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? PowerBI & Dax Functions ❗_

The document provides a comprehensive overview of DAX functions, including their types, naming conventions, and detailed descriptions of various functions such as aggregation, filter, time intelligence, and mathematical functions. It serves as a guide for users to understand and utilize DAX functions effectively in data analysis. The content is structured with a table of contents for easy navigation through the different categories of functions.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
12 views

? PowerBI & Dax Functions ❗_

The document provides a comprehensive overview of DAX functions, including their types, naming conventions, and detailed descriptions of various functions such as aggregation, filter, time intelligence, and mathematical functions. It serves as a guide for users to understand and utilize DAX functions effectively in data analysis. The content is structured with a table of contents for easy navigation through the different categories of functions.

Uploaded by

mukhamad yusuf
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 46

Shwetank Singh

GritSetGrow - GSGLearn.com

DATA AND AI

DAX
FUNCTIONS
www.gsglearn.com
DAX Functions

Table of Contents

DAX FUNCTIONS – BASICS ........................................................................................................... 1

1. DAX Functions ─ Introduction .................................................................................................................. 2


What is a DAX Function? ............................................................................................................................... 2
Excel Functions vs. DAX Functions ................................................................................................................. 2
DAX Parameter Naming Conventions ............................................................................................................ 3
Types of DAX Functions ................................................................................................................................. 3
DAX Table-Valued Functions.......................................................................................................................... 4
DAX Aggregation Functions ........................................................................................................................... 4
DAX Filter Functions ...................................................................................................................................... 4
DAX Time Intelligence Functions ................................................................................................................... 4
DAX Date and Time Functions ....................................................................................................................... 4
DAX Information Functions............................................................................................................................ 4
DAX Logical Functions .................................................................................................................................... 5
DAX Math and Trig Functions ........................................................................................................................ 5
DAX Parent and Child Functions .................................................................................................................... 5
DAX Statistical Functions ............................................................................................................................... 5
DAX Text Functions ........................................................................................................................................ 5
DAX Other Functions ..................................................................................................................................... 5
DAX Function Description Structure .............................................................................................................. 5

2. DAX Functions ─ DAX Parameter Naming Conventions ........................................................................... 6


Parameter Names .......................................................................................................................................... 6
Prefixing Parameter Names or Using the Prefix Only .................................................................................... 7

3. DAX Functions ─ Description Structure .................................................................................................... 8

DAX AGGREGATION FUNCTIONS ............................................................................................... 11

4. DAX Aggregate Functions ─ Overview ................................................................................................... 12

5. DAX Functions ─ ADDCOLUMNS ............................................................................................................ 13

6. DAX Functions ─ AVERAGE .................................................................................................................... 14

7. DAX Functions ─ AVERAGEA .................................................................................................................. 15

8. DAX Functions ─ AVERAGEX .................................................................................................................. 16

9. DAX Functions ─ COUNT ........................................................................................................................ 17

ii
DAX Functions

10. DAX Functions ─ COUNTA ...................................................................................................................... 18

11. DAX Functions ─ COUNTAX ................................................................................................................... 19

12. DAX Functions ─ COUNTBLANK ............................................................................................................. 20

13. DAX Functions ─ COUNTROWS .............................................................................................................. 21

14. DAX Functions ─ COUNTX ...................................................................................................................... 22

15. DAX Functions ─ CROSSJOIN .................................................................................................................. 23

16. DAX Functions ─ DISTINCTCOUNT ......................................................................................................... 24

17. DAX Functions ─ GENERATE................................................................................................................... 25

18. DAX Functions ─ GENERATEALL ............................................................................................................. 26

19. DAX Functions ─ MAX ............................................................................................................................ 27

20.
DAX Functions ─ MAXA ......................................................................................................................... 28
21.
DAX Functions ─ MAXX ......................................................................................................................... 29
22.
DAX Functions ─ MIN ............................................................................................................................ 30
23.
DAX Functions ─ MINA .......................................................................................................................... 31
24.
DAX Functions ─ MINX .......................................................................................................................... 32
25.
DAX Functions ─ PRODUCT .................................................................................................................... 33
26.
DAX Functions ─ PRODUCTX .................................................................................................................. 34
27.
DAX Functions ─ ROW ........................................................................................................................... 35
28.
DAX Functions ─ SELECTCOLUMNS ........................................................................................................ 36
29.
DAX Functions ─ SUM ............................................................................................................................ 37
30.
DAX Functions ─ SUMMARIZE ............................................................................................................... 38
31.
DAX Functions ─ SUMMARIZE ............................................................................................................... 40
32.
DAX Functions ─ SUMX .......................................................................................................................... 43
33.
DAX Functions ─ TOPN .......................................................................................................................... 44

DAX FILTER FUNCTIONS ............................................................................................................ 46

34. DAX Filter Functions ─ Overview ........................................................................................................... 47

35. DAX Functions ─ ADDMISSINGITEMS ..................................................................................................... 48

iii
DAX Functions

36. DAX Functions ─ ALL .............................................................................................................................. 50

37. DAX Functions ─ ALLEXCEPT .................................................................................................................. 51

38. DAX Functions ─ ALLNOBLANKROW ...................................................................................................... 52

39. DAX Functions ─ ALLSELECTED............................................................................................................... 53

40. DAX Functions ─ CALCULATE ................................................................................................................. 54

41. DAX Functions ─ CALCULATETABLE........................................................................................................ 55

42. DAX Functions ─ CROSSFILTER ............................................................................................................... 57

43. DAX Functions ─ DISTINCT ..................................................................................................................... 59

44. DAX Functions ─ EARLIER Function ........................................................................................................ 60

45. DAX Functions ─ EARLIEST ..................................................................................................................... 61

