Forum Discussion
Post PatronWhat is the difference between a measure and calculated column
Hi, lastnn30
Take an example.
Sample data:
Calculate the overall score for each student.
Calculated column:
Column = CALCULATE ( SUM ( 'Table'[Scores] ), ALLEXCEPT('Table','Table'[Student] ))Measure:
Measure = CALCULATE(SUM('Table'[Scores]),ALLEXCEPT('Table','Table'[Student]))Here are a few differences:
1. Calculated columns appear in columns in the data view, measure does not, measure only appears in the view.
2. Calculated columns appear in the Model view, not Measure.
Tutorial: Create your own measures in Power BI Desktop - Power BI | Microsoft Learn
Tutorial: Create calculated columns in Power BI Desktop - Power BI | Microsoft Learn
Best Regards,
Community Support Team _Charlotte
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U can see a calculated column in data view whereas u can't see a measure in data view.
In order to see measure, we need to go to report view select any chart and then click on that measure to see that.
- Another difference is that Calculated column does operation row by row across columns
For eg. :- We have 2 columns Revenue and Cost in a Table ( let's name it Financials) and we have revenue and cost of 10 products . So we have 2 columns with 10 rows each.
If we want to know the Profit of 1st product ( i.e product in 1st row) , we can do that by creating a new column in data view >> then rename it as Profit and apply DAX formula as
1.Profit = Financials[Revenue] - Financials[Cost] . This is what is a Calculated column.
This same formula will now be applied to next 9 products row by row. And we will see a new column formed on the right side of Cost column. This new Column ( we named it Profit) is what is called a Calculated Column. We can actually see this newly created column in the data view.
Measure :-
- Now imagine if we want to calculate the total Revenue or cost of all the 10 products . We will create a measure by writing Dax formula :- Total_Revenue = SUM(Financials[Revenue]) . Here the Total_Revenue is 1 single Value which gets calculated or aggregated over a column. So this is a measure and we cant see it in data view lile we see calculated column.
If we want to see this we have to go to report view.>> select any chart ( let's say a card) and then drag or select this measure. Then we can see the value i.e revenue of all the 10 products.
Hope this was helpful. Thanks for your patience.
Mayur Kanth
Pune, India