Return value of Percentile.inc

[sturlaws]

Hi,

I have created a calculated column using the PERCENTILE.INC-function, but I get this error message:

Expressions that yield variant data-type cannot be used to define calculated columns.

If I wrap the VALUE-function around the expression, it works fine.

But why does the PERCENTILE.INC-function return a variant data-type?

regards,

Sturla

[Greg_Deckler · Accepted solution]

Likely has to do with your data. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dax/percentile-inc-function-dax

Please see this post regarding How to Get Your Question Answered Quickly: https://community.powerbi.com/t5/Community-Blog/How-to-Get-Your-Question-Answered-Quickly/ba-p/38490

[Greg_Deckler · Accepted solution]

Likely has to do with your data. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dax/percentile-inc-function-dax

Please see this post regarding How to Get Your Question Answered Quickly: https://community.powerbi.com/t5/Community-Blog/How-to-Get-Your-Question-Answered-Quickly/ba-p/38490

[sturlaws]

So, when the input-column is data type decimal number, the PERCENTILE-function works fine. When the input-column is data type whole number, the error "Expressions that yield variant data-type cannot be used to define calculated columns." occurs. And wrapping the VALUE-function around it fixes it. 

I don't understand why it throws this error, and why wrapping VALUE around it fixes it. From the documentation I cannot find any explanation for this behaviour. Any thoughts? 

[v-chuncz-msft · Accepted solution]

@sturlaws ,

Check the return values.

• https://dax.guide/percentile-inc/#returns
• https://dax.guide/value/#returns