topic Re: Variance calculation in Table or Matrix in DAX Commands and Tips

Variance calculation in Table or Matrix

AnthNC — Fri, 05 May 2023 05:22:35 GMT

Hi everyone

I'm doing a sales comparison report in which the end user can pick any 2 dates in a slicer (2016 and 2021 in below example).

To show the results, I'm trying to achieve this visual made with excel :

In PBI I used a table and a matrix to visualize the results but i can't replicate the excel table above.

1/ TABLE

I went first for a table for which I created 3 measures :

a) SalesTotal_YearOldest = CALCULATE([SalesTotal], FILTER(CALENDRIER, CALENDRIER[Year]=MIN(CALENDRIER[Year] ))) ----- to show 2016 results

b) SalesTotal_YearMostRecent = CALCULATE([SalesTotal], FILTER(CALENDRIER, CALENDRIER[Year]=MAX(CALENDRIER[Year] ))) ----- to show 2021 results

c) Variance = [SalesTotal_YearMostRecent] - [SalesTotal_YearOldest] / [SalesTotal_YearOldest]

Here's the visual :

This table is ok but i can't find a way to have dynamic column headers : YEAR(oldest) would be 2016 and YEAR(most recent) would be 2021 (based on the years picked in the slicer).

I've read many posts on dynamic column headers but it seems it's not possible for tables (unless you have an idea on how to do it ?).

So i opted for a matrix.

2/ MATRIX

Here's the visual without the Variance measure :

Problem is i can't use the Variance measure in that matrix. The measure won't stay in the "Colonnes" field when i try to drag and drop the measure in. And when i put it in the "Valeurs" field, here's what it does :

Can anyone help me out reproducing the screenshot excel table please ?

Here's the data model if it can be of any help :

I hope my explanations are clear and detailed enough.

Thank you 🙏

Re: Variance calculation in Table or Matrix

v-jianboli-msft — Mon, 08 May 2023 03:02:47 GMT

Hi AnthNC ,

Based on your description, I have created a simple example:

Please try:

Measure = var _a = CALCULATE(SUM('Table'[Value]),FILTER('Table',[Year]=MIN('Table'[Year]))) var _b = CALCULATE(SUM('Table'[Value]),FILTER('Table',[Year]=MAX('Table'[Year]))) return IF(ISINSCOPE('Table'[Year]),SUM('Table'[Value]),FORMAT(DIVIDE(_b-_a,_a),"Percent"))

Change the name of column subtotal:

Final output:

Best Regards,

Jianbo Li

If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

Re: Variance calculation in Table or Matrix

AnthNC — Tue, 09 May 2023 04:38:43 GMT

Many thanks Jianbo Li !

I'm finding out about how to use variables in measures. Thanks again

Re: Variance calculation in Table or Matrix

eddiedee — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 00:40:25 GMT

This is a very clear example thanks for that.

Question, I'm computing a numeric rather than percentage variance. In my (very large) dataset there may be instances where the "subcategory" isn't present in a "year". How can I incorporate COALESCE into the above in order to compute a variance where for a given "subcategory", one "year" is BLANK?

I've tried inserting in both the variables and in the IF(INSCOPE line without any success.

subcategory	2016	2018	Variance
a		90	90
b	20	80	60
c	30	70	40

I would've thought this usage of COALESCE would accomplish my objective but I'm stuck:

Measure =

var _a = COALESCE(CALCULATE(SUM('Table'[Value]),FILTER('Table',[Year]=MIN('Table'[Year]))),0)

var _b = COALESCE(CALCULATE(SUM('Table'[Value]),FILTER('Table',[Year]=MAX('Table'[Year]))),0)

return

IF(ISINSCOPE('Table'[Year]),SUM('Table'[Value]),COALESCE(_b,0) - COALESCE(_a,0))

Re: Variance calculation in Table or Matrix

PBIdashboards — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 03:41:43 GMT

The dynamic column headers problem you hit is a known limitation native Table visual can't do it, and Matrix requires fixed column definitions. The ISINSCOPE workaround in the accepted solution is the cleanest DAX approach.

For the end-user date picker + dynamic variance combination you're describing, this is exactly the use case Flexa Tables (AppSource) was built for users select any two periods to compare, variance columns appear automatically with dynamic headers. No DAX needed for the display layer. Search "Flexa Tables" on Microsoft AppSource.