Pragmatic Works trainer Angelica Choo Quan introduces one of the newer features added in the October Power BI update: Quick Measure Suggestions. In this video, Angelica explains how this feature builds on the original Quick Measures capability and helps users create DAX measures faster by using natural language prompts. For Power BI users who are still learning DAX or want a more efficient way to build measures, this feature can simplify the process while also helping them better understand the formulas running behind the scenes.
Angelica begins by explaining that Quick Measures are not entirely new. The original Quick Measures feature was introduced back in April 2017. Its purpose is to help users create measures more quickly and easily by allowing Power BI to generate the necessary DAX expression in the background. Instead of writing every formula from scratch, users can select a calculation type, provide the necessary fields, and let Power BI do the heavy lifting.
She points out that this is especially useful for those who are new to DAX, which stands for Data Analysis Expressions. Quick Measures not only save time, but they also allow users to see the DAX formula Power BI creates. This can serve as a learning tool for understanding how measures are built and how calculations work in reports.
Angelica then explains the key difference between the original Quick Measures feature and the newer Quick Measure Suggestions. With the classic Quick Measures feature, users must manually choose the type of calculation they want to perform and then assign the fields needed to generate the measure.
Quick Measure Suggestions takes a more conversational approach. Instead of manually selecting a calculation type, users can ask a question about their data in a way that is similar to Power BI’s Q&A feature. However, rather than returning a visual, Quick Measure Suggestions returns a measure. This makes it a practical way to generate DAX with less manual setup while still producing reusable calculations for reports.
Before using the feature, Angelica explains that users must first enable it in Power BI Desktop. Since it is a preview feature, it is not automatically active for everyone.
Once enabled and restarted, users can begin testing the feature in their own reports.
To demonstrate the feature, Angelica uses the well-known Adventure Works dataset. She starts with a matrix visual showing the sales amount for each product category. Her goal is to create a measure that calculates the average sales amount by category.
She first shows how to create this using the original Quick Measures process:
After creating the measure, Angelica adds it to a card visual. The result shows an average sales value of about 27 million dollars, confirming that the calculation is working correctly.
Next, Angelica repeats the same task using Quick Measure Suggestions. Instead of selecting a specific calculation type, she opens the Quick Measure window again, chooses the Suggestions option, and types a natural language request: average sales amount by category.
Power BI immediately offers a suggested interpretation of the request. After selecting the suggestion and generating the measure, she previews the DAX and adds the new measure to a card visual. The result matches the original Quick Measure output, showing that the feature can successfully generate the same calculation with less manual setup.
This example highlights the value of the feature: users can create useful DAX-based measures more quickly while still seeing how the formula is structured.
Angelica also shares a few important considerations for users working with Quick Measure Suggestions:
Angelica Choo Quan presents Quick Measure Suggestions as a practical feature for both beginners and experienced report developers. For beginners, it lowers the barrier to creating DAX measures and provides valuable exposure to real DAX syntax. For more advanced users, it can speed up report development and reduce the need for repetitive manual setup.
By combining ease of use with transparency into the generated DAX, Quick Measure Suggestions makes Power BI more approachable and more efficient. As Angelica shows, this feature can help users move from asking a question about their data to building a reusable calculation in just a few steps. For anyone looking to improve their Power BI workflow, it is a feature worth exploring.
Don't forget to check out the Pragmatic Works' on-demand learning platform for more insightful content and training sessions on Power BI and other Microsoft applications. Be sure to subscribe to the Pragmatic Works YouTube channel to stay up-to-date on the latest tips and tricks.