This document discusses the powerful DAX function CALCULATE and provides examples of how to use it to filter context and calculate measures over filtered datasets. It explains how CALCULATE works differently than calculated columns by taking filter context into account. Various examples are given that demonstrate how to use CALCULATE to calculate totals by category, country, date filters, and over filtered rows. It also provides resources for learning more about DAX and Power BI.

1. CALCULATE – The Most
Powerful DAX Function
Ike Ellis, MVP

7. Order Line Total = 'Sales OrderDetails'[qty] * 'Sales OrderDetails'[unitprice]

8. Total Sales = SUM('Sales OrderDetails'[Order Line Total])

9. select sum(Sales.OrderDetails.unitprice * Sales.OrderDetails.qty)
from sales.OrderDetails

10. Name the
measure.
You’ll use
that in the
visualization
Built in DAX formula
Table name
Column nameEquals sign separates
expression name
from expression
formula
Total Sales = SUM('Sales OrderDetails'[Ordera Line Total])

12. Days To Ship = DATEDIFF('Sales Orders'[orderdate], 'Sales Orders'[shippeddate],DAY)
Average Days to Ship = AVERAGE('Sales Orders'[Days To Ship])

13. Dates = CALENDAR("1/1/2000", "12/31/2016")

15. Order Line Total = 'Sales OrderDetails'[qty] * 'Sales OrderDetails'[unitprice]

18. Total Sales by year and with a page filter.

20. Measures Calculated Columns
Different functions Uses Row Contex
Doesn’t take up space Mostly text
Less space Executes at the point data is read into the model
and saved (value is static)
Filter Context
Executed at the time it is used

21. Beverages Total Sales = CALCULATE
(
SUM('Sales OrderDetails'[Order Line Total])
, 'Production Categories'[categoryname] = "Beverages"
)
AGGREGATION
FILTER
Look at the tab CALCULATE

22. CALCULATE(<expression>,<filter1>,<filter2>
…)

23. Total Sales - Beverages in USA = CALCULATE(
sum('Sales OrderDetails'[Order Line Total])
, 'Production Categories'[categoryname]= "Beverages"
, 'Sales Customers'[country] = "USA"
)

26. Country Count = COUNTROWS(
VALUES('Sales Orders'[shipcountry]))
Country Count wo VALUES = COUNTROWS('Sales Orders’)

27. Country Count Total = COUNTROWS(All('Sales
Orders'[shipcountry]))

29. Total Sales For Customers with Minimum Order Count v2 =
VAR MinimumOrderCount = 10
VAR CustomersWithMinimumOrders = FILTER('Sales Customers', [Number of Orders] >
MinimumOrderCount)
VAR CustomersWithMinimumOrdersResult = CALCULATE
(
sum('Sales OrderDetails'[Order Line Total])
, CustomersWithMinimumOrders
)
RETURN CustomersWithMinimumOrdersResult

30. Number of Orders = COUNT('Sales Orders'[orderid])
Number of US Orders = CALCULATE
(
COUNT
(
'Sales OrderDetails'[orderid]
)
, FILTER
(
'Sales Customers'
, 'Sales Customers'[country] = "USA"
)
)

31. Minimum Order Customers =
VAR MinimumOrderCount = 10
var CustomersWithMinimumOrders = FILTER('Sales Customers', [Number of Orders] > MinimumOrderCount)
RETURN CustomersWithMinimumOrders

32. Total Sales For Customers with Minimum Order Count =
VAR MinimumOrderCount = 5
VAR CustomersWithMinimumOrders = CALCULATE
(
sum('Sales OrderDetails'[Order Line Total])
, FILTER('Sales Customers', [Number of Orders] >
MinimumOrderCount)
)
RETURN CustomersWithMinimumOrders

33. Data Type Variable
Name
Variable
Value
RETURN myVar + 25
Expressions must use RETURN to return a value

35. YTD Total Sales = TOTALYTD
(
SUM('Sales OrderDetails'[Order Line Total])
, Dates[Date].[Date]
)

36. Total Sales Previous Month = CALCULATE
(
sum('Sales OrderDetails'[Order Line Total])
, PREVIOUSMONTH(Dates[Date])
)

38. Total Sales SUMX = SUMX(
'Sales OrderDetails'
, 'Sales OrderDetails'[qty] * 'Sales OrderDetails'[unitprice
)
Total Sales = SUM('Sales OrderDetails'[Order Line
Total])

41. Days To Ship = DATEDIFF
(
'Sales Orders'[orderdate]
, 'Sales Orders'[shippeddate]
, DAY
)

45. Total Sales By Ship Year = CALCULATE
(
SUM('Sales OrderDetails'[Order Line Total])
, USERELATIONSHIP('Sales Orders'[shippeddate],
Dates[Date])
)
Only one active relationship at a time

46. • Parses
• Formats
• Shows execution plan
• Connects to SSAS Tabular or
Power BI Desktop

48. http://www.craftingbytes.com
http://blog.ikeellis.com
http://www.ikeellis.com
YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/user/IkeEllisData
San Diego Tech Immersion Group
http://www.sdtig.com
Twitter: @ike_ellis
619.922.9801
ike@craftingbytes.com