Summary

Data Analysis Expressions (DAX) is a set of functions and language elements that adds a robust calculation feature to PowerPivot for Excel. DAX is intended to be familiar to anyone that has created Excel formulas. The two principal uses of DAX are to create calculated columns within a data table and to create custom measures within the PowerPivot field list. In our introduction to DAX, these are the important points:

• DAX is a calculation language for PowerPivot based on an Excel-like function set.
• DAX can be used to create calculated columns or custom measures.

DAX formulas cannot reference a cell address, all function data is at the table and column levels.