'Beginner" Question? - how to allow for things such as a count on a non-value column?

[sammi1244]

All of my 'number' type columns show the sigma sign and allow me to do values, but for others that are not 'value' columns I still may want to do things like 'count'. In my image below, field #1 works fine; its a value field. Field #2 gives me a trouble; its seems it should let me drop it in the value area for limited calculation like 'count', even though its not a value. Do I really have to create a calcuated field for all of these types scenarios or am I missing a short cut?

 

[Ashish_Mathur]

Hi,

I always prefer and recommend users to write explicit measures

Count = distinctcount(Data[Patient Account Number])

This is a best practise.

[Greg_Deckler]

@sammi1244 You should be able to drop that column into the Values field well and have default aggregations like First, Last, Count and Distinct Count available.

[amitchandak]

@sammi1244 , You can drop any column to visual in visualization pane, you can right-click and change aggregation/Summarization

or create  measures like

count(Table[patient Account Number])

[sammi1244]

Yes, that is what I thought, and I am pretty sure when I started playing in Power BI, I could use values, but this data set is giving me trouble. I tried to record a  video of what I mean but it will not allow me to post it here. Sousing screen shots (let me know if you need a shot of something not here to better analyze:

#1 When I select a non-value field, it drops to columns or rows by default.

#2 I try to drag the field to value and it will not allow me to; it grays out.

#3 When I select a value field, it drops to columns or rows by default and will not allow me ot move it to value

 #4 Just showing fields are set as values (I think these should work if anothing else, but they don't)

 

 

[v-easonf-msft]

Hi, @sammi1244 

Does @Greg_Deckler's solution not work for you?

You can also try to create a new measure to replace the value.

Measure = COUNT(Table1[Product])

Please check my sample file for more dtails.

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

[sammi1244 · Accepted solution]

Hi thanks. I could not get the elements to even drop in the value segment to get that far. I just started over, reimporting the data, and its all working now; so I am calling it a glitch :P.

thanks everyone!