Forum Discussion

AlB's avatar
AlB
Community Champion
1 year ago
Solved

Fields parameter with live connection (SSAS)

Hi all,

We have a pbix with some visuals that has a live connection live to a SSAS Tabular model. We want to use a fields parameter but the option is greyed out.

Does this mean that fields parameters cannot be used in this scenario? 

If so, is there any workaround?

Thanks

Show and Tell
  • OwenAuger's avatar
    OwenAuger
    1 year ago

    Hi 🙂

    Field parameters need to be defined in the model, so can't be defined at report-level.

    This is because the field parameter requires a table with (at minimum) a column containing column/measure references as text with the "Extended Properties" property set appropriately.

     

    One workaround:

    Are you connecting to SSAS Tabular 2022? If so, you could create a composite model instead with DirectQuery connection to SSAS Tabular. Then you could create the field parameter in the local model.

     

    Now that I think about it, I'm not sure whether Azure Analysis Services or recent builds of SSAS Tabular 2022 would allow the field parameter table to be created there - would be interesting to test if that's an option for you.

4 Replies

  • OwenAuger's avatar
    OwenAuger
    Super User
    1 year ago

    Hi 🙂

    Field parameters need to be defined in the model, so can't be defined at report-level.

    This is because the field parameter requires a table with (at minimum) a column containing column/measure references as text with the "Extended Properties" property set appropriately.

     

    One workaround:

    Are you connecting to SSAS Tabular 2022? If so, you could create a composite model instead with DirectQuery connection to SSAS Tabular. Then you could create the field parameter in the local model.

     

    Now that I think about it, I'm not sure whether Azure Analysis Services or recent builds of SSAS Tabular 2022 would allow the field parameter table to be created there - would be interesting to test if that's an option for you.

    • AlB's avatar
      AlB
      Community Champion
      1 year ago

      Thanks OwenAuger 

      Yeah, just moving the report from  live connection to Direct Query enables you to add the fields parameters, effectively creating a composite model. It works.

       

  • Anonymous's avatar
    Anonymous
    Not applicable
    1 year ago

    Hi AlB ,

     

    Yes, it's a known limitation.

    Let report readers use field parameters to change visuals (preview) - Power BI | Microsoft Learn

     

    I tested DirectQuery to AS, and the field parameter is clickable at this point.

    Best Regards,
    Gao
    Community Support Team

     

    If there is any post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution  to help the other members find it more quickly.
    If I misunderstand your needs or you still have problems on it, please feel free to let us know. Thanks a lot!

    How to get your questions answered quickly --  How to provide sample data in the Power BI Forum

  • OwenAuger's avatar
    OwenAuger
    Super User
    1 year ago

    Update:

    I tested defining a field parameter in an Azure Analysis Services model.
    There is a slight wrinkle in the setup in that AAS doesn't allow the Group By Columns property.

    But you can use Keep Unique Rows instead and the behaviour is the same.

    Once setting up the field parameter table, the field parameter behaves as expected with a live connection from a Power BI report.

     

    I'm not sure about SSAS Tabular as I didn't have an instance to test, but it might be similar (depending on version).