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Power BI Refresh Error:
DF-Xml-InvalidReferenceResource

What does this error mean?

The XML source references an external XSD or DTD that ADF cannot access or that is invalid. The data flow is configured to validate XML against this resource, which is unavailable or malformed.

Common causes

  • 1The XML dataset is configured with an XSD schema validation file, and the XSD file path is incorrect, the file was moved, or the linked service for the schema storage is misconfigured
  • 2The XSD file referenced in the dataset settings does not exist at the configured path in Azure Blob or ADLS Gen2
  • 3The XSD file is malformed or contains import/include references to other XSD files that cannot be resolved
  • 4A DTD declaration in the XML file points to an external DTD URL that is unreachable from the ADF runtime

How to fix it

  1. 1Open the XML dataset in ADF Studio and check the Schema validation settings — note the path to the referenced XSD file.
  2. 2In Azure portal, go to storage account and verify the XSD file exists at the exact path configured in the dataset.
  3. 3If the XSD file was moved or renamed, update the dataset schema validation path to the correct location.
  4. 4Open the XSD file and check whether it contains xs:import or xs:include directives that reference other XSD files — all referenced files must also be present in the same storage container and accessible to ADF.
  5. 5If XML schema validation is not strictly required, disable the schema validation option in the XML dataset settings to allow ADF to parse the XML without XSD enforcement.
  6. 6Test access to the schema file by clicking 'Test connection' on the linked service and browsing to the XSD file path.

Frequently asked questions

Is XSD schema validation required for ADF to parse XML files?

No — ADF can parse XML without XSD validation; schema validation is optional. If your files are well-formed but don't conform to an XSD schema, disable the validation option.

Can an XSD file reference other XSD files that also need to be present?

Yes — XSD files often use xs:import or xs:include to reference shared type definitions. Place all referenced XSD files in the same container and ensure relative paths in the directives match the actual file layout.

Where should the XSD file be stored for ADF to access it?

Store the XSD file in Azure Blob Storage or ADLS Gen2, in a container accessible via the linked service. The dataset path must exactly match the container and blob path.

Will downstream Power BI datasets be affected?

Yes — the pipeline fails and the downstream table receives no new data.

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

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