PowerBI Integration - Bug, Oversight or limitation?

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Posted on by shaunwilks

Hello All

I have used a PowerAPP for 12 months.

Now I want ot integrate it into a PowerBI Solution.

On the surface it sounds like its going to be easy.

Add the PowerApps visual into PowerBI, add my fields and select the existing PowerApp I want to integrate.

This appears as though it does everything right - but it doesnt.

The "PowerBIIntegration" component is now visible under the tree of the solution so it appears as though its connected to PBI correctly HOWEVER when you go to try and use PowerBIIntegration.Refresh() you get "Invocation of unknown or unsupported function."

Now in the PowerBI PowerApps visual rather than "Selecting an Existing PowerAPP, I choose Create New, and then try and use a PowerBIIntegration.Refresh() it works without any error.

Surely this canot mean that everyone has to go thrpugh PBI to create their PowerAPP. It goes against all design methodologies. You would want to Create the powerapp and test that it works first before any integration or before you build the PBI Report to put it on.

Any thoughts or workarounds please.

I thought it would be pretty imporant now the powerapps visual is in PBI desktop by default.

Thanks in advance

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Building Power Apps

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v-yutliu-msft on at

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Hi @shaunwilks ,

I think this may be cased by some limiations of PowerBI intergration.

Here's the limitations for your reference, please check your app:

If you change the data fields associated with the visual, you must edit the app from within the Power BI service by selecting the ellipsis (...) and then selecting Edit. Otherwise, the changes won't be propagated to PowerApps, and the app will behave in unexpected ways.

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.

The PowerApps custom visual can't filter the data or send any data back to the report.

You'll need to share the PowerApps app separately from your report. Learn about sharing apps in PowerApps.

Power BI Report Server and the mobile app for Power BI do not support the PowerApps custom visual.

If you use PowerBIIntegration.Refresh() function, you must use a source that supports DirectQuery and the data connection must be created using DirectQuery method.

PowerApps in Power BI Desktop provides data to PowerApps Studio when creating apps but not while editing. Use Power BI Web to preview the data while editing apps.

What's more, not all browers support PowerBI intergration with PowerApps.

Browser support

The following table lists the browser supportability for view, create and modify actions of the PowerApps custom visual. Supported browsers and actions are identified by a check mark ( ✓ ).

Browser View Create Modify

Microsoft Edge ✓ ✓ ✓

Internet Explorer 11 ✓

Google Chrome ✓ ✓ ✓

Safari ✓

Mozilla Firefox

All other browsers

Here's a doc about it in details for your reference:

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

Best regards,

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shaunwilks 31 on at

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Many thanks for the response.
I had read and followed these rules in the process of trying to trouble shoot it.

1) We recommend that you first publish your report to the Power BI service and then create or modify apps.
.......Only using the PowerBI Service

2) If you change the data fields associated with the visual, you must edit the app from within the Power BI service by selecting the ellipsis (...) and then selecting Edit. Otherwise, the changes won't be propagated to PowerApps, and the app will behave in unexpected ways.
.................... I havent changed data fields - The first time I link the PowerApps visual to the existing powerAPP, the PowerBIIntegration module is added to the solution (seen under the tree) - The problem though is the PowerBIIntegration.Refresh() function is not. Any use of that function errors.

3) 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.
........using the PowerBI Service

4) You'll need to share the PowerApps app separately from your report. Learn about sharing apps in PowerApps.
............Im the only one using the app so havent shred it. It can still be used in PBI

5) Power BI Report Server and the mobile app for Power BI do not support the PowerApps custom visual.
......Noted

6) If you use PowerBIIntegration.Refresh() function, you must use a source that supports DirectQuery and the data connection must be created using DirectQuery method.
......Definitely something I made sure I did.

7) PowerApps in Power BI Desktop provides data to PowerApps Studio when creating apps but not while editing. Use Power BI Web to preview the data while editing apps.
......Noted but doesnt help with the error being listed in the PowerAPP studio when using the PowerBIIntegration.Refresh() function

Im using Chrome which is supported.
I just see that any of that explains why the PowerApp doesnt find the Refresh() function within PowerBIIntegration

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senpaicoder 9 on at

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RE: Only using the PowerBI Service...
Exactly... this may be subtle but trying to integrate a PowerApps visual from Power BI Desktop may later lead to an "Invocation of unknown or unsupported function" error as followed.

