Connecting to the New SQL Database in Power BI (Replacing Dataflow)

To improve performance and avoid refresh failures caused by Power BI internal limits, we have updated the data source from Power BI Dataflow to a direct SQL Server connection. Follow the steps below to connect your report to the new SQL source.

 Prerequisites

Ensure you have:

• Access to Power BI Desktop

• SQL Server credentials (username & password)

• Required database permissions

 Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Open Your Power BI Report
   Launch your Power BI (.pbix) file that was previously using the Dataflow.

2. Navigate to ‘Get Data’
   From the Home tab, click on Get Data and select More, new window will pop up.

3. Navigate to Azure and select Azure SQL database as the data source.

4. Enter SQL Server Information

   • Server: Enter or confirm the SQL Server name

   • Database: Enter or select the target database

   • DirectQuery

   • Click OK

5. Authenticate SQL Server Access
   A SQL Server Database login window will appear.

   • Use your username and password

   • Click Connect

6. Monitor Query Refresh
   On the right panel under Queries and Connections, you’ll see each table loading.
   Wait for all queries to show "Finished Loading" status.

7. Save Your Report
   Once the data loads successfully, save the file to keep your authentication and loaded data.

 Tips & Troubleshooting

• If you're not prompted to log in, go to Home > Transform Data > Data source settings and clear any cached credentials.

• Ensure your firewall or VPN allows SQL Server access.

• If errors occur, contact support with a screenshot of the error message.

 Need Help?

Reach out to the support team via the Support Portal or submit a ticket if you need assistance connecting or refreshing your report.

 Database Information

• Server: asqeusoneplanglbnpd01.database.windows.net

• Database: sdboneplan02