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Update a model and refresh a report

When to use this page

Section titled “When to use this page”

Use this workflow when the model behind an existing Power BI report has changed and you need the report to keep pointing at the correct Frame data.

There are two parts:

  1. Update the model in Frame.
  2. Refresh or repoint the Power BI report.

Update the model in Frame

Section titled “Update the model in Frame”

The update flow depends on how the model was added to Frame.

Local uploads

Section titled “Local uploads”

Use this path for models that were uploaded from your computer.

  1. Open the Frame dashboard.
  2. Find the model you want to replace.
  3. Click the three-dots actions menu on that model.
  4. Select Update model.
  5. In the modal, drag in the new file or browse for it on your device.
  6. Wait for the translation process to start and finish.

After processing completes, the same dashboard item now points to the updated model version.

Autodesk Forma-connected models

Section titled “Autodesk Forma-connected models”

Use this path for models that come from Autodesk Forma (formerly Autodesk Construction Cloud).

  1. Open the model item in the Frame dashboard.
  2. In the right-side details drawer, review the versions already brought in from Autodesk Forma.
  3. If a newer Autodesk Forma version is available, select it from the versions area.
  4. For future updates, enable Model version updates.
  5. If you want Frame to keep bringing in future versions automatically, also enable Automatic sync.

This lets Frame keep the model aligned with Autodesk Forma instead of relying on manual uploads.

Update the Power BI report

Section titled “Update the Power BI report”

Once the Frame model is updated, the Power BI step depends on whether the report still points to the same model item in the dashboard.

Same model item in Frame

Section titled “Same model item in Frame”

If the updated model replaced the existing version in the same dashboard item, open the report in Power BI and select Refresh.

That refresh updates the report data without changing the report setup.

Different slot in the Frame dashboard

Section titled “Different slot in the Frame dashboard”

If the updated model lives in a different dashboard slot, the report needs to point to that new item.

  1. Open the new model item in Frame.
  2. In the details drawer, copy the File ID.
  3. Open the existing Power BI report.
  4. Replace the current value in FRAME_FILE_ID with the new File ID.
  5. Refresh the report data.

After that refresh, the report loads data from the new Frame item.

Practical rule

Section titled “Practical rule”
  • If you updated the same model item, use Refresh in Power BI.
  • If you moved to a different model item, update FRAME_FILE_ID and then refresh.
Section titled “Related docs”