DAX Text Function - Change values of a text column (like a lookup table)

[arelf27]

Hi. I have what seems like a simple scenario but I don't understand how to do this in DAX: 

I have a column on a table that has values (To Do, Next, WIP, Closed, etc.) - these values are multiple.. I need to write a measure to convert these as such: (1-To Do, 2-Next, 3-WIP, 4-Closed, etc.)     --I would have loved to do that by creating a lookup table or even just add and transform a column in Edit Queries, however I have a live connection to Visual Studio Team Services and thus most features are disabled, including Modeling, New Columns, Edit Queries, etc.. All I am able to do is Add a Measure (thus I'm trying to figure out how to do this in DAX..)  ---Essentially since I put this column on my X-axis, my sort order is not correct, hence I'm trying to rename values to get the correct sort order on the visual...

If I try to do If statement, etc. I keep getting multiple values were supplied to a function that was expecting a single value... 

In SQL this would be an equivalent of a simple Case statement, with a group by etc.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

@arelf27, it sounds like you need to talk to the people in charge of your data and ask for a sort order column to be created.

Yes, a DAX calculated column could do this (there is a SWITCH() function that would work), but you confirmed that you can't create additional calculated columns.

In short, a measure won't work.  You can't put a measure on a categorical axis for a visual, Power BI won't let you.  The only visual that accepts measures on the axes like that is a scatter plot.

If you can create a calc column, try this:

SortMeasure =
SWITCH (
    SELECTEDVALUE ( Table[Column] ),
    "To Do", "1-To Do",
    "Next", "2-Next",
    "WIP", "3-WIP",
    "Closed", "4-Closed"
)

[arelf27]

I see. Thaks for replying. I'm working with data from Visual Studio Team Services (VSTS) - built a solution in PowerBI Services by connecting to their app/content pack, so it's quite limiting as to what can be done.. I thought I'd try connecting live to it in PowerBI Desktop but with that the only additional thing I can do is create measures.. Everything else is still grayed out..  (basically I don't have access to this online Content Pack database...)