Data Update and Insert new records using PowerApps from Power BI report

[gauthambr]

Folks,

Can someone help me with the below requirements?
#1 The ask is Business users need to UPDATE (existing records in Azure SQL DB) and INSERT (new records to Azure SQL DB) through PowerApps from the Power BI report (app.powerbi.com).
#2 Once data are updated & inserted the refresh needs to happen immediately and the changes need to be visible in the Power BI report.

The architecture we are following is Azure SQL DB ➔ Azure Analysis Services (Tabular) ➔ Power BI report.

** Immediately after the data insert & update is done, the changes needs to be refreshed in Azure Analysis Services and then it should reflect in Power BI report.

Thanks in advance!

[v-xida-msft]

Hi @gauthambr ,

Do you want to embed an canvas app into a Power BI report?

Do you want to use the embedded canvas app in a Power BI report to update/create records in your Azure SQL DB, and then changes should be immediately visible in your Power BI report?

Firstly, if you want to embed a canvas app into your Power BI report, then use the embedded app to create/update records in your Azure SQL DB, please check the following article or video for mode details:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/canvas-apps/powerapps-custom-visual

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CjGKoXem0I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eiUR8Lo4i4

On your side, you should add a PowerApps Custom Visual in your report based on your Azure SQL DB dataset, then you could create a new or add existing canvas app into your Power BI report.

In addition, if you want the changes you made (through embedded app) to your Azure SQL DB dataset to be visible in your Power BI report immediately, I afraid that there is no way to achieve your needs in PowerApps currently.

Currently, it is an known limit with the PowerApps Custom Visual in Power BI -- The PowerApps custom visual can't trigger a refresh of Power BI reports and Power BI data sources from within Power BI Desktop. If you write back data from the app to the same data source as the report, your changes won't be reflected immediately in Power BI Desktop. Changes are reflected on the next scheduled refresh.

Please check the following known limits for PowerApps Custom Visual for more details:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/canvas-apps/powerapps-custom-visual#limitations-of-...

Best regards,

[gauthambr]

@v-xida-msft 

Thanks for the response!

Can you please guide me to do both INSERT and UPDATE the existing data in a single PowerApp to Azure SQL DB? I couldn't figure out a way to achieve it.

I can only able to do in 2 separate apps.

[v-xida-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi @gauthambr ,

Do you want to add and update records in your Azure SQL Table within single one canvas app rather than separated apps?

Based on the needs that you mentioned, please check if the following video would help in your scenario:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=193b7T_p35M

On your side, you could consider generate a PowerApps app based on your Azure SQL Table firstly, then the generated app would be consists of thres screens -- Browse Screen, Detail screen and Edit screen. You could use this app to add or update records in your SQL Table.

More details about generating an app based on SQL Table, please check the following video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqaEVsh4byQ

After that, when you add PowerApps Custom Visual in your Power BI report, please select "Choose app" option rather than "Create new" option, then choose your above generated app from your PowerApps Environment:

Please take a try with above solution, check if the issue is solved.

Best regards,

[C_Chrisstov]

The safest way to go is use a NewForm control for the Insert action and an EditForm control for the Update.