Forum Discussion
Helper VCant see code on columns since upgrade
Hi, I used to be able to click on a column and I could see the code in the formula bar but since im on the latest version, I cant do this, any ideas why not?
Hi dommyw277 ,
This is a common moment of panic after an update! If you are clicking on a column and the Formula Bar is either missing or empty, it is usually due to one of two things.
Here is the checklist to get your code back:
1. Is the Formula Bar turned on? Sometimes updates (or accidental clicks) toggle this setting off.
Go to the View tab in the top ribbon.
Look for the Show section.
Ensure Formula Bar is checked.
2. Is it actually a "Calculated Column"? This is the most common reason.
Native Columns: If the column comes directly from your data source (SQL, Excel, etc.), the formula bar will always be blank (or show just the column name) because there is no DAX code behind it.
Calculated Columns: These will have a distinct icon (a grid with a small fx or calculator symbol depending on your theme) and will show the DAX code.
Check: Try clicking on a Measure (calculator icon). Does the code appear? If yes, then your Formula Bar is working, and the column you were clicking just happens to be a standard column.
3. Are you in the right View?
If you want to see the M Code (Power Query logic) for the column: You must click Transform Data to open the Power Query Editor. You cannot see the M source code in the main Desktop view.
Summary: If the bar itself is gone, check the View tab. If the bar is there but empty, you are likely clicking a standard source column rather than a calculated one.
If my response resolved your query, kindly mark it as the Accepted Solution to assist others. Additionally, I would be grateful for a 'Kudos' if you found my response helpful.
This response was assisted by AI for translation and formatting purposes.
10 Replies
- burakkaragoz
Super User
Hi dommyw277 ,
This is a common moment of panic after an update! If you are clicking on a column and the Formula Bar is either missing or empty, it is usually due to one of two things.
Here is the checklist to get your code back:
1. Is the Formula Bar turned on? Sometimes updates (or accidental clicks) toggle this setting off.
Go to the View tab in the top ribbon.
Look for the Show section.
Ensure Formula Bar is checked.
2. Is it actually a "Calculated Column"? This is the most common reason.
Native Columns: If the column comes directly from your data source (SQL, Excel, etc.), the formula bar will always be blank (or show just the column name) because there is no DAX code behind it.
Calculated Columns: These will have a distinct icon (a grid with a small fx or calculator symbol depending on your theme) and will show the DAX code.
Check: Try clicking on a Measure (calculator icon). Does the code appear? If yes, then your Formula Bar is working, and the column you were clicking just happens to be a standard column.
3. Are you in the right View?
If you want to see the M Code (Power Query logic) for the column: You must click Transform Data to open the Power Query Editor. You cannot see the M source code in the main Desktop view.
Summary: If the bar itself is gone, check the View tab. If the bar is there but empty, you are likely clicking a standard source column rather than a calculated one.
If my response resolved your query, kindly mark it as the Accepted Solution to assist others. Additionally, I would be grateful for a 'Kudos' if you found my response helpful.
This response was assisted by AI for translation and formatting purposes.
dommyw277Hi:
burakkaragoz wrote:Hi dommyw277 ,
This is a common moment of panic after an update! If you are clicking on a column and the Formula Bar is either missing or empty, it is usually due to one of two things.
Here is the checklist to get your code back:
1. Is the Formula Bar turned on? Sometimes updates (or accidental clicks) toggle this setting off.
Go to the View tab in the top ribbon.
Look for the Show section.
Ensure Formula Bar is checked.
2. Is it actually a "Calculated Column"? This is the most common reason.
Native Columns: If the column comes directly from your data source (SQL, Excel, etc.), the formula bar will always be blank (or show just the column name) because there is no DAX code behind it.
Calculated Columns: These will have a distinct icon (a grid with a small fx or calculator symbol depending on your theme) and will show the DAX code.
Check: Try clicking on a Measure (calculator icon). Does the code appear? If yes, then your Formula Bar is working, and the column you were clicking just happens to be a standard column.
3. Are you in the right View?
If you want to see the M Code (Power Query logic) for the column: You must click Transform Data to open the Power Query Editor. You cannot see the M source code in the main Desktop view.
Summary: If the bar itself is gone, check the View tab. If the bar is there but empty, you are likely clicking a standard source column rather than a calculated one.
If my response resolved your query, kindly mark it as the Accepted Solution to assist others. Additionally, I would be grateful for a 'Kudos' if you found my response helpful.
This response was assisted by AI for translation and formatting purposes.There is no Formula bar opition under View
- MasonMA
It looks like an AI-generated answer without validations 😞
- MasonMA
Hi,
If you are referring to the M code in Power Query, you would need to click the 'Applied Steps' with 'Formular bar' box checked under 'View'.
If you meant 'Calculated Columns' in Power BI, you would be able to see the DAX code in both 'Report view', 'Model view' and 'Table view' by clicking the columns.
Hi dommyw277,
Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft fabric community forum.
This is expected behaviour in the latest Power BI, nothing is missing.there are two different places where “formula bar” is used, which is causing the confusion.
If you are looking for M code, you need to click Transform Data and go into Power Query Editor.There, under View, enable Formula bar. This option exists only inside Power Query. If you are talking about DAX, the formula bar will show only for Measures or Calculated Columns. For normal columns coming from the source Excel, SQL, etc., the formula bar will be blank because there is no DAX behind them.
In recent versions, there is no Formula Bar toggle under View for DAX. It appears automatically when you select a measure or calculated column.
So this is just UI behaviour, not a bug.
Kindly refer to the below documentation links for better understanding:
Use the ribbon in Power BI Desktop - Power BI | Microsoft Learn
The Power Query user interface - Power Query | Microsoft Learn
Hope the above provided information help you resolve the issue, if you have any further concerns or queries, please feel free to reach out to us.
Regards,
Community Support team.Hi dommyw277,
I hope the information provided above assists you in resolving the issue. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to support you and will be happy to help with any further assistance you may need.
Regards,
Community Support Team.Hi dommyw277,
I hope the above details help you fix the issue. If you still have any questions or need more help, feel free to reach out. We are always here to support you.
Regards,
Community Support Team.
- HarishKM
dommyw277 Hey,
Only measures, calculated columns, and calculated tables have DAX. Imported/source columns won’t show code.
- For calculated columns, go to Data or Model view, select the column to see/edit the DAX.- “On-object interaction” preview changed the UX
- Recent versions don’t auto-open the formula bar on click.
- Select the measure/calculated column, then:
- Press F2 or Alt+Enter, or
- Ribbon > Measure tools/Table tools > fx (Edit DAX), or
- Right‑click the field > Edit DAX.
- Or disable it: File > Options and settings > Options > Preview features > uncheck “On-object interaction”, restart.- You’re in a thin report/live connection
To enable the DAX formula bar, switch to Model view, select a known calculated column/measure, and use Edit DAX. If none of those show code, you’re likely on a live connection/thin report.
Thanks
Haish K
If I resolve your issue. Kindly give kudos to this post and accept it as a solution so other can refer this
AshokKunwarContinued Contributor
Hii dommyw277
If this helped you find your DAX code, please mark this as the Accepted Solution! It helps me reach my goal of 25 solutions and helps others find their missing bars!
