ReportServer - Unrestricted Measures - Direct Query

[M-Anant]

Hi Everyone, 

For a new ReportServer implemented at a customer, when we enable Unrestricted measures for Direct Query (SQL Server 2016), things work fine on Power BI Desktop optimised for RS. 

However, post deployment, we are getting error messages like -  

Function 'PREVIOUSYEAR' is not supported in DirectQuery mode. 

Is there any configuration required on the RS to enable it ? Or Anything else ? 

Thanks

[mgmeyer · Accepted solution]

If you install the latest March release this issue has been fixed, if you're unable to upgrade just yet you can modify your msmdsrv.ini in the PBIRS\AS install folder. Looks for the EnableAllFunctions setting and change it from 0 to 1 and restart the server.

[dlshryoc]

I'm not sure if this works in earlier versions of Power BI Report Server, but using the March 2018 release, I was able to extend the DAX functions available in direct query by making the following change:

In this file:

c:\Program Files\Microsoft Power BI Report Server\PBIRS\ASEngine\msmdsrv.ini

I changed this:

<EnableAllFunctions>0</EnableAllFunctions>

To this:

<EnableAllFunctions>1</EnableAllFunctions>

Once I made the change, I found the msmdsrv.exe process and killed it, forcing Power BI to restart the SSAS instance.

[Yousra]

Hello,

Any update on this?

I'm having the same problem while using the TOTALYTD function.

[v-yulgu-msft]

Hi @M-Anant,

I could reproduce the same problem in my test. I have reported it internally to consult with PG. Will update here once I get any reponse from product team. 

Regadrs,

Yuliana Gu

[M-Anant]

Hello All, 

Is there a way to reach out to the product team ? 

This issue is a show-stopper for us now and we need a quick turnaround. 

We could see that this issue does not exist on Power BI Online. 

Is there any Product Backlog for the next release visible to users ? 

Any response is appreciated. Thanks. 

[Anonymous]

Also having this issue as well, and will be a major issue with our upcoming release.   Hoping the more who complain the more likely this is resolved...

[Yousra]

@Anonymous @M-Anant to bypass this issue you can try to get the measures you want from the initial query. 

Example: if you want to have the TOTALYD measure, the query has to return the cumulative total to this day. You can still use the basic arithmetic functions in Power BI with direct query.