Reports: Measurement field isn't dynamic?

[SJAP]

Hi,

Me again.

On desktop version, if I add a measurement to the Power BI Data Model then it becomes dynamic and calculates on reports. I'm sure the icon next to the field was a little calculator.

On online version (which I'm currently restricted to at work), I add the measurement to the Excel Data Model (which is where the reports get data from) - but now Power BI Reports want to treat it like any other field (i.e. it wants to count, sum, average it rather than simply running it!). The icon next to it has become a globe (see screenshot below).

Is this only a feature available in Desktop, or do I have to do something different to make it work in the Online version?

As context... we're running a series of midnight CSV 'data dumps' into Sharepoint. I am using an Excel Spreadsheet (saved in the same Sharepoint directory) which uses Power Query to append these CSVs into separate queries, which are then linked via a person ID in the data model (using relationships). I've used Get Data to (hopefully) make a connection between Power BI and my Power Queries/Pivots - but please let me know if I'm barking up the wrong tree with my approach here.

Thanks

Steve

[GilbertQ]

Hi there

It would appear that due to using the Online reporting experience you are not able to configure the properties for your field, which in turn means that you cannot change it in the Power BI Service.

What I would suggest doing is to see if you can change the underlying data type in your Excel file and if that works?

[SJAP]

Hi Gilbert,

Thank you for your reply.

I think the issue must be with my data model. I've changed the field from a straight DIVIDE of each individual row (where each student has their own attendance figure) to a calculate of the totals, and a filther on all selected, which I thought might solve it. Unfortunately it hasn't - the field still doesn't seem to be a calculate field in the table.

Here is my data model and the formula I used:

Here is how this is appearing in reports on Service:

The issue seems to be that my calculate field in the data model isn't being understood proprly by Service. Which means I must be doing something daft, but I've spent several hours looking at this now and I can't figure out what?

[SJAP · Accepted solution]

Hi all,

I figured it out... I'm such a newbie! I didn't appreciate the difference between a Calculated Column and a Measurement Column.

I deleted the calculation columns you see in the screenshot, and create a pivot table (using the Excel Data Model as a source). I then right clicked one of my tables (in the field-view sidebar) and clicked 'Add Measurement'. Followed the instructions from there, and now it behaves as expected.

Hope this helps anyone else new to Excel > BI Service -- always consider the difference between a calculated column and a mesaurement!

Thanks

Steve