Is there any way to prevent the model from refreshing every time I create a measure?

[CC_C]

I'm working in a file that uses a DirectQuery dataset containing several tables. I need to add calculated columns, which is a limitation of DirectQuery, so my current solution is to "clone" those tables with a calculated table and work with those.

This works, but every time I create or edit a measure the model is recalculated, and due to the size of the data sources this is creating a huge lag (like 30 secs) before I can write any DAX. My project requires quite a few measures, so this obviously is making development extremely time consuming.

Is there anything I can do to avoid these constant recalculations? Since I'm using DirectQuery I am not able to make any changes in the query editor, which is an approach I've seen suggested elsewhere.

[v-xiaotang]

Hi @CC_C 

Have you solved this problem? If yes, could you kindly accept the answer helpful as the solution (or kindly share your solution ). so the others can find it more quickly.

Best Regards,

Community Support Team _Tang

[AlexisOlson]

One option is to use the Tabular Editor external tool (see the announcement of the external tool integration).

This only syncs when you tell it to and makes it much easier to do things like duplicate and tweak measures.

[CC_C]

Thanks for the response. This sounds like a promising way to avoid the constant recalculations, unfortunately I don't expect my company will pay for a license.

Can I ask your opinion on the DirectQuery workaround I mentioned? "Copying" every table feels sloppy and wrong, and of course performance is affected, but I can't find another way to add calculated columns to these tables.

[mahoneypat]

FYI that Tabular Editor 2 is free (but TE3 seems to have some nice features that TE2 doesn't).

Also, is there a smaller/dev version of your data source you could build against with far fewer rows?  Or can you apply a page filter/slicer to reduce the # of rows while you are building?

Pat