Forum Discussion
Database Name Not Optional (SSAS Tabular Direct Connect)
leonardmurphy hmmm...that's not what I'm expecting. I was hoping that maybe there is some DB with no model that could possibly explain the part that you can connect by specifying the right DB.
In any case, to unblock your scenario, in the last update (December) we shipped a preview feature to lift the tabular model restriction on AS live connect. You can goto File->Options->Preview Features and enable this. Can you give this a try and see if you can now connect to the server (and maybe post a screenshot of the server under live connect to see if there are any clues)?
I enabled the preview feature 'Explore live with SQL Server Analysis Services multidimensional models' as well as 'Use KPIs from Power Pivot or SSAS Tabular' - which are the two preview features that related to cubes.
It still shows that there are no tabular models if I type in the server name without specifiying a database.
If I do type in the database name, then this is what I see:
leonardmurphy I can't seem to replicate the issue your having. (current desktop Version: 2.30.4246.181 64-bit (December 2015))
I see all my tabular models when inputting the instance name... Couple additional thoughts:
Have you tried to fully qualify the name?
Have you checked to make sure the SSAS instance is installed correctly? Set up as Tabular not Multidimensional? Or is everything set up right and you've already determined the problem exists in PBI?
It's good to know it's unique to me. It's likely not a Power BI Desktop issue then...probably something with my server.
I'm using PBI Desktop 2.30.4246.281 64-bit (December, 2015)
The name is fully qualified. The cube is definitely tabular :)
BUT...I tried connecting to a different server and that worked without me specifying the database name. So that also points to it being a difference between the servers. (The one that works has a database engine, SSIS and SSAS tabular - the one that doesn't work has SSRS and SSAS tabular).
That makes me feel a lot better.
I updated to the latest desktop version (as I saw a slight difference) - I still have no issue.
Does the initial connection rely on the gateways.. I forget? What gateway did you install? Is it still the Tabular Gateway or is it the new Enterprise Gateway? My set up is still using the Tabular... so that could be a difference as well.