filter on import data from ssas

[MP_123]

hi,

i have a problem that my cube is very very big so i can't import the whole data to PBI (i don't want to connect live because i want to be able to add measures, formatting and stuff)

how can i filter the data before i'm importing it? i know i can edit the 'M' but it's after the importing, right? so i can edit the query but it still not on the whole data...

is someone have an idea to solve my problem? thank you very much!

[Anonymous]

As is, this procedure is not really correct. It's flawed yes.

You have to import and then filter out data OR as I noticed.

You can import small amount of data, filter it and then add the remaining columns or dimensions continuing to filter as you go.

It's messy, but effective.

On another note.

PBI team: Please provide pre-filters for this? 🙂

[MP_123]

@Anonymous

thanks!

do you mean by "table.selectRows"?

because it doesnt work for me...

[Anonymous]

1) Get data - Analysis Services

2) enter your servers name etc

3) Assuming you're importing data (not live connection): Select your timedimension and simply load it all.

4) Edit Queries and filter the year to this year for example. 

5) On your right in Query settings under Applied Steps - click on the gear sign right to "Added Item" and simply add the dimensions you need and Load them each time. Filter as much as you can each time as well.

For me this works better than loading all in one which either takes way too long or doesnt work at all.

This is something that we need to be able to pre-filter before loading IMO.

Hope this helps

[birdie29]

Hi @Anonymous

I've just seen your comment on the OP's issue and thought this looked like a great solution, however when I try this the filters are removed when adding fields so it doesn't make any impact. The reason being is that when clicking the 'cog' you're effectively going back a step to the pre-filter view.

Am I missing something?

Thank you

Chris

[AndyTrezise]

Hi

I wondered if you found a solution to your problem?

I have the same issue...i need to filter data from the SSAS cube at source as there are far too many rows to pull into PBI

[MP_123]

@Anonymous

thank you for your fast answer

i wanted to filter the data due to memory settings, and after i filtered its still having memory issue:

DataSource.Error: AnalysisServices: The Auto Exist operation is exceeding the permitted memory limit and is being canceled.
Details:
DataSourceKind=AnalysisServices

do you have an idea to how can i bring the data to pbi?

[Vicky_Song]

Another thing you need to take into consideration is that "There is a 250 MB limit per dataset that is imported into Power BI". So as other community memebers figured out, you need to define MDX or DAX query to set the imported dataset size is not bigger than 250 MB.

[ImkeF]

This is a bit counterintuitive, but in order to reduce the number of rows/columns to be returned from your Server/cube you have to write the filter-steps in M. In many cases the query will fold back to the server (this is the technical term for letting the server to the pre-selections).

In addition to that, M is partially lazy evaluating, so even in "normal" queries, the commands wouldn't be executed as you read the code but once they are needed for the result (and the engine thinks it's best 🙂 ).

However, there are limitations that you can read here.

If you want to pass filter-tables to your SSAS model, you should have a look here (also including the syntax on how to pass simple filter arguments into your MDX-statements).

More useful info about querying SSAS-cubes from Chris Webb here.

[Anonymous]

Do you have high number of columns ? Try to limit them as you can.

Now I'm thinking you need to write your own MDX formula for your desired query to do this.

Never received memory limitations working with cubes before myself.

I'm all out of answers really... Good luck @MP_123