Forum Discussion
Helper IVDefining a measure using another measure vs. using a var carrying the value of that measure
Why the below measure is giving me the error:
"A function 'PLACEHOLDER' has been used in a True/False expression that is used as a table filter expression. This is not allowed."
chk RunWD =
VAR fdt = [chk FDate]
VAR Result =
CALCULATE(
COUNTROWS(DimWDates),
DimWDates[Date] > [chk FDate], --> returned error!
DimWDates[Date] <= TODAY()
)
RETURN Result
While the below is working fine, although they look the same!!! Just defined the measure as a variable!
chk RunWD =
VAR fdt = [chk FDate]
VAR Result =
CALCULATE(
COUNTROWS(DimWDates),
DimWDates[Date] > fdt, --> worked fine!!!
DimWDates[Date] <= TODAY()
)
RETURN Result
Hey Greg_Deckler , thank you for your response.
I was thinking of the same approach, in fact 🙂.It worked! no errors ✔️✔️✔️, same as defining a VAR.
However, this still does not answer the question: Why using the measure directly in the calculate filter argument returns an error!
I tried checking chatgpt and it gave me a strange explanation:
"In the first case, [chk FDate] is a measure and is directly used in the filter expressions. When you use a measure directly inside a CALCULATE filter argument, DAX expects it to be a valid True/False expression. However, measures often return scalar values rather than Boolean values, causing this error.
While in the second, the value of [chk FDate] is first stored in the variable fdt. Since fdt is now a scalar value (the result of the measure [chk FDate]), it can be safely used in the CALCULATE function as part of the filter expressions.
When you assign the result of a measure to a variable, you’re effectively converting the measure into a constant value that DAX can use as part of a logical comparison. Without this step, DAX tries to interpret the measure itself as a condition, which leads to the error."
chatgpt's answer means that DAX did not interpret the value of the measure, which is weird - if true.
2 Replies
- Greg_Deckler
Community Champion
AhmadBakr Probably has something to do with CALCULATE and measures in filter clauses. What does this do?
chk RunWD = VAR fdt = [chk FDate] VAR Result = COUNTROWS( FILTER( 'DimWDates', [Date] > [chk FDate] && [Date] <= TODAY() ) ) RETURN Result- AhmadBakr
Hey Greg_Deckler , thank you for your response.
I was thinking of the same approach, in fact 🙂.It worked! no errors ✔️✔️✔️, same as defining a VAR.
However, this still does not answer the question: Why using the measure directly in the calculate filter argument returns an error!
I tried checking chatgpt and it gave me a strange explanation:
"In the first case, [chk FDate] is a measure and is directly used in the filter expressions. When you use a measure directly inside a CALCULATE filter argument, DAX expects it to be a valid True/False expression. However, measures often return scalar values rather than Boolean values, causing this error.
While in the second, the value of [chk FDate] is first stored in the variable fdt. Since fdt is now a scalar value (the result of the measure [chk FDate]), it can be safely used in the CALCULATE function as part of the filter expressions.
When you assign the result of a measure to a variable, you’re effectively converting the measure into a constant value that DAX can use as part of a logical comparison. Without this step, DAX tries to interpret the measure itself as a condition, which leads to the error."
chatgpt's answer means that DAX did not interpret the value of the measure, which is weird - if true.
