The CALCULATE function in DAX measures

The CALCULATE function is the heart and soul of DAX.  You should read this blog carefully to make sure you understand it!

The model we'll use

This blog uses the following model (it's the one I used in the previous blog on basic measures):

The model used for this blog.

The syntax of the CALCULATE function

Here's what the CALCULATE function looks like:

Here's what the Microsoft website has to say about it:

The function calculates an expression, but with modified query context.  I'll spend the rest of this blog explaining what this means!

Using CALCULATE with only one argument

You don't have to modify the query context (whatever that means ...).  Here's an example of using CALCULATE pointlessly:

We could have just written this as =SUM('Transaction'[Quantity]), to do exactly the same thing!

This blog will show how to:

• remove filters;
• replace filters; and
• change filters.

We'll start with the first item in this list: using CALCULATE to remove filters from a formula.  All will become clear!