Working with deprecated functions in Sisense [Linux]

As Sisense evolves, some functions and formulas may no longer work as expected after an upgrade or migration - especially when moving from the original Translator to the Analytical Engine. Fortunately, there are several ways to maintain or restore previous functionality depending on your use case. This guide outlines the most common workarounds.

Step-by-Step Guide:

Scenario

You’ve upgraded from an older Sisense version (or migrated to Linux) that used the original Translator. In the current version, which uses the Analytical Engine, some functions may not work or may show an error message, such as:

“Function not supported.”

Here’s how you can address these issues.

Option 1: Use Compatibility Mode

Starting with L2025.2, Sisense provides a Compatibility Mode that reverts to the original Translator for unsupported queries. This is configured per model and can help restore previous functionality.

Steps:

Open the Data tab.
Select the relevant model.
Go to Analytical Engine Settings.
Select Compatibility Mode – this follows the system configuration and falls back to the original translator for unsupported queries.

To apply the changes:

EC and B2D models: Build the model
Live providers: Publish the model

Option 2: Update Function Syntax

Some functions may still exist but require updated syntax in Linux. Adjusting your formulas according to the current documentation can often resolve the issue.

Example:

In Windows, you might use the following function to return the Max Cost filtered by Category ID:

SUM(([Category ID],[Max Cost]))

After migrating to Linux, this may not produce the same result. Instead, use:

MAX([Category ID],[Max Cost])

Notes:

The logic of the function may have changed.
Extra braces are no longer supported in some cases.
You can still achieve the same result using the correct function for Linux.

For full details, refer to the Dashboard Functions Reference.

Option 3: Contact Sisense Support

If issues persist with deprecated or updated functions, reach out to the Sisense Support Team. Provide your use case, and they can suggest workarounds or alternatives.

Conclusion:

Even when functions are deprecated, multiple workarounds exist to achieve the same or similar results. Start with Compatibility Mode, check the updated syntax, and contact support if needed.