Using DAX in Power BI

Prerequisites

Participants should have:

• A working knowledge of Microsoft Power BI.
• Experience creating Power BI reports and dashboards.
• Familiarity with relational data concepts and data modelling principles.
• An understanding of relationships within Power BI semantic models.
• Experience using Microsoft Excel formulas is beneficial.

Target audience

This course is designed for:

• Power BI developers.
• Data analysts.
• Business intelligence developers.
• Report and dashboard developers.
• Data professionals responsible for creating analytical models and reports using Microsoft Power BI.
• Power BI users looking to develop advanced DAX skills for reporting and data analysis.

Using DAX in Power BI Course Content

Module 1: DAX Fundamentals and Evaluation Context

• Understand the role of DAX within Power BI semantic models.
• Explore calculated columns, measures and calculated tables.
• Understand DAX syntax, conventions and formula structure.
• Learn the differences between row context, filter context and query context.
• Explore how evaluation context affects calculation results and report behaviour.

Module 2: Calculations and Aggregations

• Create calculated columns and reusable measures using DAX.
• Apply logical functions including IF and SWITCH.
• Work with aggregation and iterator functions such as DISTINCTCOUNT, SUMX and AVERAGEX.
• Build robust calculations using DIVIDE.
• Improve readability and maintainability using VAR and RETURN.

Module 3: Calendars and Time Intelligence

• Create and manage date tables using CALENDAR and CALENDARAUTO.
• Build date dimensions and hierarchies for time-based reporting.
• Create month-to-date, quarter-to-date and year-to-date calculations.
• Compare periods using DATEADD, PARALLELPERIOD and SAMEPERIODLASTYEAR.
• Work with multiple date relationships using USERELATIONSHIP.

Module 4: Creating Summaries with CALCULATE and SUMMARIZE

• Create dynamic calculations using CALCULATE.
• Build filtered table expressions using CALCULATETABLE.
• Create grouped summary tables using SUMMARIZE and GROUPBY.
• Develop custom aggregations and business-focused measures.
• Understand when to use scalar values and table expressions.

Module 5: Relationship Functions

• Retrieve related data using RELATED and RELATEDTABLE.
• Create calculations across multiple related tables.
• Work with active and inactive relationships in Power BI models.
• Apply USERELATIONSHIP to support alternative date and reporting scenarios.
• Control filter propagation using CROSSFILTER.

Module 6: Filtering and Context Management

• Create advanced filters using FILTER.
• Manage filter behaviour with ALL, ALLEXCEPT and ALLSELECTED.
• Build dynamic calculations using VALUES and SELECTEDVALUE.
• Detect and respond to filter context using ISFILTERED and HASONEVALUE.
• Combine filtering techniques to create responsive analytical measures.

Module 7: Ranking and Analytical Calculations

• Analyse unique values using DISTINCT.
• Create ranked calculations using RANKX.
• Identify top and bottom performers using TOPN.
• Build comparative and positional calculations.
• Develop insights based on relative performance and trend analysis.

Module 8: Parent-Child Hierarchies

• Create hierarchical models using PATH functions.
• Analyse hierarchy membership using PATHCONTAINS.
• Retrieve hierarchy levels using PATHITEM and PATHITEMREVERSE.
• Calculate hierarchy depth using PATHLENGTH.
• Retrieve related values and attributes using LOOKUPVALUE.

Exams and assessments

There are no formal examinations included in this course. Learners reinforce their understanding through practical hands-on labs, instructor-led demonstrations, and real-world reporting scenarios designed to build confidence developing advanced analytical models and calculations using DAX within Power BI.

Hands-on learning

This course includes:

• Practical Microsoft Power BI DAX labs.
• Hands-on exercises creating calculated columns, measures and calculated tables.
• Guided activities using context management, filtering and time intelligence.
• Practical exercises using analytical, ranking and hierarchy functions.
• Real-world business intelligence reporting scenarios.
• Instructor-led demonstrations of Power BI semantic modelling and DAX best practices.