Stack overflow error importing data to Microsoft Power BI: 'Evaluation resulted in a stack overflow and cannot continue.'

Question

When trying to import data from a database into Power BI (using the Invantive Bridge ADO.net provider) I get an error:

Expression.Error: Evaluation resulted in a stack overflow and cannot continue.

I like to know why I get this error. Is there a way to find out where the error is coming from?

Answer 1

This is a bug with Power BI not parsing the exceptions well.

You can find the actual error message by performing the following steps:

1. From the Query Editor dialog or the main screen, go to File > Options and settings > Options.

   

2. Go to Diagnostics and check Enable tracing. Click on Open traces folder. Dismiss the dialog by click on OK.

   

3. Explorer opens with a path similar to C:\Users\Me\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Power BI Desktop\Traces. Go back to Power BI and click on Refresh in the ribbon.

4. Power BI generates several log files in the folder previously opened. Open the file starting with Microsoft.Mashup.Container.NetFX40. This is the log file containing the actual error messages.

5. Find the latest error message. Usually you can find that by searching for ValidationException from bottom to top.

   Sample:

   itgeneor028: Unknown table projjects ( Possible alternatives: (Projects, ProjectWBS)
      at Invantive.Data.ValidationException..ctor(String messageCode, String messageText, String kindRequest, String localStackTrace, String nk, Exception innerException)
   

   As you can see, this error was caused by a typo in the table name.