46.
DAX Functions ─ FILTER ......................................................................................................................... 62
47.
DAX Functions ─ FILTERS ....................................................................................................................... 63
48.
DAX Functions ─ HASONEFILTER ............................................................................................................ 64
49.
DAX Functions ─ HASONEVALUE ........................................................................................................... 65
50.
DAX Functions ─ ISCROSSFILTERED ........................................................................................................ 66
51.
DAX Functions ─ ISFILTERED .................................................................................................................. 67
52.
DAX Functions ─ KEEPFILTERS ............................................................................................................... 68
53.
DAX Functions ─ RELATED ..................................................................................................................... 69
54.
DAX Functions ─ RELATEDTABLE............................................................................................................ 70
55.
DAX Functions ─ USERELATIONSHIP ...................................................................................................... 71
56.
DAX Functions ─ VALUES ....................................................................................................................... 73

DAX TIME INTELLIGENCE FUNCTIONS ....................................................................................... 74

57. DAX Time Intelligence Functions – Overview ........................................................................................ 75

58. DAX Functions ─ CLOSINGBALANCEMONTH .......................................................................................... 77

59. DAX Functions ─ CLOSINGBALANCEQUARTER ....................................................................................... 79

60. DAX Functions ─ CLOSINGBALANCEYEAR .............................................................................................. 81

61. DAX Functions ─ DATEADD .................................................................................................................... 83

iv
DAX Functions

62. DAX Functions ─ DATESBETWEEN .......................................................................................................... 85 DAX

63. Functions ─ DATESINPERIOD .......................................................................................................... 86 DAX

64. Functions ─ DATESMTD ................................................................................................................. 88 DAX

65. Functions ─ DATESQTD .................................................................................................................. 90 DAX

66. Functions ─ DATESYTD ................................................................................................................... 91 DAX

67. Functions ─ ENDOFMONTH ............................................................................................................ 92 DAX

68. ENDOFQUARTER Function ............................................................................................................. 93 DAX

69. Functions ─ ENDOFYEAR ................................................................................................................ 94 DAX

70. Functions ─ FIRSTDATE .................................................................................................................. 96 DAX

71. Functions ─ FIRSTNONBLANK ......................................................................................................... 98 DAX

72. Functions ─ LASTDATE Function ..................................................................................................... 99 DAX

73. Functions ─ LASTNONBLANK ........................................................................................................ 101 DAX

74. Functions ─ NEXTDAY .................................................................................................................. 102 DAX

75. Functions ─ NEXTMONTH ............................................................................................................ 103 DAX

76. Functions ─ NEXTQUARTER .......................................................................................................... 104 DAX

77. Functions ─ NEXTYEAR ................................................................................................................. 105 DAX

78. Functions ─ OPENINGBALANCEMONTH ....................................................................................... 107 DAX

79. Functions ─ OPENINGBALANCEQUARTER .................................................................................... 109 DAX

80. Functions ─ OPENINGBALANCEYEAR ........................................................................................... 111 DAX

81. Functions ─ PARALLELPERIOD ...................................................................................................... 113 DAX

82. Functions ─ PREVIOUSDAY........................................................................................................... 115 DAX

83. Functions ─ PREVIOUSMONTH ..................................................................................................... 116 DAX

84. Functions ─ PREVIOUSQUARTER .................................................................................................. 117 DAX

85. Functions ─ PREVIOUSYEAR ......................................................................................................... 118 DAX

86. Functions ─ SAMEPERIODLASTYEAR ............................................................................................ 120 DAX

87. Functions ─ STARTOFMONTH ...................................................................................................... 121 DAX

88. Functions ─ STARTOFQUARTER .................................................................................................... 122

v
DAX Functions

89. DAX Functions ─ STARTOFYEAR ........................................................................................................... 123

90. DAX Functions ─ TOTALMTD ............................................................................................................... 124

91. DAX Functions ─ TOTALQTD ................................................................................................................ 126

92. DAX Functions ─ TOTALYTD ................................................................................................................. 128

DAX DATE AND TIME FUNCTIONS ........................................................................................... 130

93. DAX Date and Time Functions ─ Overview .......................................................................................... 131 94.

DAX Functions ─ CALENDAR ................................................................................................................ 132 95. DAX

Functions ─ CALENDARAUTO ....................................................................................................... 133 96. DAX

Functions ─ DATE ......................................................................................................................... 134 97. DAX

Functions ─ DATEDIFF .................................................................................................................. 137 98. DAX

Functions ─ DATEVALUE .............................................................................................................. 139 99. DAX

Functions ─ DAY ........................................................................................................................... 140 100. DAX

Functions ─ EDATE ....................................................................................................................... 142 101. DAX

Functions ─ EOMONTH ................................................................................................................ 144 102. DAX

Functions ─ HOUR ........................................................................................................................ 146 103. DAX

Functions ─ MINUTE .................................................................................................................... 147 104. DAX

Functions ─ MONTH ..................................................................................................................... 148 105. DAX

Functions ─ NOW ......................................................................................................................... 150 106. DAX

Functions ─ SECOND .................................................................................................................... 151 107. DAX

Functions ─ TIME ......................................................................................................................... 152 108. DAX

Functions ─ TIMEVALUE ............................................................................................................... 153 109. DAX

Functions ─ TODAY ...................................................................................................................... 154 110. DAX

Functions ─ WEEKDAY ................................................................................................................. 155 111. DAX

Functions ─ WEEKNUM ................................................................................................................ 157 112. DAX

Functions ─ YEAR ......................................................................................................................... 158 113. DAX

Functions ─ YEARFRAC ................................................................................................................. 160

vi
DAX Functions

DAX INFORMATION FUNCTIONS .............................................................................................


162
114. DAX Information Functions ─ Overview .............................................................................................. 163 115.

DAX Functions ─ CONTAINS ................................................................................................................. 164 116. DAX

Functions ─ CustomData .............................................................................................................. 165 117. DAX

Functions ─ ISBLANK .................................................................................................................... 166 118. DAX

Functions ─ ISERROR .................................................................................................................... 167 119. DAX

Functions ─ ISEMPTY ................................................................................................................... 168 120. DAX

Functions ─ ISEVEN ...................................................................................................................... 169 121. DAX

Functions ─ ISLOGICAL ................................................................................................................. 170 122. DAX

Functions ─ ISNONTEXT ............................................................................................................... 171 123. DAX

Functions ─ ISNUMBER ................................................................................................................ 172 124. DAX

Functions ─ ISODD ....................................................................................................................... 173 125. DAX

Functions ─ ISONORAFTER ........................................................................................................... 174 126. DAX

Functions ─ ISTEXT ....................................................................................................................... 176 127. DAX

Functions ─ LOOKUPVALUE.......................................................................................................... 177 128. DAX

Functions ─ USERNAME ............................................................................................................... 178

DAX LOGICAL FUNCTIONS .......................................................................................................


