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

Get Fabric Certified for FREE during Fabric Data Days. Don't miss your chance! Learn more

Reply
hnguy71
Super User
Super User

Sequential / True Index Column

Hello All!
I've been looking at a few blog posts by @Greg_Deckler  namely these two:
https://community.powerbi.com/t5/Quick-Measures-Gallery/Sequential/m-p/380231

https://community.powerbi.com/t5/Community-Blog/For-and-While-Loops-in-DAX/ba-p/636314

and I'm interested in something similar for my dataset but I'm not quite sure how to replicate it. I know that it's possible using RANKX to obtain an index but the results are not always foolproof.  Within my actual dataset, I can have repeats multiple times and I'll have a few ranks that share the same number even with tie breakers. I'd like to explore using GENERATESERIES to obtain a more precise method of creating sequential numbering. 

In my sample dataset:

GMPLSLTBDifferencePATH
GM3PL3316060316326664-1.3E+07Parent
GM3PL3316060316326664-1.3E+07Parent
GM2PL2320020016689238-1.3E+07Parent
GM1PL1372465618909476-1.5E+07Parent
GM2PL2320020016689238-1.3E+07Parent
GM1PL1372465618909476-1.5E+07Parent
GM3PL3951323159-13646Child
GM3PL3219434842-32648Child
GM3PL3676335962-29199Child
GM3PL3546022639-17179Child
GM3PL388143990-43109Child
GM3PL342297695-3466Child
GM3PL3527240833-35561Child
GM3PL3911345013-35900Child
GM3PL3135129230-27879Child
GM3PL3502211549-6527Child
GM3PL3659810987-4389Child
GM3PL3265722719-20062Child
GM3PL3801631436-23420Child
GM3PL316834725-3042Child
GM3PL3762146449-38828Child
GM3PL3738029524-22144Child
GM3PL3296814952-11984Child
GM3PL392941024-40095Child
GM3PL3574645525-39779Child
GM3PL3723238609-31377Child
GM3PL3778137020-29239Child
GM3PL3450942219-37710Child
GM3PL3303770-467Child
GM3PL3519041499-36309Child
GM3PL3188826833-24945Child
GM3PL3163818107-16469Child
GM3PL396819421-18453Child
GM3PL3866840059-31391Child
GM3PL3115315919-14766Child
GM3PL3819311360-3167Child
GM3PL317603087-1327Child
GM3PL338535366-1513Child
GM3PL37847949-47871Child
GM3PL3963922698-13059Child
GM3PL3889914817418Child
GM3PL3616118683-12522Child
GM3PL3981623755-13939Child
GM3PL3686442152649Child
GM3PL3975535393-25638Child
GM3PL350736094-35587Child
GM3PL384627861601Child
GM3PL3819738506-30309Child
GM3PL3554845251-39703Child
GM3PL357056267-562Child
GM3PL3240612106-9700Child
GM3PL3269325381-22688Child
GM3PL3195648115-46159Child
GM3PL3300236100-33098Child
GM3PL3661246062006Child
GM3PL3524711755-6508Child
GM3PL3483122902541Child
GM3PL3200336986-34983Child
GM3PL342706118-1848Child
GM3PL3833018053-9723Child
GM3PL3991149307-39396Child
GM3PL3500014462-9462Child
GM3PL3258537327-34742Child
GM3PL3480746230-41423Child
GM3PL3101933757-32738Child
GM3PL3848121375-12894Child
GM3PL3901722383-13366Child
GM3PL3754449743-42199Child
GM3PL3929214356-5064Child
GM3PL390916996-16087Child
GM3PL3844431738-23294Child
GM3PL3350541033-37528Child
GM3PL392711271-10344Child
GM3PL3389643486-39590Child
GM3PL311176570-5453Child
GM3PL3272615987-13261Child
GM3PL3924148799-39558Child
GM3PL3177820205-18427Child
GM3PL312946709-5415Child
GM3PL3986026015-16155Child
GM3PL3580328675-22872Child
GM3PL337108007-4297Child
GM3PL3971616400-6684Child
GM3PL3154246233-44691Child
GM3PL392919811-18882Child
GM3PL3811111533-3422Child
GM3PL3843148818-40387Child
GM3PL3468236613-31931Child
GM3PL3783710618-2781Child
GM3PL3591132341-26430Child
GM3PL3116713851-12684Child
GM3PL3465847782-43124Child
GM3PL3825315924-7671Child
GM3PL3914546691-37546Child
GM3PL3317613400-10224Child
GM3PL3340414766-11362Child
GM3PL3626444517-38253Child
GM3PL3201010250-8240Child
GM3PL3448838620-34132Child

I have 100 records and using this DAX formula in a calculated column I'm able to achieve close to all distinct values:

Sequential = RANKX(ALL('Sample'), [SL] + [TB] / 100000,,ASC,Dense)


My intended output is to have all 100 records to be distinct.
Any help with utilizing generateseries or creating a more precise sequential numbering is greatly appreciated!



Did I answer your question?
Please help by clicking the thumbs up button and mark my post as a solution!
4 REPLIES 4
jdbuchanan71
Super User
Super User

Hello @hnguy71,

Is adding an index column in the query editor an option for you?  This would guarantee the uniqueness.

addindexcolumn.jpg

 

Hi @jdbuchanan71 ,
my current solution uses the PQ index function but unfortunately my criteria has changed recently which requires a different approach.



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

Hi @hnguy71 ,

You could refer to my reply of this similar thread which should be helpful.

Best  Regards,

Cherry

 

Community Support Team _ Cherry Gao
If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

@v-piga-msft  wow that's nifty! Unfortunately it gives me similar results as the RANKX measure that I'm using. I have duplicate records in my dataset and each record should increment individually. The results I have currently is this:
duplicates.png

I'm expecting:

PATHGMPLTBSLDifferenceSampleMeasure
ParentGM1PL1189094763724656-150000001
ParentGM2PL2166892383200200-130000002
ParentGM1PL1189094763724656-150000003
ParentGM2PL2166892383200200-130000004
ParentGM3PL3163266643160603-130000005
ParentGM3PL3163266643160603-130000006

 



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

Helpful resources

Announcements
Fabric Data Days Carousel

Fabric Data Days

Advance your Data & AI career with 50 days of live learning, contests, hands-on challenges, study groups & certifications and more!

October Power BI Update Carousel

Power BI Monthly Update - October 2025

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

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.

Top Solution Authors