How do I trigger a python notebook to run from a Fabric power sheet update?

Question

How do I trigger a python notebook to run from a Fabric power sheet update?

Bill Hodgkinson 0

I want my flow to be:

Power sheet update

Pipeline trigger

Python notebook runs based on updated power sheet and pushes calculations to Lakehouse

PowerBI can use updated calculations in real time without me having to click refresh.

My current issue is that to use power sheets I think I need an Fabric SQL DB and there doesn't seem to be any events that fire when data is mirrored from Fabric SQL DB into Lakehouse.

Praveen Kumar Gudipudi 2,195 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-03-31T16:31:22.9633333+00:00
Hello Bill Hodgkinson,

To better understand the scenario and suggest the most appropriate trigger mechanism, could you please clarify the following:

Is the Power Sheet backed by Fabric SQL DB, Dataverse, or another source?

What is the current data flow between the Power Sheet, Lakehouse, and the notebook?

Is the Python notebook running inside Microsoft Fabric?

Are you open to using Power Automate or Azure Functions to trigger the pipeline?

Do you require the notebook to run immediately after updates, or would a scheduled trigger work?

How is Power BI connected to the Lakehouse (Direct Lake, Import, or DirectQuery)?

Is the SQL DB → Lakehouse mirroring required in your architecture?
Bill Hodgkinson 0 Reputation points

2026-03-31T17:28:57.2866667+00:00

Sorry, I'm using a Power Table within the Planning tool, not Power Sheet. It's backed by Fabric SQL DB (my research tells me this is the only way connect a Power Table). Desired flow of data is user will update Power Table, Power Table updates Fabric SQL DB. DB is mirrored to Lakehouse via Shortcut. This sets a trigger off that then runs my Python Notebook. The Notebook transforms the data and writes the output to a Lakehouse table that can be read by PowerBI.

I don't want a scheduled trigger, ideally I want it to be an automatic trigger. I would settle for a manual trigger but only via a button in the PowerBI frontend. I have just tried to implement this with a UDF but I can't use Spark inside a UDF so this isn't going to work for me either.

I don't really want to use Power Automate or Power Apps because it feels clunky and not a great UX.

Thanks for your help with this Praveen!
Bill Hodgkinson 0 Reputation points

2026-03-31T17:29:38.1033333+00:00

@Praveen Kumar Gudipudi
Praveen Kumar Gudipudi 2,195 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-03-31T18:45:19.16+00:00
Hello **Bill Hodgkinson,**Please try use function app
Azure Function runs on a short timer (for example every 30–60 seconds).

It queries Fabric SQL DB for new or updated rows.

If changes are detected → call the Fabric Pipeline REST API.

The pipeline runs the Notebook activity.

Example API call:

POST https://api.fabric.microsoft.com/v1/workspaces/{workspaceId}/items/{pipelineId}/jobs
Bill Hodgkinson 0 Reputation points

2026-04-02T09:22:08.9866667+00:00

Hi @Praveen Kumar Gudipudi ,

I don't want to be polling or scheduling the pipeline - will this not get expensive each time we poll?

I understand what you're saying about using the REST API but that doesn't feel like the right approach to keep everything contained within the Fabric environment without relying on external HTTP requests that need secret keys etc to keep them secure.

Is there no way of creating a trigger based the Fabric SQL DB updating?
Praveen Kumar Gudipudi 2,195 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-04-02T13:59:30.2833333+00:00
Hello **Bill Hodgkinson

Use an Azure Function with an HTTP trigger that calls the Fabric Pipeline REST API whenever the data update occurs.

A Azure Functions cannot directly receive a trigger when a Fabric Power Table / Power Sheet update occurs because Microsoft Fabric Fabric SQL DB currently does not emit change events or webhooks.

So the Function App cannot automatically fire exactly at the moment the Power Table updates unless something explicitly calls it.

Please follow below steps.

Create an HTTP-triggered Azure Function.

After the Power Table update is written to Fabric SQL DB, the upstream process (for example the application, integration layer, or any automation that manages the update) sends an HTTP POST request to the Function endpoint.

The Function App then calls the Fabric Pipeline REST API to start the pipeline that runs your Python notebook.

The notebook processes the updated data and writes the output to the Lakehouse, which Power BI can read.