Some time in the past I used to be engaged on a Energy BI challenge which the shopper wished to outline a brand new desk straight within the mannequin. The best technique to obtain this in Energy BI Desktop is to “Enter Information” which creates a brand new desk by typing or pasting in new contents. I used to be pondering of that challenge the opposite day and thought, hey, how we are able to do the identical in SSAS Tabular when there is no such thing as a Energy Question (M) language out there in SSAS Tabular 2016. The excellent news is that Energy Question will probably be out there within the subsequent model of SSAS Tabular in SQL Server vNext. However, till then a workaround could be coming into information to a CSV file then load it to the mannequin. One other manner is to implement customized tables in DAX in SQL Server 2016 Tabular fashions utilizing Desk and Row Constructors. On this put up I present you a manner of making customized desk in SSAS Tabular utilizing desk constructors in DAX. You are able to do the identical in Energy BI as the identical precept applies. Subsequently, in case you’d favor to not use “Enter Information” function which successfully makes use of Energy Question to create a brand new desk in Energy BI Desktop, then you should utilize DAX to do the identical.
If don’t have already got SQL Server 2016 it’s most likely time to obtain and set up it. I exploit AdventureWorksDW as pattern database on this article.
You might be concerned with an SSAS Tabular challenge and the shopper requested for a report in Energy BI with dynamic Card in order that the values proven within the Card visible ought to dynamically change based mostly on chosen measure from a slicer. You’ve got a number of totally different measures within the mannequin and the shopper needs to indicate a few of them dynamically in just one Card visible. Think about you’ve gotten the next measures to be proven within the Card:
- Complete Web Gross sales
- Web Gross sales in 2014
- Complete Variety of Web Gross sales Transactions
It’s a must to create a logic in order that the customers can chosen any of the above measures to indicate in a single Card visible.
After you meet the necessities, you’re good to start out implementing the above state of affairs in SQL Server Information Instrument (SSDT). Making a calculated desk in SSAS Tabular 2016 is pretty straightforward. All we have to do is to create a customized desk with two columns. One column shops pleasant names for measures and the opposite one holds DAX expressions for the measures. As you may need observed, I’m speaking about making a customized desk in DAX and populating it with values. Proceed studying to see how. What we’re going to do is to create a calculated desk utilizing desk constructors in DAX. Desk and Row Constructors weren’t out there in earlier variations of DAX in SSAS Tabular. They’re similar to Lists or a listing of Tuples similar to what we’ve got in MDX.
I’ll clarify this later once we created our pattern mannequin in SSDT.
Create a New SSAS Tabular Undertaking in SSDT
As I acknowledged earlier than SSAS Tabular 2016 is required to implement the next methodology. The reason being that we’ve got to create a calculated desk in our mannequin and calculated desk is NOT out there in prior variations of SSAS Tabular.
- Open SSDT
- Create a brand new SSAS Tabular challenge
- Click on “Built-in workspace” and click on OK
- Click on “Mannequin” menu then click on “Import from Information Supply”
- Enter SQL Server identify then choose AdventureWorksDW and click on Subsequent
- Enter “Impersonation Info” then click on Subsequent
- Persist with the default then click on Subsequent
- Choose “FactInternetSales” and “DimDate” then click on End
Up to now we created an SSAS Tabular challenge in SSDT 2015 and loaded FactInternetSales to the mannequin.
Create Wanted Measures
On this state of affairs we have to create 3 new measures as follows:
Complete Web Gross sales := SUM ( 'FactInternetSales'[SalesAmount] )
Web Gross sales In 2014 := CALCULATE(SUM( 'FactInternetSales'[SalesAmount] ), 'DimDate'[CalendarYear] = 2014)
Complete Variety of Web Gross sales Transactions := COUNTROWS ( 'FactInternetSales' )
Create a Customized Desk Utilizing Desk and Row Constructors DAX
Making a Calculated Desk in SSDT is comparatively straightforward. We simply have to click on the corresponding button and create a brand new desk utilizing desk and row constructors. Let me clarify Desk and Row Constructors just a little bit.
Desk Constructor in DAX
Desk constructor is a brand new function in DAX which is admittedly cool. To assemble a desk, we have to put the values in curly brackets. As an example, to create a desk of “Blue”, Orange”, “Pink” we simply want to write down the next:
{“Blue”, “Orange”, “Pink”}
To see the way it works in DAX:
- In SSDT, proper click on the mannequin from “Resolution Explorer” and click on “Properties”
- Copy workspace server from SSDT
- Open SQL Server Administration Studio 2016 (SSMS)
- Connect with the native occasion of SSAS Tabular by pasting the workspace server Deal with you copied from SSDT
- Open a brand new MDX question and run the next DAX question
EVALUATE
{"RED", "BLUE","ORANGE"}
Sure, you ran a DAX question in an MDX question editor as no DAX question editor at present out there in SSMS.
The end result exhibits a desk of Blue, Orange and Pink.
Row Constructor in DAX
To assemble a row, we are able to put the values in parenthesis after which encapsulate the entire in curly brackets like {(“Blue”, Orange”, “Pink”)}. Run the next DAX question in SSMS to see the outcomes:
EVALUATE
{("Blue", "Orange", "Pink")}
Combining Desk and Row Constructors in DAX
Now that you just received the concept the best way to assemble a desk or a row, it’s straightforward to mix these two collectively. Run the next DAX question in SSMS.
