Create DAX

calculations in
Power BI Desktop
aka.ms/PL300-4

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 Learning objectives:
• DAX calculations
Agenda • Advanced DAX
• Optimize DAX performance

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DAX calculations

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What is DAX?

• Data Analysis Expressions

• Library of functions and operators
• Build formulas and expressions
• Create calculated measures, columns,
and tables

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Calculated measures

Use DAX to create measures

Measures are only calculated when used.

Results are not stored in the data model.

Responsive to interactions, like filters.

Identified with calculator icon.

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Implicit vs. explicit vs. quick measures

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Calculated columns

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Calculated tables

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Columns vs. measures

Calculated columns: Measures:

• Create a value for each row in a table. • Calculate on demand.
• Store values in the Power BI .pbix file. • Calculated based on filters.

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DEMO
Create measures using DAX in Power BI

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Lab: Create DAX calculations in Power BI Desktop (45 minutes)
Create DAX calculations | GitHub Exercise

In this lab you’ll create calculated tables, calculated

columns, and simple measures using Data Analysis
Expressions (DAX).

In this lab you learn how to:

• Create calculated tables
• Create calculated columns
• Create measures

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Knowledge check: DAX calculations

Are measures or calculated columns calculated on demand?

Why would you choose a calculated column instead of a measure?

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Advanced DAX

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Understanding filter context

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CALCULATE() function

Total Sales for 2015 =

CALCULATE (
    SUM ( 'Sales
OrderDetails'[Total Price] ),
    YEAR ( 'Sales
OrderDetails’[OrderDate] ) =
2015
)

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Use inactive relationships

Sales by Ship Date =

CALCULATE (
    Sales[TotalPrice],
    USERELATIONSHIP ( 'Calendar'[Date], Sales[ShipDate] )
)

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Semi-additive measures

Last Sales Quantity =

CALCULATE(
    SUM(Sales[Quantity]),
    LASTDATE('Date'[Date])
)

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Create a common date table

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Time intelligence Total Sales Previous Month =
CALCULATE ( SUM ( Sales[Total
Price] ), PREVIOUSMONTH
( 'Date'[Date] ) )

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Lab: Advanced DAX calculations in Power BI Desktop (45 min)
Advanced DAX | GitHub Exercise

In this lab, you’ll create measures with DAX

expressions involving filter context
manipulation.
In this lab you learn how to:
• Use the CALCULATE() function to
manipulate filter context
• Use Time Intelligence functions

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Knowledge check: Advanced DAX

What DAX function lets you use inactive relationships?

Which type of functions specifically use dates for calculations?

What kind of measure sums for one dimension and uses another aggregation for a
different dimension?

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Optimize DAX performance

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Variables improve performance and troubleshooting

Without variable:
Sales YoY Growth =
DIVIDE (
( [Sales] - CALCULATE ( [Sales], PARALLELPERIOD ( 'Date'[Date], -12, MONTH ) ) ),
       CALCULATE ( [Sales], PARALLELPERIOD ( 'Date'[Date], -12, MONTH ) ) )

With variable:
Sales YoY Growth =
VAR SalesPriorYear = CALCULATE ( [Sales], PARALLELPERIOD ( 'Date'[Date], -12, MONTH ) )
VAR SalesVariance = DIVIDE ( ( [Sales] - SalesPriorYear ), SalesPriorYear )
RETURN
  SalesVariance

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Performance tuning reports

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Analyze query plans

Count Customers = Count Customers =

CALCULATE ( CALCULATE (
    DISTINCTCOUNT ( Order[ProductID] ),     DISTINCTCOUNT ( Order[ProductID] ),
    FILTER ( Order, Order[OrderQty] >= 5 )     KEEPFILTERS (Order[OrderQty] >= 5 )
) )

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DEMO
Optimize model performance in Power BI Desktop

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 • DAX calculations
Recap • Advanced DAX
• Optimizing DAX performance

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References
Write DAX formulas for Power BI Desktop models
Add measures to Power BI Desktop models
Use DAX time intelligence functions in Power BI Desktop models

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