Unable to use virtual tables with variables in PBI Desktop

[modi123p]

Hi,

I m unable to use virtual tables with variables while creating measures.

Im using PBI Dektop (Feb 2021) and found it strange.

Any configuration that I need to enable?

Please refer the measures below:

//This Works:

MonthSlicerFilter =

VAR virtualTable = SUMMARIZECOLUMNS(Month_Year[Month], "InRange", [YTD Month Validator])

RETURN MIN(virtualTable[Month])

//This doesnt:

Error message --> Table variable 'Virtual table' cannot be used  in current context because a base table is expected.

MonthSlicerFilter =

VAR virtualTable = SUMMARIZECOLUMNS(Month_Year[Month], "InRange", [YTD Month Validator])

VAR _minVal = MIN(virtualTable[Month])

RETURN _minVal

Kindly ignore what I m trying to do in the above measures. Its only a trial 🙂

Thanks for your help.

Regards,
Mannu

[PhilipTreacy · Accepted solution]

Hi @modi123p 

SQLBI have written a great article on this so rather than retype everything here, here's the link

Table and column references using DAX variables - SQLBI

Basically, assigning a table to a variable does not make the variable a table.  So you can't reference columns 'inside' the variable as you would with a table.

The article describes a couple of workarounds to this problem.

Regards

Phil

[modi123p]

Thank you @PhilipTreacy 

You saved my day.