Options for accessing Power BI data

[mnmsymmons]

I have a dataset that is updated in PowerBI every 24hours.

Currently I am exporting this data and using a data connection in another excel file to filter it to a manageable list with a couple of formatting rules as well as to trigger a Flow

The flow is triggered based on that file being modified to kick off a complete refresh of a SharePoint list. Delete all items in the SharePoint list, every row in the excel table will get added as a new item in the SharePoint list and data is then available for a Powerapp to access.

I am trying to find a way to remove the manual steps of exporting the Power BI report and getting it into MS Flow.

PowerBI doesn't currently have an automated export function that I can see, whether by email or to a saved file.

It looks like flow can currently add rows to a Power BI dataset but has no way of reading/retrieving data.

I've also found PowerBI Publisher for Excel add in that will remove the manual step of exporting the data, but still have no way of triggering a refresh from Flow

Any ideas?

Thanks

[v-bacao-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi @mnmsymmons,

I am afraid that the supported triggers and actions of Microsoft Flow cannot achieve your requirement currently.

If you want Microsoft Flow to be able to access Power BI data, or expand more of the features you want about Power BI connector, please submit an idea to Flow Ideas Forum:

https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Flow-Ideas/idb-p/FlowIdeas

Best Regards,

Barry

[DM2018]

@mnmsymmons this is exactly what I'm looking for. Did you manage to find a solution?

[mnmsymmons]

Hi @DM2018 

As indicated there was no direct way of doing this but I did find a workaround:

• Analyse the PowerBI data in Excel (this is an option in PowerBI)
• Get the data into the format required (it's a pivot table and the data is linked to BI) and save the excel file
• Create a VBS script (you can do this in notepad) that opens the file, refreshes it and saves it. Code I used as below (this particular code opens any excel files in the folder):
  • "Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")

    Set xl = CreateObject("Excel.Application")
    xl.Visible = True

    For Each f In fso.GetFolder("C:\FOLDER THE EXCEL FILE IS IN").Files
    If LCase(fso.GetExtensionName(f.Name)) = "xlsx" Then
    Set wb = xl.Workbooks.Open(f.Path)
    xl.Visible = false
    wb.RefreshAll
    xl.DisplayAlerts = False
    wb.Close True
    xl.DisplayAlerts = True
    End If
    Next

    xl.Quit"

• Use windows task schedular to schedule a task that runs the saved vbs script at the time and frequency require. Note if you do not have batch job rights your computer will have to be switched on at the time it is scheduled to run for this to work.
• The action in the task needs to have Program/script set to 'Cscript' and the Add Argements set to '//nologo "vbs file location and file name"'

I have also been advised to look into using Powershell instead of task schedular but haven't had a chance yet.

Outcome being you have a "table formatted" dataset that is automatically refreshed from PowerBI at your schedule which is then accessible by MS Flow

Hopefully this helps. Lots of stuff you can find on the VBS script and task schedular online