Power BI: Using Quick Measures Suggestions to Create DAX Measures

In this blog post, Angelica Choo Quan from Pragmatic Works explores one of the newest features introduced in the October Power BI update: Quick Measure Suggestions. This feature simplifies the process of creating DAX measures, making it easier for beginners and experienced users alike to enhance their Power BI reports.

What Are Quick Measures?

Quick Measures, first introduced in April 2017, allow users to create measures quickly by generating DAX expressions in the background. This feature is particularly helpful for those who are new to DAX or want to expand their knowledge.

• Quick Measures run DAX commands automatically.
• They provide editable DAX formulas for customization.
• Ideal for learning and building complex calculations.

Enabling Quick Measure Suggestions

Before using Quick Measure Suggestions, ensure the feature is enabled in Power BI Desktop:

1. Go to File > Options and Settings > Options.
2. Under Preview Features, turn on Quick Measure Suggestions.
3. Restart Power BI Desktop to apply changes.

Difference Between Quick Measures and Quick Measure Suggestions

While Quick Measures require users to select a calculation type and provide data fields, Quick Measure Suggestions work like the Q&A feature:

• Instead of returning a visual, it generates a measure based on your question.
• Uses natural language input for creating DAX measures.

Step-by-Step: Using Quick Measures

Angelica demonstrates Quick Measures using the Adventure Works dataset:

1. Select Quick Measure from the Home ribbon.
2. Choose a calculation type (e.g., Average per Category).
3. Provide base values (e.g., Sales Amount for Product Category).
4. View the generated DAX formula and add it to a visual.

Result: A card visual showing the average sales amount per category, confirming the measure works correctly.

Step-by-Step: Using Quick Measure Suggestions

Next, Angelica explores Quick Measure Suggestions:

1. Select Quick Measure > Suggestions.
2. Type a question like “Average sales amount by category”.
3. Choose the suggested option and click Generate.
4. Add the new measure to a visual to verify results.

The generated measure matches the previous calculation, proving the feature’s accuracy and ease of use.

Tips for Using Quick Measure Suggestions

• Be precise with wording when typing questions.
• If similar measures exist, Power BI may reference them instead of raw data.
• Rename generated measures for clarity.

Why Use Quick Measure Suggestions?

This feature saves time, reduces complexity, and helps users learn DAX by exposing the underlying formulas. It’s perfect for creating reusable measures for advanced calculations.

Final Thoughts

Angelica encourages users to explore Quick Measure Suggestions to streamline their Power BI workflow. For more training on Power BI, DAX, Power Apps, and other Power Platform tools, visit Pragmatic Works’ On-Demand Learning platform.

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