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Topn formula error: Multiple Columns scalar value

Hi!

 

I'm trying to calculate the top 3 expenses (by cost) using a topn formula, but I keep getting back: "The expression refers to multiple columns. Multiple columns cannot be converted to a scalar value."

 

How do I fix this? Thank you!

 

findingsolution_0-1627256314049.png

 

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION
parry2k
Super User
Super User

@findingsolution TOPN returns a table and your measure should always return a scalar value and that's why you are getting this error

 

Most Expensive =

CALCULATE ( 
    SUM ( Expenses[Expense Cost] ),  
    KEEPFILTERS ( 
        TOPN ( 
            3, 
            ALLSELECTED ( Expenses), 
            Expenses[Expense Cost], 
            DESC 
        ) 
    ) 
)

 

try above measure

 

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View solution in original post

6 REPLIES 6
parry2k
Super User
Super User

@findingsolution  try this

 

Most Expensive Items =
CONCATENATEX (
TOPN ( 
            3, 
            ALLSELECTED ( Expenses), 
            Expenses[Expense Cost], 
            DESC 
        ) ,
  [Expense Name], "," 
)

 

Follow us on LinkedIn

 

Check my latest blog post The Power of Using Calculation Groups with Inactive Relationships (Part 1) (perytus.com) I would  Kudos if my solution helped. 👉 If you can spend time posting the question, you can also make efforts to give Kudos to whoever helped to solve your problem. It is a token of appreciation!

 

Visit us at https://perytus.com, your one-stop-shop for Power BI-related projects/training/consultancy.



Subscribe to the @PowerBIHowTo YT channel for an upcoming video on List and Record functions in Power Query!!

Learn Power BI and Fabric - subscribe to our YT channel - Click here: @PowerBIHowTo

If my solution proved useful, I'd be delighted to receive Kudos. When you put effort into asking a question, it's equally thoughtful to acknowledge and give Kudos to the individual who helped you solve the problem. It's a small gesture that shows appreciation and encouragement! ❤


Did I answer your question? Mark my post as a solution. Proud to be a Super User! Appreciate your Kudos 🙂
Feel free to email me with any of your BI needs.

works like a charm, thanks so much!

parry2k
Super User
Super User

@findingsolution not sure if I understood your question, in a visual, drop expense name and the TOP N measure and you will get the name and cot of the TOP 3. If this is not what you are looking for then provide more details. 



Subscribe to the @PowerBIHowTo YT channel for an upcoming video on List and Record functions in Power Query!!

Learn Power BI and Fabric - subscribe to our YT channel - Click here: @PowerBIHowTo

If my solution proved useful, I'd be delighted to receive Kudos. When you put effort into asking a question, it's equally thoughtful to acknowledge and give Kudos to the individual who helped you solve the problem. It's a small gesture that shows appreciation and encouragement! ❤


Did I answer your question? Mark my post as a solution. Proud to be a Super User! Appreciate your Kudos 🙂
Feel free to email me with any of your BI needs.

hi @parry2k , I'm trying to create text that will give me my top expense, with the name and the cost, like the below. You very kindly helped me with the Most Expensive (cost), but now I need the name of the most expensive item, if that makes sense! 

 

findingsolution_0-1627257674513.png

 

parry2k
Super User
Super User

@findingsolution TOPN returns a table and your measure should always return a scalar value and that's why you are getting this error

 

Most Expensive =

CALCULATE ( 
    SUM ( Expenses[Expense Cost] ),  
    KEEPFILTERS ( 
        TOPN ( 
            3, 
            ALLSELECTED ( Expenses), 
            Expenses[Expense Cost], 
            DESC 
        ) 
    ) 
)

 

try above measure

 

Follow us on LinkedIn

 

Check my latest blog post The Power of Using Calculation Groups with Inactive Relationships (Part 1) (perytus.com) I would  Kudos if my solution helped. 👉 If you can spend time posting the question, you can also make efforts to give Kudos to whoever helped to solve your problem. It is a token of appreciation!

 

Visit us at https://perytus.com, your one-stop-shop for Power BI-related projects/training/consultancy.

 



Subscribe to the @PowerBIHowTo YT channel for an upcoming video on List and Record functions in Power Query!!

Learn Power BI and Fabric - subscribe to our YT channel - Click here: @PowerBIHowTo

If my solution proved useful, I'd be delighted to receive Kudos. When you put effort into asking a question, it's equally thoughtful to acknowledge and give Kudos to the individual who helped you solve the problem. It's a small gesture that shows appreciation and encouragement! ❤


Did I answer your question? Mark my post as a solution. Proud to be a Super User! Appreciate your Kudos 🙂
Feel free to email me with any of your BI needs.

thank you so much! I have a follow up question:

 

I now have the cost of each expense, how do I get a measure that calculates the name of the expense? Now I want the top 3 expenses by cost, but I want their names (not the values, like above). Thank you so much!

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