179
129. DAX Logical Functions – Overview ....................................................................................................... 180 130.

DAX Functions ─ AND .......................................................................................................................... 181 131. DAX

Functions ─ FALSE ........................................................................................................................ 182 132. DAX

Functions ─ IF Function ................................................................................................................ 183 133. DAX

Functions ─ IFERROR .................................................................................................................... 185 134. DAX

Functions ─ NOT Function ............................................................................................................ 186 135. DAX

Functions ─ OR Function .............................................................................................................. 187 136. DAX

Functions ─ SWITCH ..................................................................................................................... 188 137. DAX

Functions ─ TRUE Function .......................................................................................................... 189

vii
DAX Functions

DAX MATHEMATICAL & TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS ...........................................................


190
138. DAX Math & Trig Functions – Overview............................................................................................... 191 139.

DAX Functions ─ ABS Function ............................................................................................................ 193 140. DAX

Functions ─ ACOS Function .......................................................................................................... 194 141. DAX

Functions ─ ACOSH Function ........................................................................................................ 195 142. DAX

Functions ─ ASIN Function ........................................................................................................... 196 143. DAX

Functions ─ ASINH Function ......................................................................................................... 197 144. DAX

Functions ─ ATAN Function .......................................................................................................... 198 145. DAX

Functions ─ ATANH Function ....................................................................................................... 199 146. DAX

Functions ─ CEILING Function ...................................................................................................... 200 147. DAX

Functions ─ COMBIN Function ..................................................................................................... 202 148. DAX

Functions ─ COMBINA ................................................................................................................. 204 149. DAX

Functions ─ COS Function ............................................................................................................ 205 150. DAX

Functions ─ COSH Function .......................................................................................................... 206 151. DAX

Functions ─ CURRENCY Function .................................................................................................. 207 152. DAX

Functions ─ DEGREES Function .................................................................................................... 208 153. DAX

Functions ─ DIVIDE Function ........................................................................................................ 209 154. DAX

Functions ─ EVEN Function .......................................................................................................... 210 155. DAX

Functions ─ EXP Function ............................................................................................................. 211 156. DAX

Functions ─ FACT Function ........................................................................................................... 212 157. DAX

Functions ─ FLOOR Function ........................................................................................................ 213 158. DAX

Functions ─ GCD Function ............................................................................................................ 214 159. DAX

Functions ─ INT Function ............................................................................................................. 215 160. DAX

Functions ─ ISO.CEILING Function ................................................................................................ 216 161. DAX

Functions ─ LCM Function ............................................................................................................ 217 162. DAX

Functions ─ LN Function ............................................................................................................... 218 163. DAX

Functions ─ LOG Function ............................................................................................................ 219

viii
DAX Functions

164. DAX Functions ─ LOG10 Function ........................................................................................................ 220 165.

DAX Functions ─ MROUND Function ................................................................................................... 221 166. DAX

Functions ─ MOD Function .......................................................................................................... 222 167. DAX

Functions ─ ODD Function ........................................................................................................... 223 168. DAX

Functions ─ PERMUT Function ..................................................................................................... 224 169. DAX

Functions ─ PI Function ................................................................................................................ 226 170. DAX

Functions ─ POWER Function ....................................................................................................... 227 171. DAX

Functions ─ QUOTIENT Function .................................................................................................. 228 172. DAX

Functions ─ RADIANS Function .................................................................................................... 229 173. DAX

Functions ─ RAND Function ......................................................................................................... 230 174. DAX

Functions ─ RANDBETWEEN ........................................................................................................ 231 175. DAX

Functions ─ ROUND ..................................................................................................................... 232 176. DAX

Functions ─ ROUNDDOWN .......................................................................................................... 233 177. DAX

Functions ─ ROUNDUP ................................................................................................................. 234 178. DAX

Functions ─ SIGN Function ........................................................................................................... 235 179. DAX

Functions ─ SIN Function ............................................................................................................. 236 180. DAX

Functions ─ SINH Function ........................................................................................................... 237 181. DAX

Functions ─ SQRT Function .......................................................................................................... 238 182. DAX

Functions ─ SQRTPI ...................................................................................................................... 239 183. DAX

Functions ─ TAN Function ............................................................................................................ 240 184. DAX

Functions ─ TANH Function .......................................................................................................... 241 185. DAX

Functions ─ TRUNC ...................................................................................................................... 242

DAX PARENT & CHILD FUNCTIONS .......................................................................................... 243

186. DAX Parent & Child Functions – Overview........................................................................................... 244 187.

DAX Functions ─ PATH Function .......................................................................................................... 245 188. DAX

Functions ─ PATHCONTAINS ........................................................................................................ 247 189. DAX

Functions ─ PATHITEM ................................................................................................................. 248

ix
DAX Functions

190. DAX Functions ─ PATHITEMREVERSE ................................................................................................... 250 191.

DAX Functions ─ PATHLENGTH ............................................................................................................ 252

DAX STATISTICAL FUNCTIONS ................................................................................................. 253

192. DAX Statistical Functions ─ Overview .................................................................................................. 254 193.

