DAX #1 – Getting started with DAX
DAX
Welcome to my first article in the DAX category !
My goal is to share my insights, best practices, and tips about DAX, either through my own content or by sharing existing resources (No need to reinvent the wheel 😊).
What is DAX ?
As defined by Microsoft (1), “DAX is a collection of functions, operators, and constants that can be used in a formula, or expression, to calculate and return one or more values. DAX helps you create new information from data already in your model.” It allows you to create measures that dynamically update based on user interactions with the report, or to develop complex metrics and KPIs.
If you have an accounting background like me, your first encounter with DAX is most likely to be in Excel or Power BI.
Why should you learn DAX ?
As explained in this article (2), understanding your business's key value drivers is crucial for achieving success as a business owner. However, before understanding them, you need to produce them. This is the reason why you should learn DAX. Learning DAX empowers you to unlock the full potential of transforming raw data into actionable insights. It enhances your ability to create sophisticated, interactive reports and dashboards, making you a valuable asset in any data-driven organization.
How to learn DAX ?
I recommend one sources to get started with DAX.
SQLBI has free videos to get you started. I would recommend to browse their catalog of courses, and I would start with this one here.
Once you are comfortable with this above course, I would highly recommend buying their "Mastering DAX Video Course", which is available here. Trust me, it is worth the money !
Finally, make sure to read their blog and any newly published articles.
Sources & Definitions:
Learn dax basics in power Bi Desktop - Power bi (no date) Power BI | Microsoft Learn. Available at: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/transform-model/desktop-quickstart-learn-dax-basics (Accessed: 16 June 2024).
West, C. (2023) Council post: Business insights: What drives the value of your business?, Forbes. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2023/11/02/business-insights-what-drives-the-value-of-your-business/ (Accessed: 16 June 2024).