Marco Russo on 22 May 2020 15:48:20
Provide a simple way to write formulas that work with the data displayed in a visual. For example, the running total of a measure in a table or in a chart according to the sort order of the visual should be something like this:
Running Total = ReportData[Sales] + PREVIOUS ( ReportData[Running Total] )
Where ReportData is the content of the current visual, Sales and Running Total are the names of the columns in the current visual. The user is not expected to know the model content, the calculation can be executed on top of any data currently being displayed.
More details about a proposal for visual calculations in DAX here:
https://www.sqlbi.com/articles/a-proposal-for-visual-calculations-in-dax/
Jeroen ter Heerdt (administrator) on 20 Feb 2024 22:23:33
Visual calculations are in preview since February 2024: https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/visual-calculations-preview/.
Update 10/17: This is now in our upcoming roadmap and we will share more details in the coming months.
March 2022 update: We are planning to support this, but we currently do not have a timeline
- Comments (68)
RE: DAX calculations at visual level of reports
Great idea. I am all for it too because Power BI needs it.
RE: DAX calculations at visual level of reports
This would help democratize DAX, at least at a very basic level. As I have been teaching DAX I have realized that in order to get many of the calculations clients need they are required to write very complex DAX. This idea has the potential to give more power to the people in regard to creating DAX measures that show the calculations they need. I am all for it!
RE: DAX calculations at visual level of reports
I think this is a great idea. I moved from Tableau to Power BI about five years ago. Tableau has this type of functionality built in by default their ability to do running total calculations based on the presented table is very intuitive. It was a significant "hump" for me to change my thinking and almost caused me to give up on Power BI when I was just looking for some simple running total, percentage of total calculations. I didn't give up and now appreciate the capabilities of DAX -- but still miss the simplicity of the table calculation. This would be a significant update -- and hopefully allow me to get more folks (non database folks) in my company using Power BI.
RE: DAX calculations at visual level of reports
The question is whether or not this functionality would make harnessing the power of DAX simpler and more intuitive without sacrificing power. The answer of course is a resounding, "Yes." Seven years ago, nobody understood MDX either but when Power Query provided a visual, intuitive interface (that was obviously intended for actual human beings), many lives and careers took a quantum leap forward. Anything that can be done to make DAX similarly more accessible would likely alter the course of human history.
RE: DAX calculations at visual level of reports
Hello to the experts ...
I just want to mention that this report presentation is built into CLIKVIEW
RE: DAX calculations at visual level of reports
Yes! There's a lot of power in DAX, but obscure power is of questionable value. I think there's room for both power and ease of use paths in DAX. Thanks to Messrs. Russo and Ferrari for the proposal.
RE: DAX calculations at visual level of reports
excellent idea
RE: DAX calculations at visual level of reports
I think this is right on the money. A beautiful example of a pair of great teachers getting full leverage out of their vast experience. Whether the feature is added to Power BI or not, their description of why they think it is needed is a regular roadmap of how you teach people to use Power BI.
RE: DAX calculations at visual level of reports
In the AEC industry there is a huge push for "visual" coding and making it easier for end users to leverage "Computational" engines for design. I see this as no different. Most people don't think in code, yet to really do deep analysis in Power BI you must use Measures and by extension embrace DAX. I find the "quick measures" all but useless most of the time due to lack of documentation and lack of clarity particularly if you're not using a "Sales" dataset. Visuals only get you so far, Measures are here to stay, make it easier for people to enter the realm of writing their own measures and DAX without compromising the underlying integrity of the AS & DAX engine.
RE: DAX calculations at visual level of reports
I do not agree with this!