Create and manage measures

Applies to: SQL Server Analysis Services Azure Analysis Services Fabric/Power BI Premium

A measure is a formula that is created for use in a report or Excel PivotTable (or PivotChart). Measures can be based on standard aggregation functions, such as COUNT or SUM, or you can define your own formula by using DAX. The tasks in this article describe how to create and manage measures by using a table's measure grid.

Tasks

To create and manage measures, you will use a table's measure grid. You can view the measure grid for a table in the model designer in Data View only. You cannot create measures or view the measure grid when in Diagram View; however, you can view existing measures in Diagram View. To show the measure grid for a table, click the Table menu, and then click Show Measure Grid.

To create a measure using a standard aggregation formula

  • Click on the column for which you want to create the measure, then click the Column menu, then point to AutoSum, and then click an aggregation type.

    The measure will be created automatically with a default name, followed by the formula in the first cell in the measure grid directly beneath the column.

To create a measure using a custom formula

  • In the measure grid, beneath the column for which you want to create the measure, click a cell, then in the formula bar, type a name, followed by a colon (:), followed by an equals sign (=), followed by the formula. Press ENTER to accept the formula.

To edit measure properties

  • In the measure grid, click a measure, and then In the Properties window, type or select a different property value.

To rename a measure

  • In the measure grid, click on a measure, and then In the Properties window, in Measure Name, type a new name, and then click ENTER.

    You can also rename a measure in the formula bar. The measure name precedes the formula, followed by a colon.

To delete a measure

  • In the measure grid, right-click a measure, and then click Delete.

See Also

Measures
KPIs
Calculated columns