Calculated column in a table not allowing me to enter a DAX formula to define it

[dsalony]

I am experiencing an extremely frustrating and weird issue I have never seen in over 5 years of working with PowerBI.  I am simply trying to added a calculated column to an existing table.  It uses a simple DAX formula that references other columns in the table.  When I finish entering the DAX and hit enter, it wipes out what i inputed and takes it back to a blank column.  I have been trying for over an hour, and it will not resolve, no matter the steps i take.  I am running the Sept 2023 version of the PBI Desktop.  Is there any glitch associated with this latest rev?  any ideas as to why this is happening?

[parry2k]

@dsalony thanks for sharing your findings. I would highly recommend putting this in the issue forum.

[parry2k · Accepted solution]

@dsalony Yes Sep 2023 is just released, eventually Aug 2023 one will show up here and try than. Previous monthly updates to Power BI Desktop and the Power BI service - Power BI | Microsoft Learn

[dsalony]

final note on this.  I loaded the Jul23 load, and immediately when i entered the DAX into the blank column, it popped up an error that there was a circular logic issue.  I was able to easily adjust for that and things work now... but just an FYI: the Sept23 version would not give me that error warning to enable me to troubleshoot the problem, it would just delete the DAX whenever i attempted to enter it and revert back to a blank column?  so that is a glitch with the latest app version for pbi desktop i would gues?

[parry2k]

@dsalony I guess you have to test at the older version or a different machine to isolate the version/machine issue. I don't know what else to say.

[dsalony]

i tried to uninstall the Sept rev and load the previous Aug23 load, but even though i followed links to Aug, once i downloaded and completed, it was the Sept load again ;-(

[parry2k]

@dsalony Direct Query or Import?

[dsalony]

import

[parry2k]

@dsalony what is the data source of the table in which you are trying to add this column?

[dsalony]

Oracle

[dsalony]

Not sure how to create a video and post to this forum?  It is really simple:

• I try to create a new column (have tried by right clicking on the table of the Data tab)
• Then tried in the table view directly (the ‘left pane’ you are referencing?) and that didn’t work (5-10 times, deleting and starting over every time)
• Then tried using the ‘New Column’ icon in ‘Calculations’ tool bar, same results… a new ‘Column = ‘ pops up, I click in the toolbar and enter the DAX formula, I hit the ‘Enter’ button on keyboard, and everything I inputted is wiped out and the column reverts back to ‘Column =  ‘, waiting for me to enter a formula

Nothing I try allows me to enter a DAX column.  I thought maybe it was specific to the report I was in, so I opened another non-related report and attempted to do the same thing: I got the same glitch…. PBI Desktop will not allow me to add a new column using DAX to an existing table.

[parry2k]

@dsalony seems weird, can you create a quick video to share what you are seeing? Also, can you switch to a different view from the left pane and try to add the column? Although it seems to be a bug.