Error: The Value for 'FirstName' cannot be determined

[Anonymous]

I copied a formula that is working for me in another dashboard file over to a new dashboard file and it will not work... it is referencing the same exact table and data so I am clueless as to why.

I created a measure and then typed:

FullName = [FirstName] & " " & LEFT([LastName],1) & "."

I am getting the error "The value for 'FirstName' cannot be determined.  Either 'FirstName' doesn't exist, or there is no current row for a column named 'FirstName'."

There is a column FirstName and a column named LastName, both of which have names in them.  What am I doing wrong?

[Anonymous]

I copied a formula that is working for me in another dashboard file over to a new dashboard file and it will not work... it is referencing the same exact table and data so I am clueless as to why.

I created a measure and then typed:

FullName = [FirstName] & " " & LEFT([LastName],1) & "."

I am getting the error "The value for 'FirstName' cannot be determined.  Either 'FirstName' doesn't exist, or there is no current row for a column named 'FirstName'."

There is a column FirstName and a column named LastName, both of which have names in them.  What am I doing wrong?

[MFelix · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous,

Is this a calculated measure or a column?

Believe that by the error you are showing that you are creating a measure when doing that you need to do an aggregation that is why it's not working.

Try to use the same formula but as a column.

Just one additional tip on DAX you should always refer the measures and columns accordingly to the notation below:

• Column - Table[ColumnName]
• Measure - [MeasureName]

If you do it like this you will identify faster the use of measures or columns in your formulas.

Regards,

MFelix

[Anonymous]

You were right.  I created a column and used the same formula and it works.  I do not fully understand why but I thank you.

[MFelix]

Hi @Anonymous,

This as to do with context, when you make a calculated column the context is the row in wich it's in so in your case you are looking at the first name / last name on that specific row. When using the measures the context changes accordingly to your data so you need to ad an aggregator like sum, max, min and so on, this makes that the measures can be calculated at different levels of aggregation and details.

Check this link with a explanation on both.

Regards,

MFelix