Setting Up Scheduled Refreshes in Power BI for the Dataslayer Custom Connector

Setting up scheduled refreshes in Power BI for a custom connector like Dataslayer involves several steps. Here’s how you can configure both the Power BI service and ensure that your Dataslayer data source is accessible for automated refreshes.

Develop or Install the Custom Connector

Ensure that your custom connector (Dataslayer) is properly installed in Power BI Desktop. This involves placing the connector file (.mez file) in the [Documents]\Power BI Desktop\Custom Connectors directory. You may need to adjust the security settings in Power BI Desktop to allow loading unsigned/uncertified connectors. You can see here how to install the Dataslayer connector in Power BI.

Enable Gateway Configuration

Since custom connectors usually require a gateway for refreshing datasets in the Power BI service, you must set up a data gateway:

Install the On-premises data gateway on a network that can access the data source you want to connect to.
Make sure the machine where the gateway is installed remains on and connected to the internet.

Register the Custom Connector with the Gateway

After installing the gateway, add the custom connector to it:

Copy the .mez file to the [Program Files]\On-premises data gateway\Custom Connectors directory on the machine where the gateway is installed.
Restart the gateway service to load the new connector.
Ensure that the gateway is configured to use the custom connector. In the gateway settings within the Power BI service, allow custom data connectors.

Set Up Data Source for Gateway

In the Power BI Service:

Navigate to Settings > Manage gateways.
Configure the data source to match the parameters used in Power BI Desktop, ensuring credentials and connection details are correct.

Schedule Refresh in Power BI Service

In the Power BI Service, go to your workspace and select the dataset:

Click on Schedule refresh.
Define the frequency and time of the refreshes according to your needs.
Check the email notification settings to get alerts if the refresh fails.

Test and Monitor

After setting up everything, test the refresh process to make sure it runs as expected. Monitor the initial refreshes for any errors and adjust settings as necessary.

Troubleshooting Tips

If refreshes fail, check the gateway logs and Power BI refresh history for errors.
Ensure that all connections and credentials are up-to-date.
Verify that the custom connector code is compatible with the latest Power BI updates and Dataslayer API changes.

By following these steps, you can set up and manage scheduled refreshes in Power BI using the Dataslayer custom connector.

Updated on: 29/04/2024