In my case I had tried to replicate a similar scenario as the one shown in Charles Sterling video.
PowerApps custom visual for Power BI V2
It may also be important to remind that the PowerApps visual is no longer categorized as "custom" but has now been fully integrated in default core Visualizations Panel. No need to download anything from the AppSource anymore which is a good thing.
So for the sake of testing, I decided to create a very similar basic report on Power BI Desktop. The report was connected in DirectQuery mode to an Azure SQL Server Database I had previously created. I then went on in adding the PowerApps visual on the report and see what I would come up with. When prompted, I selected the create new application option to build a new one "all-from-scratch". Once in web.powerapps.com, I selected the very same Azure SQL Server Database as a Form- DataSource. When I wanted to add the PowerBIIntegration.Refresh() method to the OnSelect event, I ended up with an "Invocation of unknown or unsupported function" error issue.
Then I noticed one subtle detail I missed in the video. The PowerApps integration step was NOT done through Power BI Desktop but on Power BI Online... Hmmm ooooooookay so that was it.
I then decided to totally remove the PowerApps visual from the report and started over. I first saved the basic report and then published it on a Power BI Online Workspace. From there I then proceeded with the PowerApps visual integration in Edit mode.
I could see the same PowerApps icon displayed in default Visualization Panel which was good. So nothing had really changed much. I then proceeded with the same PowerApps visual integration steps process... though when came the time to add the PowerBIIntegration.Refresh method to OnSelect event, oooh surprise... the error message had gone and everything worked like a charm... Hmmmm okay then... if you say so... I certainly won't argue...

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shaunwilks 31 on at

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I am using the service, not desktop, so this is not the issue.

There is a problem - at this point you can only use the Refresh method if you Create the App via the PBI visual.
If the app was pre existing and you used the select existing option, the code that updates your existing project and that inserts the powerbiintegration leaves the powerapps project unable to use the powerbi integration.refresh method

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senpaicoder 9 on at

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RE: There is a problem - at this point you can only use the Refresh method if you Create the App via the PBI visual.

I agree that being able to integrate the PowerBIIntegration.Refresh option into an existing application would be a good asset to have, you know you can vote...
Add-PowerBIIntegration-Refresh-for-existing-PowerApps/

I did... 😉

BTW I never stated I used an existing PowerApps application. Instead of wasting time twirling my thumbs waiting for Microsoft PowerApps team to come up with an update... I found it much faster to follow the prescribed recipee and create a new one "all-form-scratch". (I hear some barkings in background... Relax...)
To be honnest a little cleanup doesn't hurt sometimes. I just hate code hoarding... If I no longer need an old version I simply remove it to avoid conflicts. That's it...
Finally I found rebuilding the PowerApps application "all-from-scratch" was not a real big assle in my case. The main thing is that the whole PowerBIIntegration.Refresh process now works perfectly in combination with Power BI report (the much more elaborated and fancy part...) and that's what matters...

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shaunwilks 31 on at

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Im not sure this is an "idea" though.

The idea has already been delivered in an interface that is now a standard part of the PowerBI visual set.
The ability to integrate PowerBi solutions to Powerapps solutions via the visual is already offered.

There is already a "Select Existing" button within the visual.
However the "Select Existing" function does not work 100% correctly.

Here are the points for consideration.....
- No where in the documentation that is provided in the first response to this post does it inform the audience "The Select Existing should only be used to select an existing PowerAP that was first created via this visual". There are a large number of "considerations" listed in that document and if anything this HAS to be included in that documentation.
- The visual allowa you to select a pre existing PowerApp - no matter whether it was created via the visual or not.
- The visual actually injects code into the pre existing PowerApp - it just doesnt do it correctly because while you can interface to a pre existing (non PBI visual created app) you cannot use the Refresh function.

Of course I am left with no other option but to re-create the PowerApp again from scratch.
But let me ask - How do I change then the orientation of the PowerApp auto generated App that is produced by the PBI visual.
For all the work I have done so far I cannot find any way to change the orientation and screen size of the app. The visual creates a mobile/cell phone interface of which I cannot change once its generated.

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