issues with Data Relationship

[salman_ali]

Hello,

I am trying to recreate a dashboard created by a departed team member.  It seems like an easy question, but I am a bit confused

In the model there is a hidden table with no relationships

When you go in the data view, this below is what the table contains. 

Since this was created in dax and not power query (table is not present in power query), I am thinking it was created by using ‘Enter Data’. 

My question is, How is it that this ‘period’ column is being used in a visual as a column and is able to communicate with other tables and measures.  Have you even seen this before?

Any assistance is much appreciated

[v-shex-msft]

Hi @salman_ali,

In fact, current power bi can use some advanced methods to interact with different table records without relationships.
The first way it uses measure filter based on expressions (apply on 'visual level filter') to interact with selections from slicer selections. 
In addition, you can also direct invoke table values in calculated column/table expressions. (e.g. create a calendar table based on another table min/max date values; calculate rank based on the median value of another table records)

Regards,

Xiaoxin Sheng

[jdbuchanan71]

You can, yes.  If you dowload the Vertipaq Analyzer and hook it to the model you will be able to see all of the measures that exist in the model pulled into excel.  Then you could search for that table name and see where it is used.

https://www.sqlbi.com/tools/vertipaq-analyzer/

[jdbuchanan71]

They could be showing it in a slicer then have a measure that reads the selection and uses a switch to return the measure that corresponds to the selection.

Display Value =
VAR TimePeriod =
    SELECTEDVALUE ( TimeCalGroup[Periods] )
RETURN
    SWITCH (
        TimePeriod,
        "Last 2 Weeks", [Last 2 Weeks Measure],
        "MTD", [MTD Measure],
        "QTD", [QTD Measure],
        etc..
    )

They may also be using it in a calculation group.

[salman_ali]

is it possible that this measure is hidden? because i cannot find it?

[v-shex-msft · Accepted solution]

HI @salman_ali,

These hidden features are suitable with the 'data view' level that you used to design visuals. If you change to data table views, this hidden field will also be displayed.
Currently, it not support to design totally hidden fields on the power bi desktop side. I think it might be a possibility if these changes are directly applied in the data model side. You can use third-party tools to connect and check the data model instance if it helps.

External tools in Power BI Desktop - Power BI | Microsoft Docs

Power bi data model instance 

Regards,

Xiaoxin Sheng

[salman_ali]

hmm interesting, yes there is a slicer on the page, so maybe they are using that technique.  I can't seem to locate that measure though.  Can they hide the measure?