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

The Power BI Data Visualization World Championships is back! Get ahead of the game and start preparing now! Learn more

Reply
ahmedshalabyy12
Resolver II
Resolver II

Relationships

Hello,

 

i have 2 columns comes from the client for example ID1  and ID2 ( Fact Table ) 

i make relationship with dim_emp between (Dim_ID1) and (Fact_ID1 )

 

the relation workins fine for most of the agents

but i have one problem that some agents that comes from the client don't have ID1 but have ID2

so i want to tell power bi if you didn't find ID1 so make the relation with ID2

how i can make that ?

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION
Shivu-2000
Responsive Resident
Responsive Resident

Hi  @ahmedshalabyy12 

As per my understanding your data is as: 

You have a Fact table that contains two ID columns from the client:

  • ID1

  • ID2

    You also have a Dimension table (Dim_Emp) with the column:

    • Dim_ID1

      Currently, you've created a relationship between:

Fact[ID1] → Dim_Emp[Dim_ID1]

This works fine for most agents.
However, for some records, ID1 is blank or missing, but ID2 has a valid value.
You want Power BI to fall back to use ID2 when ID1 is not available for establishing the relationship.
My solution to this will be create a
new Calculated column the Fact table that acts as a fallback ID by checking ID1 first, and using ID2 if ID1 is blank.

Step 1: Add a calculated column

In Power BI, go to your Fact table and create a new column using the below DAX:

Effective_ID = IF ( NOT ISBLANK(Fact[ID1]), Fact[ID1], Fact[ID2] )

 

Step 2: Update the relationship

In Model view:

  • Delete the existing relationship between Fact[ID1] and Dim_Emp[Dim_ID1]

  • Create a new relationship between:

Fact[Effective_ID] → Dim_Emp[Dim_ID1]

This ensures Power BI uses ID1 when it’s present, and falls back to ID2 otherwise.

 If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.
Happy to help!

View solution in original post

3 REPLIES 3
v-saisrao-msft
Community Support
Community Support

Hi @ahmedshalabyy12,

I hope you had a chance to review the solution shared by @Shivu-2000 . If it addressed your question, please consider accepting it as the solution — it helps others find answers more quickly.
If you're still facing the issue, feel free to reply, and we’ll be happy to assist further.

 

Thank you.

Shivu-2000
Responsive Resident
Responsive Resident

Hi  @ahmedshalabyy12 

As per my understanding your data is as: 

You have a Fact table that contains two ID columns from the client:

  • ID1

  • ID2

    You also have a Dimension table (Dim_Emp) with the column:

    • Dim_ID1

      Currently, you've created a relationship between:

Fact[ID1] → Dim_Emp[Dim_ID1]

This works fine for most agents.
However, for some records, ID1 is blank or missing, but ID2 has a valid value.
You want Power BI to fall back to use ID2 when ID1 is not available for establishing the relationship.
My solution to this will be create a
new Calculated column the Fact table that acts as a fallback ID by checking ID1 first, and using ID2 if ID1 is blank.

Step 1: Add a calculated column

In Power BI, go to your Fact table and create a new column using the below DAX:

Effective_ID = IF ( NOT ISBLANK(Fact[ID1]), Fact[ID1], Fact[ID2] )

 

Step 2: Update the relationship

In Model view:

  • Delete the existing relationship between Fact[ID1] and Dim_Emp[Dim_ID1]

  • Create a new relationship between:

Fact[Effective_ID] → Dim_Emp[Dim_ID1]

This ensures Power BI uses ID1 when it’s present, and falls back to ID2 otherwise.

 If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.
Happy to help!

Thank you it worked apperciate your effort 

Helpful resources

Announcements
Power BI DataViz World Championships

Power BI Dataviz World Championships

The Power BI Data Visualization World Championships is back! Get ahead of the game and start preparing now!

December 2025 Power BI Update Carousel

Power BI Monthly Update - December 2025

Check out the December 2025 Power BI Holiday Recap!

FabCon Atlanta 2026 carousel

FabCon Atlanta 2026

Join us at FabCon Atlanta, March 16-20, for the ultimate Fabric, Power BI, AI and SQL community-led event. Save $200 with code FABCOMM.