In mathematics, a measure is a set function that assigns each subset of a countable disjoint union a value. A measure must satisfy the properties of sigma finiteness and finite additivity.
Use measures when you require dynamic calculations to be applied across visuals and data intersections. Avoid using measures as a substitute for Dimension tables.
What is a Measure?
A measure is a quantity that is used to describe the relative size or magnitude of an object or event. It can be either a number or an adjective. Measurements are important in science, engineering, commerce and everyday life. Many philosophers have studied the nature of measurement. There is still no consensus about how to define it or what sorts of things can be measured.
One approach to the philosophy of measurement takes a model-based view. This construes measurement as a process that involves interactions between the object of interest, an instrument and its environment. It also involves a theoretical or statistical model of the interaction.
Realists, on the other hand, take a more empiricist approach. They argue that measurable properties and relations are not directly observable and can only be estimated by comparing inaccurate measurements. Realists also stress that knowledge claims about measurable properties and relations are theory-laden. In particular, they require background theories about the properties and relations being measured.
What is a Measure Table?
A measures table is a distinct table in which you store all of your measure calculations. This makes it much easier to find these metrics within your field list and helps to keep your data model organized.
A well-organized measures table can also help you with other aspects of your Power BI data analysis, such as enhanced collaboration and security. By having your measurements contained in a separate table, you can avoid accidentally sharing the entire fact table when working with reports or analyzing data. This can be an especially crucial feature for businesses that need to share sensitive or classified information.
In addition to enabling you to more easily identify your metrics, a well-organized measures table can improve data literacy and facilitate effective communication among stakeholders. This is accomplished by including descriptions and units for each metric, as well as providing clear and consistent naming conventions. The use of a measures table can also make it easier for users to understand how each metric is calculated, ensuring accuracy and enhancing data analysis efficiency.
What is a Measure Visual?
Measures allow you to perform custom calculations on a visual without touching the data model. These calculations can be used in visualizations to answer ad-hoc questions and add business intelligence to a report. Visual calculations combine the simplicity of context from calculated columns with on-demand calculation flexibility, resulting in better performance than aggregations on tables.
For example, Janice imports reseller sales from a table in her Power BI model and creates a new chart visual to show projected sales for each year. She can easily use visual calculations to calculate the projections by adding an expression such as Profit = (Sales Amount) – (Total Product Cost) to her visual.
Power BI Desktop organizes measures in a special table called Measures, which appears at the top of Fields list. You can also move a measure into multiple folders within this table by using the name and a semicolon to separate them, for example: Products
What is a Measure Calculator?
A measure calculator lets you compare a numeric value to another measurement unit to determine the difference. For example, you can convert a length measurement such as 7 inches to a capacity measurement such as centimeters or meters.
To use a measure calculator, select the Measures list and then click an item to make it active. In the Expression definition box, type a new calculation using the CALCULATE function. You can also select other properties for the measure, such as its description and format.
The measure calculator is a handy tool when you need to calculate an amount in one unit of measure while knowing the quantity for the product in a different unit of measurement. For example, you can use the Measure Calculator when you enter a physical inventory amount in Inventory Bin Move Demand Create, One Step Inventory Location Transfer, or Product Inventory Reservation Maintenance. Then, you can calculate the amount in a different unit of measure by clicking the U/M Calc button.