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FischerEric86
Frequent Visitor

Calculated measure with two filters - 'Placeholder' error

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. 
 
2 REPLIES 2
Anonymous
Not applicable

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

lbendlin
Super User
Super User

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.

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