EVALUATE
{("Banana", "Yellow"), ("Cucumber", "Inexperienced")}
As you possibly can see, there are column names which added mechanically. However, they don’t seem to be actually helpful. So let’s put some significant names on the columns. We are able to simply use SELECTCOLUMNS() perform in DAX to attain this. Run the next DAX question and see the outcomes:
EVALUATE
SELECTCOLUMNS(
{("Banana", "Yellow"), ("Cucumber", "Inexperienced")}
, "Fruit Identify", [Value1]
, "Color", [Value2]
)
Sensible.
Now let’s implement our state of affairs utilizing the above method. What we have to do is to create a customized desk containing measure names and the precise measures themselves. Copy, paste and run the next DAX question in SSMS:
It’s attention-grabbing isn’t it? What the above question does is that it runs the specific measures we outlined earlier and put the ends in a desk.
The following step is to rename the columns utilizing SELECTCOLUMNS(). The question beneath does the job:
Let’s get again to our answer in SSDT and create a calculated desk utilizing the above method.
Creating Calculated Desk in SSAS Tabular
- Change again to the SSAS tabular answer in SSDT and click on
to create a calculated desk
- Copy and paste the next DAX expression
=SELECTCOLUMNS(
{("Complete Web Gross sales", [Total Internet Sales])
, ("Web Gross sales In 2014", [Internet Sales In 2014])
, ("Complete Variety of Web Gross sales Transactions", [Total Number of Internet Sales Transactions])}
, "Measure Identify", [Value1]
, "Measure Outcomes", [Value2]
)
- You’ll be able to rename the calculated desk by double clicking within the desk tab
Up to now we efficiently created a calculated desk containing our measure names and their values.
Keep in mind: We supposed to indicate dynamic measures in a single Card visible within the out visualisation. The presentation layer might be Energy BI, Excel and so forth.
To have the ability to obtain the objective of displaying the measures dynamically we have to create a brand new measure which principally exhibits the values of a particular measure by the top consumer.
- Create a brand new measure and replica/paste the next DAX expression:
Dynamic Measure:= CALCULATE(VALUES('Dynamic Card'[Measure Results])
, filter(ALLSELECTED('Dynamic Card'[Measure Name])
, 'Dynamic Card'[Measure Name]=[Measure Name]))
You’ll get the next error instantly after you create the brand new measure:
“MdxScript(Mannequin) (1, 59) Calculation error in measure ‘Dynamic Card'[Dynamic Measure]: A desk of a number of values was provided the place a single worth was anticipated.”
The explanation we get the above error message is that we’re passing a number of values to the measure moderately than a single worth within the filter half. We are able to put a relentless worth within the filter, however, it isn’t what we would like. Trying on the DAX expression you’ll shortly see that we’ve used ALLSELECTED() to filter the values based mostly on regardless of the finish consumer selects within the report. So we have to put a Slicer on the report later. So don’t fear concerning the error message. However, keep in mind that the consumer ought to choose just one worth from the Slicer, so we’ll have to setup the Slicer as single choose.
Let’s browse our SSAS Tabular mannequin in Excel.
Looking SSAS Tabular in Excel
You’ll be able to simply browse the mannequin in Excel to check the performance we’re in search of.
- Click on on the Excel button on SSDT to open Excel and browse the mannequin
Notice: You’ll have to have Microsoft Excel put in in your machine to have the ability to browse your mannequin in Excel.
- Click on OK on the “Analyse in Excel” window
- Click on “Dynamic Measure”
- You’ll instantly get an error message
- Proper click on “Measure Identify” from fields checklist and click on “Add as Slicer”
- Now choose an merchandise within the slicer
And that is what you get… Success!
Connect with SSAS Tabular from Energy BI
- Open Energy BI Desktop
- Get information from SQL Server Evaluation Companies
- Use workspace server from SSDT as server identify (you learnt how to try this earlier on this article. Briefly, you will discover it within the mannequin properties)
- Reside hook up with the mannequin
- Put a automotive visible on the report and tick “Dynamic Measures”
- You’ll get an error message, you already know that
- Add a Slicer to the report then choose “Measure Identify”
- Choose an Merchandise from the Slicer
Formatting the Dynamic Measures
Up to now we achieved the objective, however, as you possibly can see the end result isn’t that informative and helpful. When you choose totally different gadgets from the slicer the worth proven within the Card visible isn’t that informative by itself. So let’s add some formatting to the “Dynamic Measure”. To take action, we have to modify the DAX expression we used to assemble our calculated desk.
- Change again to SSDT
- Click on “Dynamic Card” tab and modify the DAX expression as beneath
= SELECTCOLUMNS( {("Complete Web Gross sales", FORMAT([Total Internet Sales], "Forex")) , ("Web Gross sales In 2014", FORMAT([Internet Sales In 2014], "Forex")) , ("Complete Variety of Web Gross sales Transactions", FORMAT([Total Number of Internet Sales Transactions] ,"0,0"))} , "Measure Identify", [Value1] , "Measure Outcomes", [Value2] )
- Change again to Energy BI Desktop and refresh information
- That appears good, however, when you’ve got OCD like me you then’d favor to make use of the next DAX expression which provides some textual content to the measure to make it self explanatory
- Refresh information once more in Energy BI Desktop and here’s what you get
- Set “Phrase wrap” to “On” for Card visible
The job is finished!
This might my final put up in 2016, so I want you all an exquisite and blissful Christmas.
See you subsequent 12 months!
