Implementing a Tabular Data Model by Using SQL Server Analysis Services — Lesson 2: DAX Calculations, Measures, and Time Intelligence

Learning Objectives

• Write calculated columns and measures with reusable DAX patterns
• Apply filter context, row context, iterators, variables, and context transition
• Create date tables, time-intelligence calculations, KPIs, and business metrics

Detailed Topics

• Write calculated columns and measures with reusable DAX patterns: Write calculated columns and measures with reusable DAX patterns
• Apply filter context: Apply filter context, row context, iterators, variables, and context transition
• Create date tables: Create date tables, time-intelligence calculations, KPIs, and business metrics

Guided Demonstration

1. Review the requirement, environment, dependencies, roles, risks, and expected outcome.
2. Demonstrate the relevant configuration, analysis, code, or administration workflow step by step.
3. Capture settings, outputs, logs, screenshots, calculations, or test evidence.
4. Compare the observed result with the stated acceptance criteria.

Hands-On Activity

Implement and verify a set of business measures and time-based comparisons.

• Document assumptions and the planned sequence before making changes.
• Complete the activity and preserve evidence of normal and exception behavior.
• Record issues, corrective actions, and reusable operational or development notes.

Troubleshooting Focus

• Separate symptoms from causes and collect evidence before applying a fix.
• Check configuration, permissions, data, dependencies, capacity, connectivity, and recent changes.
• Validate rollback, recovery, support ownership, and user or business impact.

Validation Checklist

• The requirement and expected outcome are clear.
• The selected configuration, design, query, code, or process is documented.
• Normal, boundary, failure, security, and operational conditions are reviewed.
• The result is supported by evidence and the next improvement is prioritized.

Lesson Outcome

Learners can explain and apply DAX Calculations, Measures, and Time Intelligence in a realistic scenario and validate the result with documented evidence.