Creating Customized Desk in SSAS Tabular utilizing Desk and Row Constructors in DAX

Some time in the past I used to be engaged on a Energy BI challenge which the client needed to outline a brand new desk immediately within the mannequin. The simplest strategy to obtain this in Energy BI Desktop is to “Enter Knowledge” which creates a brand new desk by typing or pasting in new contents. I used to be considering of that challenge the opposite day and thought, hey, how we will do the identical in SSAS Tabular when there is no such thing as a Energy Question (M) language obtainable in SSAS Tabular 2016. The excellent news is that Energy Question will likely be obtainable within the subsequent model of SSAS Tabular in SQL Server vNext. However, till then a workaround could be coming into knowledge to a CSV file then load it to the mannequin. One other approach is to implement customized tables in DAX in SQL Server 2016 Tabular fashions utilizing Desk and Row Constructors. On this publish I present you a approach 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 Knowledge” characteristic which successfully makes use of Energy Question to create a brand new desk in Energy BI Desktop, then you need to use 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 take advantage of AdventureWorksDW as pattern database on this article.

You’re concerned with an SSAS Tabular challenge and the client 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 gotten a number of completely different measures within the mannequin and the client desires to point out a few of them dynamically in just one Card visible. Take into account you may have 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 important to create a logic in order that the customers can chosen any of the above measures to point out in a single Card visible.

After you meet the necessities, you’re good to begin implementing the above state of affairs in SQL Server Knowledge Instrument (SSDT). Making a calculated desk in SSAS Tabular 2016 is pretty simple. 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 seen, 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 obtainable in earlier variations of DAX in SSAS Tabular. They’re similar to Lists or a listing of Tuples identical to what now we have in MDX.

I’ll clarify this later once we created our pattern mannequin in SSDT.

Create a New SSAS Tabular Venture in SSDT

As I said earlier than SSAS Tabular 2016 is required to implement the next technique. The reason being that now we have to create a calculated desk in our mannequin and calculated desk is NOT obtainable 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 Knowledge Supply”
• Enter SQL Server title then choose AdventureWorksDW and click on Subsequent

• Enter “Impersonation Data” then click on Subsequent

• Persist with the default then click on Subsequent
• Choose “FactInternetSales” and “DimDate” then click on End

Thus far 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 simple. 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 a little bit bit.

Desk Constructor in DAX

Desk constructor is a brand new characteristic in DAX which is absolutely cool. To assemble a desk, we have to put the values in curly brackets.  For example, to create a desk of “Blue”, Orange”, “Pink” we simply want to jot 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 Tackle 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 presently obtainable in SSMS.

The end result exhibits a desk of Blue, Orange and Pink.

Row Constructor in DAX

To assemble a row, we will 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 simply acquired the thought assemble a desk  or a row, it’s simple to mix these two collectively. Run the next DAX question in SSMS.

EVALUATE
    {("Banana", "Yellow"), ("Cucumber", "Inexperienced")}

As you’ll be able to see, there are column names which added routinely. However, they aren’t actually helpful. So let’s put some significant names on the columns. We are able to simply use SELECTCOLUMNS() perform in DAX to realize this. Run the next DAX question and see the outcomes:

EVALUATE
    SELECTCOLUMNS(
       {("Banana", "Yellow"), ("Cucumber", "Inexperienced")}
       , "Fruit Title", [Value1]
       , "Color", [Value2]
       )

Good.

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 fascinating isn’t it? What the above question does is that it runs the specific measures we outlined earlier and put the leads to a desk.

The subsequent step is to rename the columns utilizing SELECTCOLUMNS(). The question under 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 Title", [Value1]
             , "Measure Outcomes", [Value2]
             )

• You’ll be able to rename the calculated desk by double clicking within the desk tab

Thus far we efficiently created a calculated desk containing our measure names and their values.

Bear in mind: We supposed to point out dynamic measures in a single Card visible within the out visualisation. The presentation layer may be Energy BI, Excel and many others.

To have the ability to obtain the purpose of exhibiting the measures dynamically we have to create a brand new measure which mainly exhibits the values of a particular measure by the top consumer.

• Create a brand new measure and duplicate/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 equipped 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 fairly than a single worth within the filter half. We are able to put a continuing worth within the filter, however, it isn’t what we wish. Wanting on the DAX expression you’ll rapidly 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 in regards to 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.

Searching SSAS Tabular in Excel

You’ll be able to simply browse the mannequin in Excel to check the performance we’re searching for.

• 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 Title” 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 knowledge from SQL Server Evaluation Companies
• Use workspace server from SSDT as server title (you learnt how to do this earlier on this article. In brief, you will discover it within the mannequin properties)
• Dwell hook up with the mannequin
• Put a automobile visible on the report and tick “Dynamic Measures”
• You’ll get an error message, you realize that
• Add a Slicer to the report then choose “Measure Title”
• Choose an Merchandise from the Slicer

Formatting the Dynamic Measures

Thus far we achieved the purpose, however, as you’ll be able to see the end result shouldn’t be that informative and helpful. When you choose completely different objects from the slicer the worth proven within the Card visible shouldn’t be 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 under

=  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 Title", [Value1]              , "Measure Outcomes", [Value2]           )

• Change again to Energy BI Desktop and refresh knowledge

• That appears good, however, you probably have OCD like me then you definitely’d favor to make use of the next DAX expression which provides some textual content to the measure to make it self explanatory

• Refresh knowledge once more in Energy BI Desktop and here’s what you get
• Set “Phrase wrap” to “On” for Card visible

The job is completed!

This might my final publish in 2016, so I want you all an exquisite and comfortable Christmas.

See you subsequent yr!