1. WELCOME
Howzit Sawubona

2. PATTERNS FOR NON-NUMERIC MEASURES IN DAX
WHO NEEDS NUMBERS?
PATTERNS FOR NON-NUMERIC MEASURES IN DAX
James McGillivray

3. SESSION OBJECTIVES Understand the Concept Learn the Patterns
What we hope to achieve
Introduction to the idea of Non-Numeric Measures; WHAT they are, WHY they are useful, and WHEN they can be used.
Understand the Concept
Starting with simple BOOLEAN, to complex TOP OF CATEGORY measures, learn the DAX PATTERNS used to add Non-Numeric Measures to your data models.
Learn the Patterns
View Non-Numeric measures in action, with DEMOS in both POWER BI and SSAS TABULAR.
See the Value

4. How we plan to achieve it
AGENDA
How we plan to achieve it
Presenter 1
What 2
Why 3
When 4
Single Value 5
UNDERSTAND
Multiple Values 6
Table
Based 7
SSAS 8
Power BI 9
Questions 10
LEARN
SEE

5. In this slide there is a background placeholder
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About the Presenter

6. FROM SOUTH AFRICA WITH LOVE
About Me
Professional
10 Years BI Experience
Microsoft Certified
SQL User Group Johannesburg, South Africa
Personal
Sport: Cricket, Soccer, Squash, Running Slowly.
Culture: Symphony Choir of Johannesburg, Musical Theatre
Other: Board Games, Poker
James McGillivray / BI Architect
@JamesMcG_MSBI
TheJimmyRSA

7. What is a Non-Numeric Measure?
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What is a
Non-Numeric Measure?

8. WHAT IS A NON-NUMERIC MEASURE?
When numbers just won’t do
WHAT
LEAST
WHERE
WHICH
Measures
WHO
AVERAGE
“..you must define a measure whenever you want to display the resulting calculation values that reflect user selections and see them in the values area of a pivot table, or the plot area of a chart..”
SQLBI
Y/N
T/F
TOTAL
WHEN
MOST

9. WHAT IS A NON-NUMERIC MEASURE?
When numbers just won’t do
Simple Non-Numeric Measures
Complex/Custom Non-Numeric Measures
Measures
How to
What else?
“..you must define a measure whenever you want to display the resulting calculation values that reflect user selections and see them in the values area of a pivot table, or the plot area of a chart..”
SQLBI
Measures can accept any DAX calculation.
To create a non-numeric measure, simply write a DAX calculation which returns a Non-Numeric data type.
Boolean
Simple to implement. Easy to understand.
Date
MIN and MAX both work on dates as on any numeric value.
Text is not aggregate-able. Any Non-Numeric measure which returns a text value has to be custom written.
It’s not yet possible to create image or media type measures. I can imagine situations in which they would add tremendous value, so hopefully one day it will be possible.
A good decision is based on knowledge
not on numbers

10. Why would I use a Non-Numeric Measure?
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Why would I use a
Non-Numeric Measure?

11. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should
WHY WOULD I USE ONE?
Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should
Visualizations are wonderful, but occasionally, the real estate cost of a visual is disproportionate to the value added.
Space is always at a premium
REAL-ESTATE
Non-Numeric Measures do not require any interpretation. Users can quickly assess the information without any possibility of misunderstanding.
The Ultimate Sophistication
ADAPTABLE
SIMPLICITY
All DAX Measures are context specific, and Non-Numeric Measures are no exception. This allows us to add tremendous value to our information delivery.
Context Specific

12. When should I use a Non-Numeric Measure?
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When should I use a
Non-Numeric Measure?

13. There’s a time and place
WHEN SHOULD I USE ONE?
There’s a time and place
Best Performers
Text value indicating the best (or worst) performing item in a group.
Custom KPI
Boolean value representing whether a target was met or not.
Reduce Interpretation
Creativity is the key to success in the great and primary education where our teachers can bring creativity.
Most Recent Occurrence
MAX(Date) shows the most recent date on which the specified event occurred
Bucketing
Group values into descriptive buckets for range based measures.

14. Single Valued Non-Numeric Measures
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Single Valued
Non-Numeric Measures

15. Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler
BASIC DAX FORMULAS
Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler
Boolean
=[Population] >
T/F
Earliest Occurrence
=MIN([Sales Date])
MIN
Most Recent Event
=MAX([Store Opening Date])
MAX

16. Multiple Valued Non-Numeric Measures
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Multiple Valued
Non-Numeric Measures

17. Start and End Ranges per Bucket
BUCKETING
Grouping Wide Ranges of Measure Values
VALUES()
Wrap the calculation in a calculate function because you are using Measures for your filter
CALCULATE()
Hopefully 
Wow Your Customers
Get the distinct list
Start and End Ranges per Bucket
RANGE TABLE
FILTER()
Voila
Compare to the start and end ranges by using &&
Return your useful, context specific, measure.

18. TOP (AND BOTTOM) PERFORMERS
The most practical and useful of Non-Numeric Measures
TOPN
({N-Value}; {Column}; {Measure}; {Sort Order})
MEASURE CAN ONLY RETURN SINGLE VALUE
A measure can only return a single, scalar value, not a table. TOPN can return a table in the case of ties.
Return the top {N} {Column} records based on the {Measure} sorted by the {Sort Order}
TOPN
SINGLE VALUES
#ERROR#
CONCATENATEX
VALUES()
CONCATENATEX
({Table}, {Column}, {Delimiter})
To use distinct values, use the VALUES() function to group on a record.
Concatenate the values in the {column} in {table}, delimited by {delimiter}

19. Context Switching Non-Numeric Measures
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Context Switching
Non-Numeric Measures

20. Pick the Appropriate Path
CONTEXT SWITCHING
Choosing Different Measures Depending on the Filter Context
HASONEVALUE()
HASONEFILTER()
Etc.
Analyze Filter Context
Use Measures within Measures
Pick the Appropriate Path

21. Non-Numeric Measures in SSAS Tabular
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Non-Numeric Measures
in SSAS Tabular

22. DEMO

23. Non-Numeric Measures in Power BI
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Non-Numeric Measures
in Power BI

24. DEMO

25. Questions @JamesMcG_MSBI TheJimmyRSA
In this slide there is a background placeholder. Click to the small icon on the center of the slide and choose an image from computer. When add an image, you must sent it to back with Right Click on Image -> Send to Back -> Send to Back.
Questions
@JamesMcG_MSBI
TheJimmyRSA