DAX Functions ─ BETA.DIST ................................................................................................................. 255 194. DAX

Functions ─ BETA.INV .................................................................................................................. 257 195. DAX

Functions ─ CHISQ.DIST ............................................................................................................... 259 196. DAX

Functions ─ CHISQ.DIST.RT .......................................................................................................... 260 197. DAX

Functions ─ CHISQ.INV ................................................................................................................. 261 198. DAX

Functions ─ CHISQ.INV.RT ............................................................................................................ 262 199. DAX

Functions ─ CONFIDENCE.NORM ................................................................................................. 263 200. DAX

Functions ─ CONFIDENCE.T .......................................................................................................... 265 201. DAX

Functions ─ EXPON.DIST .............................................................................................................. 266 202. DAX

Functions ─ GEOMEAN ................................................................................................................ 267 203. DAX

Functions ─ GEOMEANX .............................................................................................................. 268 204. DAX

Functions ─ MEDIAN .................................................................................................................... 269 205. DAX

Functions ─ MEDIANX .................................................................................................................. 270 206. DAX

Functions ─ PERCENTILE.EXC ........................................................................................................ 271 207. DAX

Functions ─ PERCENTILE.INC ........................................................................................................ 272 208. DAX

Functions ─ PERCENTILEX.EXC...................................................................................................... 273 209. DAX

Functions ─ PERCENTILEX.INC ...................................................................................................... 274 210. DAX

Functions ─ POISSON.DIST ........................................................................................................... 275 211. DAX

Functions ─ RANK.EQ ................................................................................................................... 277 212. DAX

Functions ─ RANKX ...................................................................................................................... 279 213. DAX

SAMPLE Function ......................................................................................................................... 281 214. Functions

─ DAX STDEV.P .................................................................................................................... 283 215. DAX Functions ─

STDEV.S .................................................................................................................... 284

x
DAX Functions

216. DAX Functions ─ STDEVX.P .................................................................................................................. 285 217.

DAX Functions ─ STDEVX.S Function .................................................................................................... 286 218. DAX

Functions ─ VAR.P ........................................................................................................................ 287 219. DAX

Functions ─ VAR.S ........................................................................................................................ 288 220. DAX

Functions ─ VARX.P ..................................................................................................................... 289 221. DAX

Functions ─ VARX.S ...................................................................................................................... 290 222. DAX

Functions ─ XIRR Function ........................................................................................................... 291 223. DAX XNPV

Function ............................................................................................................................. 293

DAX TEXT FUNCTIONS ............................................................................................................. 295

224. DAX Text Functions ─ Overview........................................................................................................... 296 225.

DAX Functions ─ BLANK Function ........................................................................................................ 297 226. DAX

Functions ─ CODE Function .......................................................................................................... 298 227. DAX

Functions ─ CONCATENATE .......................................................................................................... 299 228. DAX

Functions ─ CONCATENATEX ........................................................................................................ 300 229. DAX

Functions ─ EXACT ....................................................................................................................... 302 230. DAX

Functions ─ FIND .......................................................................................................................... 303 231. DAX

Functions ─ FIXED ........................................................................................................................ 305 232. DAX

Functions ─ FORMAT ................................................................................................................... 307 233. DAX

Functions ─ LEFT Function ............................................................................................................ 314 234. DAX

Functions ─ LEN Function ............................................................................................................. 315 235. DAX

Functions ─ LOWER ...................................................................................................................... 316 236. DAX

Functions ─ MID Function ............................................................................................................ 317 237. DAX

Functions ─ REPLACE Function ..................................................................................................... 318 238. DAX

Functions ─ REPT ......................................................................................................................... 320 239. DAX

Functions ─ RIGHT ....................................................................................................................... 321 240. DAX

Functions ─ SEARCH ..................................................................................................................... 322 241. DAX

Functions ─ Substitute ................................................................................................................. 324

xi
DAX Functions

242. DAX Functions ─ TRIM ......................................................................................................................... 326 243.

DAX Functions ─ UPPER Function ........................................................................................................ 327 244. DAX

Functions ─ VALUE Function ........................................................................................................ 328

DAX OTHER FUNCTIONS .......................................................................................................... 329

245. DAX Other Functions ─ Overview ........................................................................................................ 330 246.

DAX Functions ─ EXCEPT ...................................................................................................................... 331 247. DAX

Functions ─ GROUPBY .................................................................................................................. 333 248. DAX

Functions ─ INTERSECT ................................................................................................................ 336 249. DAX

Functions ─ NATURALINNERJOIN ................................................................................................. 337 250. DAX

Functions ─ NATURALLEFTOUTERJOIN ......................................................................................... 338 251. DAX

Functions ─ SUMMARIZECOLUMNS ............................................................................................. 339 252. DAX

Functions ─ UNION ...................................................................................................................... 341 253. DAX

Functions ─ VAR ........................................................................................................................... 342

xii
DAX Functions

DAX Functions – Basics

13
1. DAX FUNCTIONS ─ INTRODUCTION DAX Functions

DAX stands for Data Analysis Expressions. DAX is a formula language and is a collection of
functions, operators, and constants that can be used in a formula or expression to calculate
and return one or more values. DAX is the formula language associated with the Data Model
of Microsoft Excel Power Pivot and with Microsoft Power BI.
DAX is not a programming language, however it is a formula language that allows the users
to define custom calculations in calculated columns and calculated fields (also known as
measures). DAX helps you create new information from the existing data in your Data Model.
DAX formulas enable you to perform data modeling, data analysis, and use the results for
reporting and decision making. For an in-depth understanding of DAX, refer to the tutorial –

DAX in this tutorials library.

What is a DAX Function?


A DAX function is an inbuilt function provided in the DAX language to enable you to perform
various actions on the data in the tables in your Data Model.
DAX functions enable you to perform commonly used data calculations on the Data Model.
Some of the DAX functions have same names and functionality as that of Excel functions but
have been modified to use DAX data types and to work with tables and columns, as highlighted
in the next section. DAX has additional functions that are designed to work with relational
data and perform dynamic aggregation. DAX functions play an important role in the usage of

DAX for data modeling and reporting.

Excel Functions vs. DAX Functions


There are certain similarities between the Excel functions and the DAX functions and there
are certain differences too. Following are the similarities and differences between Excel
functions and DAX functions:

Similarities Between Excel Functions and DAX Functions


 Certain DAX functions have the same name and the same general behavior as Excel
functions.

DAX has lookup functions that are similar to the array and vector lookup functions in

Excel.

