Power BI is a tool that helps business owners to effectively visualize and analyze their data. One of the major features of Power BI is its capacity to add calculated fields to the data.
Calculated fields give users the room to perform complex calculations on your data, and create new variables that can be used during analyses. In this guide, you’ll discover why adding calculated columns in Power BI is important, learn tips and tricks for adding a calculated field in Power BI, and learn the advantages of adding DAX calculated columns.
A calculated field is a custom field that users create in Power BI by defining a new formula. The formula can use mathematical operators, existing fields in your data, and functions. Calculated fields come in handy when certain calculations are not available in the source data, or when you have to combine data from multiple sources.
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Calculated fields are used in creating new dimensions (or measures) that are not present in the original data. For instance, you can create a calculated field that calculates the profit margin by subtracting the cost of goods sold from the revenue and dividing the result by the revenue.
It’s important to emphasize that calculated fields are not stored in the source data. They’re calculated on the fly when the report is refreshed or the data is updated. Therefore, if the underlying data changes, the calculated field will also change accordingly, which is particularly useful when creating a Sankey Diagram in Power BI to visualize dynamic flows between categories.
Calculated fields play a major role in Power BI since they give users room to perform complex calculations that cannot be done using the source data alone. For instance, a user can create a calculated field to calculate the Profit Margin of a business based on the sales revenue and expenses.
Calculated fields enable you to gain insights from your data, and that can lead to data-driven decision-making.
Calculated fields are also used in the creation of custom metrics that are specific to the business needs. For instance, users can create a calculated field to measure the customer lifetime value, and that is a crucial metric for businesses that rely on repeat customers.
Here are some useful tips and tricks to help you add a calculated field in Power BI:
Here are easy steps to follow when creating a calculated column in Power BI.
Advanced techniques with calculated fields in Power BI help you perform deeper data analysis using functions like CALCULATE and FILTER. Combining these insights with a Sankey diagram lets you visualize data flows and relationships more clearly for better decision-making.
Stage 1: Log into Power BI, enter your email, and click “Submit.”
| Total Cost | Company Type | Company Name | Expertise Categories | Expertise | Cost |
| Total Cost | Subcontractor | Skyline Contractors | Mechanical Installation | Plumbing & Heating | 15456 |
| Total Cost | Subcontractor | Skyline Contractors | Mechanical Installation | Mechanical Work | 10159 |
| Total Cost | Subcontractor | Onyx General Contractors | Mechanical Installation | Plumbing & Heating | 18045 |
| Total Cost | Subcontractor | Onyx General Contractors | Mechanical Installation | Mechanical Work | 12695 |
| Total Cost | Subcontractor | Living Well Remodeling | Mechanical Installation | Plumbing & Heating | 14589 |
| Total Cost | Subcontractor | Living Well Remodeling | Mechanical Installation | Welding | 11456 |
| Total Cost | Supplier | Power-up Builders | Raw Material | Cement | 20561 |
| Total Cost | Supplier | Power-up Builders | Raw Material | Steel | 32456 |
| Total Cost | Supplier | Five-star Construction | Raw Material | Bricks | 10253 |
| Total Cost | Supplier | Five-star Construction | Raw Material | Timber | 9000 |
Stage 3: Add the Power BI Sankey Diagram Extension by ChartExpo
Stage 4: Draw the Sankey Diagram with ChartExpo’s Power BI extension
Stage 5: Activate the ChartExpo Trial or Apply the Subscription Key
The following video will help you create a Sankey Chart in Microsoft Power BI.
To add two calculated columns in Power BI, you have to navigate to the “Data” view, select a table, click “New Column” twice, and write the DAX formula for each column. After that, press Enter for each.
Use the “New Column” option in Power BI to create a new calculated column for each desired calculation. After that, write the corresponding formulas for each column, and press Enter.
Power BI calculated columns are user-defined columns computed using DAX expressions. They offer dynamic calculations based on existing data and also facilitate advanced analysis and insights within reports.
It plays a major role in performing complex calculations, creating custom metrics, and enhancing data visualization capabilities.
But why should you add a DAX calculated column? First, it simplifies the process of creating complex formulas and makes it easy for users to generate calculated columns without extensive programming knowledge.
It gives room for the creation of custom visualizations and reports, and that provides a more comprehensive view of the data, and aids in better decision-making.
Adding DAX calculated columns offers a high degree of flexibility, and allows users to adapt their analysis to meet the ever-changing business requirements.
Now you know the benefits of Power BI calculated columns, how will you incorporate them into your analytic process?
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