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

Microsoft is giving away 50,000 FREE Microsoft Certification exam vouchers. Get Fabric certified for FREE! Learn more

Reply
OPS-MLTSD
Post Patron
Post Patron

DAX equivalent to %LIKE% in sql - to count IDs

Hello,

 

I am trying to do a simple count in Power BI using dax. 

 

In sql, I would simply use this function to pull my data:

 

Select count (distinct Client_ID) Client_ID

from table

Where start_date >= '2021-03-16'

AND School LIKE '%University%'

 

i was wondering how I can do the same count in Power BI? I have been reading about the dax called "SEARCH" and I tried this method but I think I am missing something

 

University Students =
CALCULATE(
COUNT(clients[CLIENT_ID]),
SEARCH("University",clients[School],1,0),
DATESBETWEEN(clients[start_date]>= '2021-03-16')))+0
 
thank you
1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION

Hi @OPS-MLTSD ,

 

You may be trying to compare a date field against a string value. This should work:

CALCULATE(
    COUNT(clients[CLIENT_ID]), 
        SEARCH("UNIVERSITY", clients[School], 1, 0) > 0,
        clients[start_date] >= DATE(2021, 03, 16)
)


Did I answer your question?
Please help by clicking the thumbs up button and mark my post as a solution!

View solution in original post

8 REPLIES 8
hnguy71
Super User
Super User

SEARCH("University",clients[School],1,0) > 0


Did I answer your question?
Please help by clicking the thumbs up button and mark my post as a solution!

thank you, I was able to get this part to work: 

University Students =
CALCULATE(
COUNT(clients[CLIENT_ID]),
SEARCH("University",clients[School],1,0) > 0)
But I could not add the date part, do you know how I can get this part to work in this dax? clients[start_date]>= '2021-03-16'. I only want results for clients from March 16  2021 and onwards, if you coul please let me know, I would really appreciate that. Thank you

Try this. 
 
CALCULATE(
COUNT(clients[CLIENT_ID]),Filter(
SEARCH("University",clients[School],1,0) > 0&&clients[start_date]>= '2021-03-16')) 

thank you, for some reason, this is not working for me, I copied and pasted this exact dax

Hi @OPS-MLTSD ,

 

You may be trying to compare a date field against a string value. This should work:

CALCULATE(
    COUNT(clients[CLIENT_ID]), 
        SEARCH("UNIVERSITY", clients[School], 1, 0) > 0,
        clients[start_date] >= DATE(2021, 03, 16)
)


Did I answer your question?
Please help by clicking the thumbs up button and mark my post as a solution!

@hnguy71 quick question, what is I wanted to search of two items, "Unniversity" and "College"? Would I use something like this?

 

CALCULATE(
    COUNT(clients[CLIENT_ID]), 
        OR(SEARCH("UNIVERSITY", "College", clients[School], 1, 0)) > 0,
        clients[start_date] >= DATE(2021, 03, 16)
)

 

it worked! thank you so much 🙂

davehus
Memorable Member
Memorable Member

Hi, 

 

Have you tried just adding a column in PowerQuery and use a conditional column to say if column contains University then 1 else 0. Then use this column in place of the search function using and Filter(&&) clause at the end of the calculate measure.

 

Helpful resources

Announcements
PBIApril_Carousel

Power BI Monthly Update - April 2025

Check out the April 2025 Power BI update to learn about new features.

Notebook Gallery Carousel1

NEW! Community Notebooks Gallery

Explore and share Fabric Notebooks to boost Power BI insights in the new community notebooks gallery.

April2025 Carousel

Fabric Community Update - April 2025

Find out what's new and trending in the Fabric community.

Top Solution Authors