The Definitive Guide to DAX: Mastering the semantic model expression language for Microsoft Power BI, Fabric, and Excel

by Alberto Ferrari, Marco Russo

Overview

Seasoned Experts Alberto Ferrari and Marco Russo Help You Master DAX for Superior Business Intelligence Solutions

The Definitive Guide to DAX is an authoritative resource for mastering the DAX language, which is pivotal for creating measures for semantic models in Microsoft Power BI, Fabric, Analysis Services, and Excel. With years of experience since the inception of Power Pivot, the authors offer a comprehensive reference that navigates through the unique and complex concepts of DAX, making it an essential tool for BI professionals. This third edition updates you with the latest features and provides a framework for writing efficient DAX code, enhancing your ability to customize calculations in data models. You will gain the skills necessary to understand and apply advanced DAX concepts, structure code in user-defined functions, and leverage new calendars for time intelligence calculations.

By reading this book, you will:

• Understand the foundational concepts of DAX and its unique language structure
• Master the use of evaluation contexts to enhance data analysis
• Utilize CALCULATE and CALCULATETABLE functions effectively
• Implement variables to simplify complex DAX expressions
• Leverage classic and new calendar based time intelligence functions
• Work with iterators to perform advanced calculations
• Apply visual calculations to improve report interactivity
• Create and manage calculation groups for dynamic reporting
• Handle complex hierarchies and relationships in data models
• Author DAX queries for testing and troubleshooting

About This Book

• For BI professionals and Excel power users eager to deepen their understanding of DAX and enhance their data modeling capabilities with advanced techniques
• For data analysts and IT specialists seeking to optimize their use of Microsoft Power BI, Fabric, Analysis Services, and Excel for more efficient and insightful data analysis

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780138244866
Publisher:	Pearson Education
Publication date:	12/08/2025
Series:	Business Skills
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Alberto Ferrari and Marco Russo are renowned experts in the fi eld of business intelligence and data analysis, specializing in the DAX language and Microsoft Power BI. As the founders of sqlbi.com, they have established a leading platform for DAX tutorials and articles, sharing their extensive knowledge with a global audience. With a deep understanding of DAX since its early days in Power Pivot, Marco and Alberto have become influential figures in the BI community, regularly speaking at prestigious international conferences such as Microsoft Fabric Conference, PASS Summit, and SQLBits.

Table of Contents

1        Introduction to learning DAX

2        Introducing DAX

3        Introducing the filter context and CALCULATE

4        Manipulating the filter context

5        Introducing the row context and the context transition

6        Understanding basic table functions

7        Understanding variables

8        Understanding the evaluation context

9        Working with the evaluation context

10      Understanding user-defined functions in DAX

11      Working with tables

12      Understanding window functions in DAX

13      Time intelligence calculations

14      Understanding visual calculations

15      Understanding calculation groups

16      Inspecting the filter context and managing hierarchies

17      Authoring queries

18      Advanced DAX concepts

19      Practicing DAX with advanced examples