Data Sources History
- Liliia Ostrovska
Data Sources History Overview
Data Sources History was implemented as a separate page that can be found via navigator.
Only users with an admin role can access the Data Sources History page, namely ServiceNow [admin] and PBI admin.
Non-admin users - PBI Editor and PBI Viewer - don’t have access to view the Data Sources History page. However, all their actions with the data source will be logged in the Data Sources History table.
The feature is available in version 1.6.6 (or higher) of Power BI Connector.
The Data Source History table contains records of all actions made to the data sources.
Actions Description
The following table describes operations that can be performed with the data source.
Action Name | Description |
|---|---|
Create | The action is triggered when a data source is created. The resulting page is static and contains data of the creation moment only, and this data will not be altered after the next modifications. |
Data Source Configuration Change | The action is triggered when any of the following fields are set, changed, or removed:
|
Delete | The action is triggered when a data source is deleted. The resulting page is static and contains data of deletion moment only, and this data will not be altered after the next modifications. |
Fields Add | The action is triggered when either general or reference fields are added. |
Fields Change | The action is triggered when the Use display value option is changed for fields, including reference fields. |
Fields Delete | The action is triggered when either general or reference fields are deleted. |
Filter Change | The action is triggered when the filter string is set, changed, or removed. This action generates a separate entry for each saved change and for each table. |
OData Link Click | The action is is triggered when the OData URL is copied from the portal. |
BlankQuery Template Link Click | The action is triggered when the BLankQuery Template is copied from the portal. |
Table Add | The action is is triggered when a table or database view is added. |
Table Delete | The action is triggered when a table or database view is deleted. |
Data Sources History Table Columns Description
By default, the Data Sources History table has the following columns:
Action
Data Source
Data Source Name
Data Source Configuration Fields
Fields, Filters
Reference Fields
Table
User
The Data Sources History table can be configured by selecting the Personalize List option.
Default Columns
Column | Description |
|---|---|
Action | The column shows the name of an action performed with a data source. See Actions Description. |
Data Source | The referenced field on the Data Sources page corresponds to the current data source. Navigating to it will open the data source page. The value “(empty)” is set when data source has been deleted |
Data Source Name | The static text column used to specify the name of a data source in a particular action moment. |
Data Source Configuration Fields | The column contains a list of configuration fields that have been changed:
|
Fields | The column shows the fields of a particular table that have been changed (e.g. added, deleted, or changed their use display value). |
Filters | The column shows the modified filter string for a specific table. |
Reference Fields | The column shows the Reference Fields for a particular table that have been changed (e.g. added, deleted, or changed their use display value). |
Table | The column displays the name of the table for which changes were made. The Data Source [x_acsof_power_bi_s_datasource] is set for all actions not related to changes with tables or fields. |
User | The column indicates the user who triggered the action, in other words, who made changes. |
Additional Columns
Column | Description |
|---|---|
Created | The column shows the date when action was triggered (created). |
Data Source URL | The column displays the OData link of the edited data source. |
Created by | The column indicates the user who triggered the action, which is also represented by the User field. |
Export Config | The column contains the full export configuration of the current source, and it’s filled only for Created and Delete actions. |
Updated | The column shows the date when an action row was manually updated in the tab;es, exclusively from the backend. |
Updated by | The column displays the name of the user who updated the action row from the table, exclusively from the backend. By default, it’s Created by. |
Updates | The column shows the number of rows that have been updated, with a default value of 0. |
Tags | The column represents the system SN field and is empty by default. |
Use Case Description
A user creates a data source with the following data source configuration and export configuration.
The corresponding record appears in the Data Sources History table.
Action: Create → It means a data source has been created.
Data Source: Use Case Description → This is the referenced field on the Data Sources page that corresponds to the current data source.
Created: 01/04/2024 03:07:55 → These are the date and time when the data source has been created. The format is the following: dd/mm/yyyy hh/mm/ss.
Data Source Name: Use Case Description → This is the actual data source name.
Data Source Configuration Fields: {"Use display value":"false","Data Source Owner":"Liubov Topchyi ","Duration In Seconds":"false","Use field labels for column names":"false","Description":"This data source is created for the test purposes."… → This is the configuration that has been selected by the user during data source creation.
Table: Data Source [x_acsof_power_bi_s_datasource] → This value is set when actions are not related to changes with tables or fields. During the data source creation, the user just selected tables and fields and didn’t make any changes.
User: Liubov Topchyi → This is the user name who performed the action.
If you select the Create action (from the previous screen), you can see the detailed description of the Data Source History record. In particular, in the Export Config field, you can see what table and fields have been selected.
The user then has added one more table with its fields.
After this, one more record appears in the Data Source History table.
Action: Table Add → It means the user has added an extra table to the data source.
Data Source: Use Case Description → This is the referenced field on the Data Sources page that corresponds to the current data source.
Created: 01/04/2024 04:10:50 → These are the date and time when the data source has been created. The format is the following: dd/mm/yyyy hh/mm/ss.
Data Source Name: Use Case Description → This is the actual data source name.
Table: Activity Event [sys_activity] → This is the name of the table that has been added by the user.
Fields: [{"name":"sys_created_on","displayValue":false}… → This is a list of fields that have been added by the user.
Reference Fields: [] → This value is set when the added table does not include any reference fields. See the Default Fields section.
Another user decided to export this data source using the OData link.
Another record appears in the Data Sources History table.
Action: OData Link Click → It means that the user has clicked Copy OData URL.
Data Source: Use Case Description → This is the referenced field on the Data Sources page that corresponds to the current data source.
Created: 01/04/2024 04:10:50 → These are the date and time when the data source has been created. The format is the following: dd/mm/yyyy hh/mm/ss.
Data Source Name: Use Case Description → This is the actual data source name.
Table: Data Source [x_acsof_power_bi_s_datasource] → This value is set when actions are not related to changes with tables or fields.
User: Lilli Belward → This is the user name who performed the action.
Useful Tips
How to Find Deleted Data Source
In the Action Search field, enter Delete.
You will see a list of all deleted data sources. Here you can find the required data source by its name.
If you don’t remember the name, you can compare the deleted data source URL and URL in your Microsoft Power BI.
How to View Data Source History for Particular Data Source
Find the required data source.
Under the Data Source field, select its name.
Scroll down and you will records for a particular data source.
How to Clear Data Sources History for Specific Data Source new
Via Navigator, find and select Data Sources History (under Power BI Connector for ServiceNow).
Find and select the data source you need.
Select Clear Data Source History.
Select Start Date and End Date, and then select Submit.
How to Clear Data Sources History in Bulk new
Via Navigator, find and select Data Sources History (under Power BI Connector for ServiceNow).
Select entities of Data Sources History you need.
Select Actions on selected rows, and then select Delete.
Select Delete.