Where to define and manage selection expressions for calculation groups in desktop?

[luck7leo]

According to the 202403 monthly update blog, the preview of selection expressions for calculation groups was introduced. But I can not find the place to define and manage the selection expression? I tried in the newly released Power BI desktop and Tabular Editor 2.

[OwenAuger · Accepted solution]

Hi @luck7leo 

The model's Compatibility Level needs to be set to 1605 for Selection Expressions to be available.

Here's how I did it with a model in Power BI Desktop:

1. Open Tabular Editor from Power BI Desktop via External Tools, or open and connect to the PBIX.
2. Enable the option "Allow unsupported Power BI features (experimental)".
3. In TE3, you may have to select something other than Model, then select Model again, in order for the Compatibility Level to be editable.
4. Under Model > Database > Compatibility Level, replace the current value with 1605
5. Save the changes.
6. Turn off "Allow unsupported Power BI features (experimental)" (if desired).
7. The Selection Expression properties should now be available when a calculation group is selected.

Note that if connecting to a model in the Power BI Service via XMLA endpoint, the "unsupported features" setting is not needed.

TE2 screenshots:

TE3 screenshots:

Given that this feature is in preview, I expect these odd issues should be fixed at some stage.

The March 2024 Feature Summary did state that

"you can leverage the same tools you use today to work with calculation groups" 

which I would assume means that both Power BI Desktop and Tabular Editor can be used. Hopefully this is fixed soon.

Regards

Owen

[jeroenterheerdt]

you can't use Power BI Desktop at this point - calculation groups creation in Desktop was not supported (in GA) at the time when the blog was published.