How to start thinking in DAX?

[PshemekFLK]

Hello,

I'm not sure if I'm posting this in the right section but can somebody recommend a really good reading or youtube source for mastering DAX way of thinking. 

I've been working with Power BI for 2 years now, mostly self-learning. I feel quite strong in power query, visualizations, bookmarks etc. but with any more complex DAX issue (like the one I'm explaining in this post:

https://community.powerbi.com/t5/Desktop/DAX-formula-for-allocation-factor-on-different-levels/m-p/1...)

I always find myself in the dead end changing formulas by trail and error and usually failing to achieve the desired result.

Despite being proficient in Excel formulas and macros I can't switch from thinking in terms of cells to thinking in terms of columns/context. 

Can you recommend anything that accelerated your progress?

Thanks

[DemoFour]

Hi @PshemekFLK 

I have been using Power BI for about 15 month now, I use it as part of my role (as a Lean practitioner) but not all the time, so I find that I do a project with a team, set the data collection up and then build a report with BI. This makes it harder as I dont do this every day. 

I have no previous experience of Excel or anything like this, and I can also recommend the Definitive guide to DAX, my copy is tea stained , bookmarked and eared from constant reading. The Sqlbi site is also a great place to get information and has free training courses too.

I find that I have to get into the DAX mindset by looking at what I want to achieve and then thinking about what I want the code to produce, before then looking into the DAX I have used before, and each time I build new reports I build my knowledge on the different functions in DAX.

My top tip would be to not get too far ahead, by looking at overly complicated DAX patterns and work, as this makes the learning process more daunting. I find that using the simple answer is best, and getting your data to where you want it in the query editor first, has been a great help to make sure that the DAX is more straight forwards once I then write it.

I come on here a lot to read and see what people are putting in the forum, and there are lots of helpful people here too.

Keep going, I find that it gets easier as I go along and learn new things. Keep it fun, and remember that it can be a struggle to self-teach so don’t be too hard on yourself if you feel it is not going your way!

[Anonymous]

If you really, really, really want to understand DAX throughout and write formulas correctly THE FIRST TIME... then you have to invest a bit.

The best DAX courses in the world are here:

www.sqlbi.com

This is a corner of the Internet that's been created by the two world-leading DAX Maestros: Marco Russo and Alberto Ferrari. They ARE the ultimate source of knowledge on DAX. I've taken almost all their courses and have read "The Definitve Guide to DAX" several times (and will still be reading).

This is where my knowledge comes from. And it's rock-solid.

Best
D

[harshnathani]

@PshemekFLK ,

I too am a starter in Power BI  and have no experience in Excel. i think i started working onPower BI just 2 months before.

My secret sauce of DAX is

1. Know the functions.

2. Follow Videos on YouTube. There are lots of them. But follow only one channel for DAX formula.

3. Try solving real problem in the community. 

These 3 things have helped me atleast think the DAX way. The community is awesome and the seasoned champions and Super Users provide a lot of insightful solutions.

Regards,

Harsh Nathani

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

[amitchandak · Accepted solution]

@harshnathani , Start with

https://www.analyticsvidhya.com/blog/2019/05/10-useful-data-analysis-expressions-dax-functions-power...

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/desktop-quickstart-learn-dax-basics

You Tube : https://youtu.be/m1eLTtZHGs4 

https://youtu.be/W0mG3KFR3Hw 

https://youtu.be/3u7MQz1EyPY

DAX Fridays have a few Check there channel

Measures vs Calculated Columns: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJSXty9Y4tM

DAX Fridays! #5: CALCULATE (Part 1) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oDpOfhgmzA

For Rank Refer these links
https://radacad.com/how-to-use-rankx-in-dax-part-2-of-3-calculated-measures
https://radacad.com/how-to-use-rankx-in-dax-part-1-of-3-calculated-columns
https://radacad.com/how-to-use-rankx-in-dax-part-3-of-3-the-finale

To get the best of the time intelligence function. Make sure you have a date calendar and it has been marked as the date in model view. Also, join it with the date column of your fact/s. Refer :
https://radacad.com/creating-calendar-table-in-power-bi-using-dax-functions
https://www.archerpoint.com/blog/Posts/creating-date-table-power-bi
https://www.sqlbi.com/articles/creating-a-simple-date-table-in-dax/

Refer
https://community.powerbi.com/t5/Desktop/Dynamic-measure-calculation-for-hierarchy-data/td-p/592546
https://community.powerbi.com/t5/Desktop/How-to-create-column-and-row-hierarchies-in-tables/td-p/811...

And one from my side - https://community.powerbi.com/t5/Webinars-and-Video-Gallery/PowerBI-Time-Intelligence-Calendar-WTD-Y...

DAX Fridays! #8: CALCULATE (Part 2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZ15A13AsHY