Differences Between Excel Functions and DAX Functions

14
DAX Functions

 DAX functions have been modified to take different types of inputs and some of the
DAX functions might return a different data type. Hence, you need to understand the
usage of these functions separately though they have the same name.

You cannot use DAX functions in an Excel formula or use Excel functions in DAX

formula, without the required modifications.
 Excel functions take a cell reference or a range of cells as a reference. DAX functions
 never take a cell reference or a range of cells as a reference, but instead take a column
or table as a reference.

Excel date and time functions return an integer that represents a date as a serial

 number. DAX date and time functions return a datetime data type that is in DAX but
not in Excel.

Excel has no functions that return a table, but some functions can work with arrays.

Many of the DAX functions can easily reference complete tables and columns to

perform calculations and return a table or a column of values. This ability of DAX adds
power to the Power Pivot, Power View and Power BI, where DAX is used.
DAX lookup functions require that a relationship is established between the respective
 tables.

DAX Parameter Naming Conventions


DAX has standard parameter names to facilitate the usage and understanding of the DAX
functions. Further, you can use certain prefixes to the parameter names. If the prefix is
clear enough, you can use the prefix itself as the parameter name.
You need to understand DAX parameter naming conventions so as to understand the syntax
of the DAX functions and use the values for the required parameters correctly.
Refer to the chapter - DAX Parameter Naming Conventions for details.

Types of DAX Functions


DAX supports the following types of functions.
 DAX Table-Valued Functions

o DAX Filter Functions


o DAX Aggregation Functions
o DAX Time Intelligence Functions

 DAX Date and Time Functions


 DAX Information Functions
15
DAX Functions

 DAX Logical Functions


 DAX Math and Trig Functions
 DAX Other Functions
 DAX Parent and Child Functions
 DAX Statistical Functions
 DAX Text Functions

DAX Table-Valued Functions


Many DAX functions take tables as input or output tables or do both. These DAX functions are
called DAX table-valued functions. Because a table can have a single column, DAX table-
valued functions also take single columns as inputs. You have the following types of DAX
table-valued functions:

 DAX Aggregation functions


 DAX Filter functions
 DAX Time intelligence functions

DAX Aggregation Functions


DAX Aggregation functions aggregate any expression over the rows of a table and are useful
in calculations.
Refer to the chapter - DAX Aggregation functions for details.

DAX Filter Functions


DAX Filter functions return a column or a table or values related to the current row. You can
use DAX Filter functions to return specific data types, look up values in related tables and
filter by related values. DAX Lookup functions work by using tables and relationships between
them. DAX Filter functions enable you to manipulate the data context to create dynamic
calculations.
Refer to the chapter - DAX Filter functions for details.

DAX Time Intelligence Functions


DAX Time Intelligence functions return a table of dates or the use a table of dates to calculate
an aggregation. These DAX functions help you create calculations that support the needs of
Business Intelligence analysis by enabling you to manipulate data using time periods, including
days, months, quarters, and years.
Refer to the chapter - DAX Time Intelligence functions for details.

16
DAX Functions

DAX Date and Time Functions


DAX Date and Time functions are similar to the Excel date and time functions. However, DAX
Date and Time functions are based on the datetime data type of DAX.
Refer to the chapter - DAX Date and Time functions for details.

DAX Information Functions


DAX Information functions look at the cell or row that is provided as an argument and tell you
whether the value matches the expected type.
Refer to the chapter - DAX Information functions for details.

DAX Logical Functions


DAX Logical Functions return information about values in an expression. For example, DAX
TRUE function lets you know whether an expression that you are evaluating returns a TRUE
value.
Refer to the chapter - DAX Logical functions for details.

DAX Math and Trig Functions


DAX Mathematical and Trigonometric functions are very similar to the Excel mathematical and
trigonometric functions.
Refer to the chapter - DAX Math and Trig functions for details.

DAX Parent and Child Functions


DAX Parent and Child functions are useful in managing data that is presented as a parent/child
hierarchy in the Data Model.
Refer to the chapter - DAX Parent and Child functions for details.

DAX Statistical Functions


DAX Statistical functions are very similar to the Excel Statistical functions.

Refer to the chapter - DAX Statistical functions for details.

17
DAX Functions

DAX Text Functions


DAX Text functions work with tables and columns. With DAX Text functions, you can return
part of a string, search for text within a string or concatenate string values. You can also
control the formats for dates, times, and numbers.
Refer to the chapter - DAX Text functions for details.

DAX Other Functions


These DAX functions perform unique actions that cannot be defined by any of the categories
most other functions belong to.
Refer to the chapter - DAX Other functions for details.

DAX Function Description Structure


If you have to use a DAX function in a DAX formula, you need to understand the function in
detail. You should know the syntax of the function, the parameter types, what the function
returns, etc.
In this tutorial, a common function description structure is used for all the DAX functions so
that you can read and interpret the DAX functions effectively.
Refer to the chapter - DAX Function Description Structure for details.

18
2. DAX FUNCTIONS ─ DAX PARAMETERD ANX AFu
CONVENTIONS

DAX has standard parameter names to facilitate the usage and understanding of the DAX
functions. Further, you can use certain prefixes to the parameter names. If the prefix is
clear enough, you can use the prefix itself as the parameter name.
To understand the syntax of the DAX functions and to use data values appropriately for the
relevant DAX function parameters, you need to understand DAX parameter naming
conventions.

Parameter Names
Following are the DAX standard parameter names –

Parameter
Description
Name

Any DAX expression that returns a single scalar value, where the
expression
expression is to be evaluated multiple times (for each row/context).

Any DAX expression that returns a single scalar value where the
value
expression is to be evaluated exactly once before all other operations.

table Any DAX expression that returns a table of data.

The name of an existing table using standard DAX syntax. It cannot


tableName
be an expression.

The name of an existing column using standard DAX syntax, usually


columnName
fully qualified. It cannot be an expression.

A string constant that will be used to provide the name of a new


name
object.

order An enumeration used to determine the sort order.

ties An enumeration used to determine the handling of tie values.

19
DAX Functions

An enumeration used to determine the data type for PathItem and


type
PathItemReverse.

