What's the difference between Firstdate/Lastdate(Date.Date) and Max/Min(Date.Date)?

[SteveD2]

I'm curious to know what the difference is as using this equation

Calculate( [Total],
Filter(All(Date), Date[Date] < Firstdate(Date[Date]))

yeilds blank as a result but,

Calculate([Total],
Filter(All(Date), Date[Date] < Min(Date[Date])) gives the correct result.

I assume Firstdate/Lastdate is syntax candy and contains a calculate statement which changes the filter context but, why?

[v-yuta-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi SteveD2,

Firstdate() returns a table with only one value so can't find a value less than the value itself. So Date[Date] < Firstdate(Date[Date]) will return blank.Please refer to this blog: http://sqlblog.com/blogs/marco_russo/archive/2013/10/22/difference-between-lastdate-and-max-for-semi....

In addtion, you can use 

result = Calculate( MAX('Date'[Date]),
LASTDATE('Date'[Date]))

instead of

result = Calculate( MAX('Date'[Date]),
FILTER('Date', 'Date'[Date] = MAX('Date'[Date])))

 

Regards,

Jimmy Tao