topic Creating DAX measures in Excel connected to a Power BI Service model – any workaround? in DAX Commands and Tips

Creating DAX measures in Excel connected to a Power BI Service model – any workaround?

XaviSaavedra — Sat, 29 Nov 2025 12:19:30 GMT

Hello,

I understand that, when connecting Excel to a semantic model (dataset) in Power BI Service —for example using Analyze in Excel or Get Data → Power BI datasets— it is not possible to create new DAX measures directly from Excel, and we can only use the measures already defined in the model.

Before confirming this to my client, I would like to ask the community:

s there any alternative, workaround, or supported method that would allow users to create DAX measures from Excel when connected to a Power BI Service model?

Thank you very much in advance.

Re: Creating DAX measures in Excel connected to a Power BI Service model – any workaround?

AnalyticPulse — Sat, 29 Nov 2025 14:45:42 GMT

hi XaviSaavedra
there is no supported way to make dax measures directly inside excel when using a power bi service model.
you cant create new dax measures from excel. you can only use the measures already in the model.

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Re: Creating DAX measures in Excel connected to a Power BI Service model – any workaround?

Praful_Potphode — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 13:14:10 GMT

Hi XaviSaavedra ,

you cannot create measures directly in excel.However if you have premium capacity, you can use tabular editor to create measures and use them in excel.

https://docs.tabulareditor.com/common/CSharpScripts/csharp-script-library-beginner.html

Please give kudos or mark it as solution once confirmed.

Thanks and Regards,

Praful

Re: Creating DAX measures in Excel connected to a Power BI Service model – any workaround?

lbendlin — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 14:14:53 GMT

Keep in mind that Analyze in Excel has nothing to do with DAX - it is running MDX queries. So you would need to define your measures in MDX.

Accessing the semantic model in SSAS Import mode allows DAX queries. Wonder what would happen if you added a DEFINE MEASURE statement in front of the EVALUATE ? 🙂

Re: Creating DAX measures in Excel connected to a Power BI Service model – any workaround?

XaviSaavedra — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 17:57:35 GMT

Thanks for the reply. That's what I thought. This client is much more familiar with Excel and very used to working with it, so they want to know if they can start using DAX in their PowerBI Service models directly from Excel.

Re: Creating DAX measures in Excel connected to a Power BI Service model – any workaround?

XaviSaavedra — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 17:59:55 GMT

Thank you very much for your response. The client wants to use Excel, not another external tool. It seems they'll have to change their minds.

Re: Creating DAX measures in Excel connected to a Power BI Service model – any workaround?

XaviSaavedra — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 18:01:56 GMT

Thank you so much for your help. I don't know if the client knows how to "Access the semantic model in SSAS import mode." In fact, I have very little experience, and I'm not entirely sure myself.

Re: Creating DAX measures in Excel connected to a Power BI Service model – any workaround?

lbendlin — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 19:44:23 GMT

Re: Creating DAX measures in Excel connected to a Power BI Service model – any workaround?

Rufyda — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 11:21:22 GMT

I'm glad you found a solution! We're here in the community to support each other.
Regards,
Rufyda Rahma | MIE