Prefixing Parameter Names or Using the Prefix Only


You can qualify a parameter name with a prefix –
 The prefix should be descriptive of how the argument is used.

 The prefix should be in such a way that ambiguous reading of the parameter is avoided.

For example,
 Result_ColumnName - Refers to an existing column used to get the result values in
the DAX LOOKUPVALUE () function.
Search_ColumnName - Refers to an existing column used to search for a value in
 the DAX LOOKUPVALUE () function.

You can omit the parameter name and use only the prefix, if the prefix is clear enough to
describe the parameter. Omitting the parameter name and using only prefix can sometimes
help in avoiding the clutter during reading. For example, Consider DATE (Year_value,

Month_value, Day_value). You can omit the


parameter name – value, that is repeated thrice and write it as DATE (Year, Month, Day). As
seen, by using only the prefixes, the function is more readable. However, sometimes the
parameter name and the prefix have to be present for clarity.
For example, Consider Year_columnName. The parameter name is ColumnName and the
prefix is Year. Both are required to make the user understand that the parameter requires a
reference to an existing column of years.

20
3. DAX FUNCTIONS ─ DESCRIPTION STDRAUX FC

If you have to use a DAX function in a DAX formula, you need to understand the function in
detail. You should know the syntax of the function, the parameter types, what the function
returns, etc.
To enable you to understand how to read and interpret the DAX functions, a uniform function
description structure is used in this tutorial.

 The different types of DAX functions are grouped by the type name of the DAX
functions as chapters.
Each of these chapters provides a brief description of the utility of the respective type

 of DAX functions.
 The brief description will be followed by the list of DAX functions corresponding to that
chapter (Type/Category of DAX functions).
 Each DAX function name is hyperlinked to DAX function details that have the following
 DAX function description structure:

o Description
o Syntax
o Parameters
o Return Value
o Remarks
o Example

The following sections explain each of these headings that appear in each DAX function
explanation.
Description

In the Description section, you will learn what the DAX function is about and where it can be
used.
If the DAX function is introduced in Excel 2016, the same will be mentioned here. (Rest of the
DAX functions exist in Excel 2013.)

Syntax
In the Syntax section, you will learn the exact function name and the respective parameters.

21
DAX Functions

 DAX function name is given in UPPERCASE letters.



 DAX function name is followed by opening parenthesis.

 Each parameter follows standard DAX parameter naming convention and is enclosed
in angle brackets.
 If a parameter is optional, it is further enclosed in square brackets.

 The parameters are separated by commas.

 Ellipses … are used to show an optional number of repetitions of parameters.

 The function syntax ends with closing parenthesis.

Example

Parameters
In the Parameters section, each of the parameters of the specific DAX function is listed in a
table with its description. For example, the parameters of the above example DAX function
SELECTCOLUMNS is listed in the following table.

Parameter Description

Table Table or a DAX expression that returns a table.

Name The name given to the column, enclosed in double quotes.

DAX expression that returns a scalar value like a column reference,


scalar_expression
integer, or string value.

Return Value
In the Return Value section, you will learn about what value the DAX function will return and
its data type.

22
DAX Functions

Remarks
In the Remarks section, you will learn about any extra information that you need to know
about the usage of the DAX function. You will also understand the potential errors and the
reasons.

Example
An example of the usage of the DAX function is given in this section.

Note: When you write DAX functions with the data values for the parameters, you will follow
the naming conventions as given below:

 A Table name is specified as it appears in the Data Model. E.g. Sales.

 A Column name is specified as it appears in the Data Model with square brackets
enclosing it.

For example, [Sales Amount]

o It is recommended to use fully qualified names for columns, i.e. a column name is
prefixed with the table name that contains it.
For example, Sales[Sales Amount].

o If the table name contains spaces, it should be enclosed in single quotes.

For example, ‘East Sales’[Sales Amount]


 A DAX function can return a column or table of values, in which case, it needs to be
used as a parameter of another DAX function that requires a column or table.

23
DAX Functions

DAX Aggregation Functions

24
4. DAX AGGREGATE FUNCTIONS ─ OVDAEXR Fu

DAX Aggregation functions aggregate any expression over the rows of a table and are useful
in calculations.
Following are the DAX Aggregation functions:

 DAX ADDCOLUMNS function


 DAX AVERAGE function DAX
 AVERAGEA function DAX
 AVERAGEX function DAX
 COUNT function DAX
 COUNTA function DAX
 COUNTAX function DAX
 COUNTBLANK function DAX
 COUNTROWS function DAX
 COUNTX function DAX
 CROSSJOIN function DAX
 DISTINCTCOUNT function
 DAX GENERATE function
 DAX GENERATEALL function
 DAX MAX function DAX
 MAXA function DAX MAXX
 function DAX MIN function
 DAX MINA function DAX
 MINX function DAX
 PRODUCT function DAX
 PRODUCTX function DAX
 ROW function DAX
 SELECTCOLUMNS function
 DAX SUM function DAX
 SUMMARIZE function DAX
 SUMMARIZE function with
 Options

25
DAX Functions

 DAX SUMX function


 DAX TOPN function

26
5. DAX FUNCTIONS ─ ADDCOLUMNS

Description
Adds calculated columns to the given table or table expression.

Syntax
ADDCOLUMNS (<table>, <name>, <expression>, [<name>, <expression>] …)

Parameters
Parameter Description

table Table or a DAX expression that returns a table.

name The name given to the column, enclosed in double quotes.

DAX expression that returns a scalar expression, evaluated for each


expression
row of table.

Return Value
A table with all its original columns and the added ones.

Remarks
--

Example
=ADDCOLUMNS (

Products,"East_Sales", SUMX (RELATEDTABLE(East_Sales),

IF([Product]=East_Sales[Product],

East_Sales[Sales Amount],0)

27
6. DAX FUNCTIONS ─ AVERAGE

Description
Returns the average (arithmetic mean) of all the numbers in a column.

Syntax
AVERAGE (<column>)

Parameters
Parameter Description

The column that contains the numbers for which you want the
Column
average.

