use case is so special and unique?

How are others handling a server view that often performs a full-load?

How to avoid a dashboard-refresh while the full load is still running?

Thanks!

Chris

[v-yuezhe-msft]

@Anonymous,

I can't think any method that can be used to avoid refresh in Power BI Service based on conditions. As long as you don't change table structure, you should be OK to refresh data in Power BI Service.

Regards,
Lydia

[Anonymous]

Ok, I see.

Still, if anyone knows best practises for updating PBI when having to perform full-loads (and therefore emptying tables beforehand), please let me know how to avoid PBI showing an empty dataset (in the unfortunate case the refresh happens while the datasource is empty).

Thanks!

Chris

[abinashphuel]

@Anonymous @v-yuezhe-msft 

Did you find any solution for this? I am also in similar condition, I need to refresh but when I refresh empty table it gives me the error.

[Anonymous]

unfortunately I did not find any solution.

I still have reports based database tables that regularly perform a fresh full load.

My workaround is to time the scheduled refresh for those reports when I assume that the load is done.

Please let me know if you come across any better solution!