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Power BI Refresh Error:
DF-Synapse-InvalidTableDBName

What does this error mean?

The table or database name in the Synapse Analytics dataset is invalid — the table does not exist or the name contains characters not allowed in Synapse SQL identifiers.

Common causes

  • 1The table name in the dataset is misspelled or refers to a table that was renamed or dropped
  • 2The schema prefix is missing or wrong — Synapse tables require a two-part name (schema.table), and using the table name without a schema can fail if the default schema is not dbo
  • 3The table name was specified without square brackets and contains spaces, hyphens, or reserved keywords
  • 4The database name in the linked service does not match the database that contains the target table
  • 5The pipeline uses a dynamic expression for the table name and it resolves to an empty string or null at runtime

How to fix it

  1. 1Open the Synapse Analytics dataset in ADF Studio and verify the table name and schema fields.
  2. 2In Synapse Studio, connect to the dedicated SQL pool and run: SELECT TABLE_SCHEMA, TABLE_NAME FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES WHERE TABLE_NAME LIKE '%yourtable%' — copy the exact schema and table name.
  3. 3In the dataset, set the schema field to the correct schema ('dbo') and the table name without schema prefix — or use the fully qualified [schema].[table] format in the table name field.
  4. 4If the table name contains special characters or spaces, wrap it in square brackets: [My Table Name].
  5. 5If the table name is built from a pipeline expression, enable debug mode and inspect the resolved value — add a Set Variable activity to log the expression result before the data flow.
  6. 6If the target table does not exist, create it in Synapse Studio first, or configure the sink action to 'Create table if not exists' if the data flow schema is known.

Frequently asked questions

Why does specifying a table name without a schema cause an error?

Every Synapse table belongs to a schema. The default is 'dbo', but if the table is in a different schema (e.g., 'staging'), ADF cannot find it without explicit specification. Always use the schema.table format.

Can I use a dynamic expression for the table name in a Synapse dataset?

Yes — use @dataset().parameterName or @pipeline().parameters.tableName. If you get InvalidTableDBName with a dynamic expression, verify it resolves correctly in debug mode.

Does the data flow create the table automatically if it does not exist?

Only if the sink action is 'Create table if not exists'. By default, the data flow expects the table to exist. Even with that setting, a schema mismatch or invalid name still causes an error.

Will downstream Power BI datasets be affected?

Yes — the pipeline fails and the target table receives no new data. Dependent datasets serve stale figures.

Official documentation: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-factory/data-flow-troubleshoot-guide

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