Issue: PowerPivot for SharePoint data refresh jobs fail with an error message similar to the following:

"The data refresh job failed because it has been inactive for more than 3600 seconds"

The message is seen in a workbook's Data Refresh History

Applies To:

• SQL Server 2012 SP1 PowerPivot for SharePoint and SharePoint  2010
• SQL Server 2012 SP1 PowerPivot for SharePoint and SharePoint  2013
• SQL Server 2012 PowerPivot for SharePoint and SharePoint  2010
• SQL Server 2008 R2 PowerPivot for SharePoint and SharePoint  2010

Background

If more than one Scheduled Data fresh job is triggered, then currently running jobs are limited to 3600 seconds (1 hour) total run time. If there is only 1 job in queue, then that job can run longer than 3600 seconds. By default the PowerPivot Data Refresh Timer Job runs every 1 minute, so there is the potential that every minute a new refresh job will start and the job running longer than 3600 seconds will be canceled. The 3600 value is NOT configurable.

The refresh limit is intended to prevent blocking items and maintain the flow of refresh jobs in the overall PowerPivot environment. 

 

Workaround:

1) You can reduce the frequency of when the PowerPivot Data Refresh Timer Job runs.  Note, the timer Job affects all scheduled refreshes.

1. In SharePoint Central Administration, click General Application Settings.
2. In the PowerPivot section, click Management Dashboard.
3. In the Management Dashboard page, click Review Timer Job settings
4. click PowerPivot Data Refresh Timer Job.
5. Change the value of "This Job is schedule to run:" to a value greater than the job that is running longer than the 3600 second limit.

2) Scheduled long running refreshes to the middle of the night or another time when you know there is less chance of a conflict with other refresh jobs.
3) Restructure the workbooks and or data sources to reduce the length of time a fresh job runs.

More Information

PowerPivot Data Refresh