Return Value
Returns a decimal number that represents the arithmetic mean of the numbers in the column.

Remarks
 If the column contains logical values or empty cells, those values are ignored and the
rows are not counted.

Cells with the value zero are included and the rows are counted for the divisor.

 Whenever there are no rows to aggregate, the function returns a blank. However, if

there are rows, but none of them meet the specified criteria, the function returns 0.

Example
=AVERAGE (Sales[Sales Amount])

28
7. DAX FUNCTIONS ─ AVERAGEA

Description
Returns the average (arithmetic mean) of the values in a column. Handles text and non-
numeric values.

Syntax
AVERAGEA (<column>)

Parameters
Parameter Description

column The column that contains the values for which you want the average.

Return Value
Returns a decimal number.

Remarks
The AVERAGEA function takes a column and averages the numbers in it and handles non-
numeric data types according to the following rules:

 Values that evaluate to TRUE count as 1.


 Values that evaluate to FALSE count as 0 (zero).
 Values that contain non-numeric text count as 0 (zero).
 Empty text ("") counts as 0 (zero).

Example
=AVERAGEA (East_Sales[Sales Amount])

29
8. DAX FUNCTIONS ─ AVERAGEX

Description
Calculates the average (arithmetic mean) of a set of expressions evaluated over a table.

Syntax
AVERAGEX (<table>, <expression>)

Parameters
Parameter Description

Name of a table, or an expression that specifies the table over which


table
the aggregation can be performed.

An expression with a scalar result, which will be evaluated for each


expression
row of the table in the first argument.

Return Value
A decimal number.

Remarks
The AVERAGEX function enables you to evaluate expressions for each row of a table, and then
take the resulting set of values and calculate its arithmetic mean. Therefore, the function takes
a table as its first argument and an expression as the second argument.
In all other respects, AVERAGEX follows the same rules as AVERAGE. You cannot include non-
numeric or null cells.

Example
=AVERAGEX (East_Sales,East_Sales[Unit Price]*East_Sales[No. of Units])

30
9. DAX FUNCTIONS ─ COUNT DAX Functions

Description
Counts the number of cells in a column that contain numbers.

Syntax
COUNT (<column>)

Parameters
Parameter Description

column The column that contains the numbers to be counted.

Return Value
Returns a whole number.

Remarks
You can use columns containing any type of data, but only numbers are counted. The COUNT
function counts the rows that contain the following kinds of values:
 Numbers
 Dates

If the row contains text that cannot be translated into a number, the row is not counted.
When the function finds no rows to count, it returns a blank. When there are rows, but none
of them meet the specified criteria, then the function returns 0.

Example
=COUNT (ProductInventory[UnitsBalance])

31
10. DAX FUNCTIONS ─ COUNTA

Description
Counts the number of cells in a column that are not empty. It counts not just the rows that
contain numeric values, but also the rows that contain nonblank values, including text, dates,
and logical values.

Syntax
COUNTA (<column>)

Parameters
Parameter Description

column The column that contains the values to be counted.

Return Value
Returns a whole number.

Remarks
When the function does not find any rows to count, the function returns a blank. When there
are rows, but none of them meet the specified criteria, then the function returns 0.

Example
=COUNTA (ProductInventory[UsageDate])

32
11. DAX FUNCTIONS ─ COUNTAX

Description
Counts nonblank results when evaluating the result of an expression over a table. That is, it
works just like the COUNTA function, however it is used to iterate through the rows in a table
and count rows where the specified expressions result in a nonblank result.

Syntax
COUNTAX (<table>, <expression>)

Parameters
Parameter Description

The table containing the rows for which the expression will be
table
evaluated.

expression The expression to be evaluated for each row of the table.

Return Value
A whole number.

Remarks
The COUNTAX function counts the cells containing any type of information, including other
expressions. For example, if the column contains an expression that evaluates to an empty
string, the COUNTAX function treats that result as nonblank. Usually, the COUNTAX function
does not count empty cells but in this case the cell contains a formula, so it is counted.
Whenever the function finds no rows to aggregate, the function returns a blank. However, if
there are rows, but none of them meet the specified criteria, the function returns 0.

Example
Medal Count Summer Sports:=COUNTAX (

FILTER (Results, Results[Season]="Summer"),


Results[Medal])

33
12. DAX FUNCTIONS ─ COUNTBLANK

Description
Counts the number of blank cells in a column.

Syntax
COUNTBLANK (<column>)

Parameters
Parameter Description

column The column that contains the blank cells to be counted.

Return Value
A whole number. If there are no blank rows, blank is returned.

Example
=COUNTBLANK(Results[Medal])

34
13. DAX FUNCTIONS ─ COUNTROWS
DAX Functions

Description
Counts the number of rows in the specified table, or in a table defined by an expression.

Syntax
COUNTROWS (<table>)

Parameters
Term Definition

The name of the table that contains the rows to be counted, or an


table
expression that returns a table.

Return Value
Returns a whole number.

Remarks
This function can be used to count the number of rows in a base table, but more often is used
to count the number of rows that result from filtering a table, or applying a context to a table.

Example
=COUNTROWS (CALENDAR (DATE (2016,8,1), DATE (2016,10,31))) returns 92.

=COUNTROWS (Results) returns 34094.

=COUNTROWS (Events) returns 995.

Remarks
You can use columns containing any type of data, but only blank cells are counted. Cells that
have the value zero (0) are not counted, as zero is considered a numeric value and not a
blank.

Example
=COUNTBLANK (SalesTarget[SalesTarget])

35
14. DAX FUNCTIONS ─ COUNTX
DAX Functions

Description
Counts the number of rows that contain a number or an expression that evaluates to a
number, when evaluating an expression over a table.

Syntax
COUNTX (<table>, <expression>)

Parameters
Parameter Description

table The table containing the rows to be counted.

expression An expression that returns the numbers you want to count.

Return Value
Returns a whole number.

Remarks
The COUNTX function counts only numeric values or dates. Parameters that are logical values
or text that cannot be translated into numbers are not counted.
If the function finds no rows to count, it returns a blank. When there are rows, but none meets
the specified criteria, then the function returns 0.

