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Avoid using FILTER as a filter argument

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As a data modeler, it's common you'll write DAX expressions that need to be evaluated in a modified filter context. For example, you can write a measure definition to calculate sales for "high margin products". We'll describe this calculation later in this article.

Note

This article is especially relevant for model calculations that apply filters to Import tables.

The CALCULATE and CALCULATETABLE DAX functions are important and useful functions. They let you write calculations that remove or add filters, or modify relationship paths. It's done by passing in filter arguments, which are either Boolean expressions, table expressions, or special filter functions. We'll only discuss Boolean and table expressions in this article.

Consider the following measure definition, which calculates red product sales by using a table expression. It will replace any filters that might be applied to the Product table.

Red Sales =
CALCULATE(
    [Sales],
    FILTER('Product', 'Product'[Color] = "Red")
)

The CALCULATE function accepts a table expression returned by the FILTER DAX function, which evaluates its filter expression for each row of the Product table. It achieves the correct result—the sales result for red products. However, it could be achieved much more efficiently by using a Boolean expression.

Here's an improved measure definition, which uses a Boolean expression instead of the table expression. The KEEPFILTERS DAX function ensures any existing filters applied to the Color column are preserved, and not overwritten.

Red Sales =
CALCULATE(
    [Sales],
    KEEPFILTERS('Product'[Color] = "Red")
)

It's recommended you pass filter arguments as Boolean expressions, whenever possible. It's because Import model tables are in-memory column stores. They are explicitly optimized to efficiently filter columns in this way.

There are, however, restrictions that apply to Boolean expressions when they're used as filter arguments. They:

  • Cannot reference columns from multiple tables
  • Cannot reference a measure
  • Cannot use nested CALCULATE functions
  • Cannot use functions that scan or return a table

It means that you'll need to use table expressions for more complex filter requirements.

Consider now a different measure definition. The requirement is to calculate sales, but only for months that have achieved a profit.

Sales for Profitable Months =
CALCULATE(
    [Sales],
    FILTER(
        VALUES('Date'[Month]),
        [Profit] > 0
    )
)

In this example, the FILTER function must be used. It's because it requires evaluating the Profit measure to eliminate those months that didn't achieve a profit. It's not possible to use a measure in a Boolean expression when it's used as a filter argument.

Recommendations

For best performance, it's recommended you use Boolean expressions as filter arguments, whenever possible.

Therefore, the FILTER function should only be used when necessary. You can use it to perform filter complex column comparisons. These column comparisons can involve:

  • Measures
  • Other columns
  • Using the OR DAX function, or the OR logical operator (||)

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