Enhanced Compute Engine and Desktop Direct Query

[j_ocean]

I have a dataflow in a premium workspace with Enhanced Compute Engine set to ON. It runs fine.

I'd like to use direct query to buid the data model in PBI Desktop, vs import. However, no such option exists either on import nor in the "advanced" tab in the data model view (the "import" drop down is grayed out). There are no transforms being done in the pbix.

Is there a user level setting I'm missing, is this a capacity admin setting, or do I need to reoprt a bug?

[Anonymous]

Hi @j_ocean

Please try the following ways to resolve the issue:

Ensure that you are using the latest version of Power BI Desktop, as some features may not be available in earlier versions.

Not all dataflows support DirectQuery. Ensure that the dataflow you are trying to connect to is compatible with DirectQuery.

Make sure that the Premium workspace where your dataflow resides has the Enhanced Compute Engine turned on.

Confirm that you have the necessary permissions to use DirectQuery on the dataflow in the workspace.

Ensure that the entities within the dataflow are compatible with DirectQuery. Certain calculated columns or complex transformations can affect DirectQuery availability.

You can view the link below for more details:

Using DirectQuery with dataflows - Power BI | Microsoft Learn

Regards,

Nono Chen

If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

[j_ocean]

>Not all dataflows support DirectQuery. Ensure that the dataflow you are trying to connect to is compatible with DirectQuery.

What is the requirement? Per the link I should justt need enhanced compute engine set to "ON", and it is.

>Make sure that the Premium workspace where your dataflow resides has the Enhanced Compute Engine turned on.

So this *is* a separate setting? How do I check this? Is it at the workspace level, capacity level, or tenant level?

>Confirm that you have the necessary permissions to use DirectQuery on the dataflow in the workspace.

What are these permissions? I am a workspace admin and wrote/own the dataflow.

>Ensure that the entities within the dataflow are compatible with DirectQuery. Certain calculated columns or complex transformations can affect DirectQuery availability.

I understand this would stop the dataflow from direct-querying the data source, but I'm looking for the next step of the dataset direct querying the dataflow *after* it has loaded the resulting table into PBI-native-backend SQL. If I could fold everything into a direct query I wouldn't need a dataflow.

There are no transformations being done in the PBIX.

[TomMartens]

Hey @j_ocean ,

I think I do not fully get your question.

There is no such thing as Enhanced Compute Engine when you are using Power Query in combination with DirectQuery.

If this is not answering your question, can you please describe in more detail what you are going create in contrast what you currently have (dataflows + enhanced compute engine).

Thanks,

Tom

[j_ocean]

Current: Source > Datafllow with enhanced compute engine on > PBIX "import"

Desired: Source > Datafllow with enhanced compute engine on > PBIX "direct query"