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findingsolution's avatar
findingsolution
Helper I
5 years ago
Solved

Topn formula error: Multiple Columns scalar value

Hi!   I'm trying to calculate the top 3 expenses (by cost) using a topn formula, but I keep getting back: "The expression refers to multiple columns. Multiple columns cannot be converted to a scala...
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  • parry2k's avatar
    parry2k
    5 years ago

    findingsolution TOPN returns a table and your measure should always return a scalar value and that's why you are getting this error

     

    Most Expensive =

CALCULATE ( 
    SUM ( Expenses[Expense Cost] ),  
    KEEPFILTERS ( 
        TOPN ( 
            3, 
            ALLSELECTED ( Expenses), 
            Expenses[Expense Cost], 
            DESC 
        ) 
    ) 
)

     

    try above measure

     

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parry2k's avatar
parry2k
Super User
5 years ago

findingsolution TOPN returns a table and your measure should always return a scalar value and that's why you are getting this error

 

Most Expensive =

CALCULATE ( 
    SUM ( Expenses[Expense Cost] ),  
    KEEPFILTERS ( 
        TOPN ( 
            3, 
            ALLSELECTED ( Expenses), 
            Expenses[Expense Cost], 
            DESC 
        ) 
    ) 
)

 

try above measure

 

✨ Follow us on LinkedIn

 

Check my latest blog post The Power of Using Calculation Groups with Inactive Relationships (Part 1) (perytus.com) I would ❤ Kudos if my solution helped. 👉 If you can spend time posting the question, you can also make efforts to give Kudos to whoever helped to solve your problem. It is a token of appreciation!

 

⚡ Visit us at https://perytus.com, your one-stop-shop for Power BI-related projects/training/consultancy.⚡

 

  • findingsolution's avatar
    findingsolution
    Helper I
    5 years ago

    thank you so much! I have a follow up question:

     

    I now have the cost of each expense, how do I get a measure that calculates the name of the expense? Now I want the top 3 expenses by cost, but I want their names (not the values, like above). Thank you so much!