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/
- Comments (56)
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!
RE: DAX calculations at visual level of reports
¡Buena idea!
RE: DAX calculations at visual level of reports
This is an excellent idea. I regularly program in 3 other languages and have used at least a dozen over time. I cannot for the life of me be bothered to learn another language especially one that has such a narrow use and doesn't look much like the other languages I already use. I generally find Power BI so clunky that I use R visualisations for anything requiring data processing.