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maashi's avatar
maashi
Frequent Visitor
2 years ago

Replicating an excel VLOOKUP function

Hi there

 

I would like to replicate a VLOOKUP type function in Power BI. 

I need to look up a column of sales order numbers to see if it has been used in the past. Currently in excel I do it as a vlookup, then eliminate double ups, copy and paste the final column into another worksheet and count this final column.

Would like to replicate all this with a measure. 

Have tried to use the CONTAINS function to mimic the VLOOKUP, then hoping to DISTINCTCOUNT the result. But i don't think it wants to work in VAR/RETURN - do I have to define a measure within a measure.

 

Here is what I have tried

NCP on NCP =
Var NCPonNCPList =
    FILTER (
        ALL ( fact_NCP_Reporting ),
        CONTAINS (
            fact_NCP_Reporting,
            fact_NCP_Reporting[Sales Order No], fact_NCP_Reporting[Original Sales Order]
        )
    )
RETURN
    DISTINCTCOUNT (NCPonNCPList)
 
I hope the below sample data link works to show what i have been doing in Excel, I do it on a monthly basis. 
 
Thank you
 
Marcy

 

Need Help

2 Replies

  • Irwan's avatar
    Irwan
    Super User
    2 years ago

    hello maashi 

     

    please check if this will acommodate your need.

     

    First, create a new calculated column

    Working Column =
    var _order = 'Table2_2'[Original Sales Order]
    Return
    MAXX(FILTER('Table2_2','Table2_2'[Sales Order No]=_order),'Table2_2'[Sales Order No])

     

    then create new measure 

    NCP on NCP = DISTINCTCOUNT('Table2_2'[Working Column])

     

    Here i tried matching up this DAX with your sample data

     

     

    Also, i dont know if you provide dummy data, but the sample data you provide has wrong date format (date and month placement are switched). Please make sure your date format is correct before proceeding to next calculation.

     

    Hope this will help you.

    Thank you.

    • maashi's avatar
      maashi
      Frequent Visitor
      2 years ago

      Thanks. Yes it is dummy data, plus I'm in New Zealand, we use DDMMYYYY. 

      I don't suppose there is a solution without creating a calculating column? I felt like I was doing it already in an extremely clumsy way in Excel, with the extra working columns, but it is much easier to add columns in excel so I just carried on with it.  The dataset I will be using is quite big and growing daily so I was hoping not to add any columns in, but if there isn't, I'll definitely have a go with this solution.