topic Re: Calculated measure with two filters - 'Placeholder' error in DAX Commands and Tips

Calculated measure with two filters - 'Placeholder' error

FischerEric86 — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 11:20:30 GMT

Hello,

I want to calculate our current on hand units based on a filter that looks at the current week and where gross units are >=1.

This first query works: 1 filter

Current OH Units = CALCULATE(SUM(POS_Data[ON_HAND_UNITS]),POS_Data[Current Week1]=1)

When attempting to create the below second filter i recieve this error:

Error: A function 'PLACEHOLDER' has been used in a True/False expression that is used as a table filter expression. This is not allowed.
Current OH Units1 = CALCULATE(SUM(POS_Data[ON_HAND_UNITS]),POS_Data,POS_Data[Current Week1]=1,[Gross Sales Units]>=1)

I'm assuming this is in reference to measure Gross Sales Unit which is written as:

Gross Sales Units = CALCULATE(SUM(POS_Data[SALES_UNITS_BEFORE_RETURNS]))

My display columns are: Customer Name, Item, Store Number, Current OH Units.

The intent is to only look at stores who's already had sales of 1 unit or more which is why the last filter was trying to be placed.

Thank you in advance.

Re: Calculated measure with two filters - 'Placeholder' error

lbendlin — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 15:06:11 GMT

You need to materialize the measure before using it in a comparison. For example by assigning a variable to the measure value, or by using SUMMARIZE/SUMMARIZECOLUMNS.

Re: Calculated measure with two filters - 'Placeholder' error

Anonymous — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 05:49:35 GMT

Hi FischerEric86

Thanks for the reply from lbendlin , please allow me to provide another insight:

Instead of PLACEHOLDER, the right name to use should be CALCULATE. Indeed, every time there is a measure reference, it could be replaced by CALCULATE ( <measure definition> ). However, the error message leaves the generic PLACEHOLDER name instead of mentioning CALCULATE. So the issue is: the presence of a context transition in a predicate filter argument. Thus, the solution is that we should evaluate the measure reference and assign the result to a variable before CALCULATE.

This link can help:

solving-errors-in-calculate-filter-arguments

Best Regards

Zhengdong Xu
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