Skip to main content
cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Try your skills in the Power BI Dataviz World Championship! Round one ends June 26. Join now

Reply
dgreen1
Frequent Visitor

Help Understanding DAX Formula: RANKX With EARLIER

I took over a partially completed project from someone that is no longer with the company. Could you help explain what this formula is doing/how it works?

=
RANKX(FILTER(Table,Append1[IDNumber]=EARLIER(Table[IDNumber])),Table[MonthStart],,DESC,Dense)
1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION
ValtteriN
Community Champion
Community Champion

Hi,

RANKX ranks the values given in the filter context. In your case the values of [MonthStart] column are ranked in desceding order. Additional condition is that the IDNumber must match the id of the current row. Dense makes it so that there aren't any gaps in ranking order.


I hope this post helps to solve your issue and if it does consider accepting it as a solution and giving the post a thumbs up!

My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/n%C3%A4ttiahov-00001/





Did I answer your question? Mark my post as a solution!

Proud to be a Super User!




View solution in original post

2 REPLIES 2
ValtteriN
Community Champion
Community Champion

Hi,

RANKX ranks the values given in the filter context. In your case the values of [MonthStart] column are ranked in desceding order. Additional condition is that the IDNumber must match the id of the current row. Dense makes it so that there aren't any gaps in ranking order.


I hope this post helps to solve your issue and if it does consider accepting it as a solution and giving the post a thumbs up!

My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/n%C3%A4ttiahov-00001/





Did I answer your question? Mark my post as a solution!

Proud to be a Super User!




So in this case the most recent month for an ID without a match gets a 1, the preceding month where that ID existed gets a 2, and so on?

Helpful resources

Announcements
Fabric Data Days is here Carousel

Fabric Data Days 2026

Don't miss out on Data Days, June 15 through August 7. Learn Fabric, Power BI, SQL, AI and more.

May Power BI Update Carousel

Power BI Monthly Update - May 2026

Check out the May 2026 Power BI update to learn about new features.

Power BI DataViz World Championships carousel

Power BI DataViz World Championships - June 2026

A new Power BI DataViz World Championship is coming this June! Don't miss out on submitting your entry.