Running / Cumulative Total in DAX using only measures, no calculated columns

Question

Problem:

Create a running total measure that does not reference any calculated columns, only measures.

One measure is a calculation. Another measure is auto-incrementing IDs created from a RANKX.

The goal is to create a running total measure/sum for A using reference only to B.

Context: For data restriction reasons, there is no ability to add a calculated column. Therefore, there are a number of measures that have been created.

Existing trials:

Existing knowledge base (internet searches) only seem to refer to measures where there is a mixture of columns and measures. There is no ability to add calculated columns, however, nor need for/use of existing columns within this particular running total.

Currently there has been an attempt to use a table expression to build the table with the measures, creating additional variables for a max (MAXX) and trying to filter this way and use a CAlCULATE in the return. This is only returning the total and not a running total.

Edit:

Example table:

[...existing cols]	Measure A	Measure B	(Needed) Measure C
...	10	1	10
...	60	2	70
...	40	3	110

Measure A is a sum of other measures Measure B is a rank of other measures Measure C is a running total of measure A given Measure B

I'd recommend providing an example toy data table and corresponding measure to work with rather than requiring responders to invent them to answer. — Alexis Olson
is the RANKX measure given? if not what's the criteria for it? — Stachu
@Alexis Olson, edited original question. The measures consist of other measures, I did not want to conflate the underlying question. Hope this helps. — DJLH
@Stachu , good question. It exists within one of the existing measures to provide a ranking. The current attempt is a rolling total using only these measures. Hopefully the additional table in the edit provides some context. — DJLH

Alexis Olson Alexis Olson · Accepted Answer · 2021-01-12T23:07:31

The basic pattern for this is:

CumulativeMeasureA =
VAR CurrentRank = [MeasureB]
RETURN
    SUMX ( FILTER ( ALL ( Data[Group] ), [MeasureB] <= CurrentRank ), [MeasureA] )

Where Data[Group] is the column that you are grouping on in your report visual.

Note that this isn't very efficient without calculated columns since it is having to compute [MeasureB] for every Group for every row in your visual, filter those results, and compute [MeasureA] every iteration that isn't filtered out. For small datasets, this isn't a problem but can be as things get larger and more complex.

Running / Cumulative Total in DAX using only measures, no calculated columns

1 Answers