Example
=COUNTX (RELATEDTABLE (East_Sales), IF ([Product]=East_Sales[Product],1,0))

36
15. DAX FUNCTIONS ─ CROSSJOIN
DAX Functions

Description
Returns a table that contains the Cartesian product of all rows from all tables in the
parameters. The columns in the new table are all the columns in all the parameter tables.

Syntax
CROSSJOIN (<table1>, <table2>, [<table3>] …)

Parameters
Parameter Description

table1 Table or a DAX expression that returns a table.

table2 Table or a DAX expression that returns a table.

Optional.
table3
Table or a DAX expression that returns a table.

Return Value
Returns a table that contains the Cartesian product of all rows from all tables in the
parameters. The columns in the new table are all the columns in all the parameter tables.

Remarks
 Column names from table parameters must all be different in all tables or an error is
 returned.
 The total number of rows in the result table is the product of the number of rows from
 all tables in the parameters.
 The total number of columns in the result table is the sum of the number of columns
from all tables in the parameters.

For example, if table1 has r1 rows and c1 columns, table2 has r2 rows and c2 columns,
and table3 has r3 rows and c3 columns, then the resulting table will have -

37
DAX Functions

r1 × r2 × r3 rows and c1 + c2 + c3 columns

Example
=CROSSJOIN (Salesperson,Products)

38
16. DAX FUNCTIONS ─ DISTINCTCOUNT
DAX Functions

Description
Counts the distinct values in a column.

Syntax
DISTINCTCOUNT (<column>)

Parameters
Parameter Description

column The column that contains the values to be counted.

Return Value
A whole number.

Remarks
You can use columns containing any type of data. When the function finds no rows to count,
it returns a blank.

Example
=DISTINCTCOUNT (Sales[Account])

39
17. DAX FUNCTIONS ─ GENERATE

Description
Returns a table with the Cartesian product between each row in table1 and the table that
results from evaluating table2 in the context of the current row from table1.

Syntax
GENERATE (<table1>, <table2>)

Parameters
Parameter Description

table1 Table or a DAX expression that returns a table.

table2 Table or a DAX expression that returns a table.

Return Value
A table that can be passed as a parameter to a DAX function.

Remarks
 If the evaluation of table2 for the current row in table1 returns an empty table, then
the result table will not contain the current row from table1. This is different than
GENERATEALL () where the current row from table1 will be included in the results, and
columns corresponding to table2 will have null values for that row.

All column names from table1 and table2 must be different or an error is returned.

Example
=GENERATE (

SUMMARIZE(Salesperson,Salesperson[Salesperson]),
SUMMARIZE(SalesTarget,SalesTarget[SalesTarget],"MaxTarget",MAX(SalesTar
get[SalesTarget])))

40
18. DAX FUNCTIONS ─ GENERATEALL

Description
Returns a table with the Cartesian product between each row in table1 and the table that
results from evaluating table2 in the context of the current row from table1.

Syntax
GENERATEALL (<table1>, <table2>)

Parameters
Parameter Description

table1 Table or a DAX expression that returns a table.

table2 Table or a DAX expression that returns a table.

Return Value
Returns a table with the Cartesian product between each row in table1 and the table that
results from evaluating table2 in the context of the current row from table1.

Remarks
 If the evaluation of table2 for the current row in table1 returns an empty table, then
the current row from table1 will be included in the results, and columns corresponding
to table2 will have null values for that row. This is different than GENERATE () where
the current row from table1 will not be included in the results in such a case.
 All column names from table1 and table2 must be different or an error is returned.

Example
=GENERATEALL (

SUMMARIZE(Salesperson,Salesperson[Salesperson]),
SUMMARIZE(SalesTarget,SalesTarget[SalesTarget],"MaxTarget",MAX(SalesTar
get[SalesTarget])))

41
19. DAX FUNCTIONS ─ MAX

Description
Returns the largest numeric value in a column.

Syntax
MAX (<column>)

Parameters
Parameter Description

column The column in which you want to find the largest numeric value.

Return Value
A decimal number.

Remarks
The following types of values in the column are considered:
 Numbers
 Dates

Empty cells, logical values, and text are ignored.

Example
=MAX (Sales[Sales Amount])

42
20. DAX FUNCTIONS ─ MAXA

Description
Returns the largest value in a column.

Syntax
MAXA (<column>)

Parameters
Parameter Description

column The column in which you want to find the largest value.

Return Value
Returns a decimal number.

Remarks
The MAXA function takes as argument a column, and looks for the largest value among the
following types of values:

 Numbers

 Dates

Logical values, such as TRUE and FALSE. Rows that evaluate to TRUE count as 1 and

rows that evaluate to FALSE count as 0 (zero).

Empty cells are ignored. If the column contains no values that can be used, MAXA returns 0
(zero).

Example
=MAXA (ProductInventory[UsageDate])

43
21. DAX FUNCTIONS ─ MAXX

Description
Evaluates an expression for each row of a table and returns the largest numeric value.

Syntax
MAXX (<table>, <expression>)

Parameters

Parameter Description

The table containing the rows for which the expression will be
table
evaluated.

The expression to be evaluated for each row of the table that returns
expression
a numeric value.

Return Value
Returns a decimal number.

Remarks
Of the values to evaluate, only the following are counted:
 Numbers. If the expression does not evaluate to a number, MAXX returns 0 (zero).
 Dates.

Empty cells, logical values, and text values are ignored.

Example
=MAXX (East_Sales,East_Sales[No. of Units]*East_Sales[Unit Price])

44
22. DAX FUNCTIONS ─ MIN

Description
Returns the smallest numeric value in a column.

Syntax
MIN (<column>)

Parameters

Parameter Description

column The column in which you want to find the smallest numeric value.

Return Value
A decimal number.

Remarks
The following types of values in the column are considered:
 Numbers
 Dates

Empty cells, logical values and text are ignored.

Example
=MIN (Sales[Sales Amount])

45
Thank you

Shwetank Singh
GritSetGrow - GSGLearn.com

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