One of the first concepts to learn in DAX is the difference between calculated columns and measures. This article shortly recaps the differences and describes when to use each one.  Read more

The relationships in a data model queried by DAX are a fundamental part of the engine and simplify the query itself. This article examines the cost of relationships in a data model, providing hints to optimize them.  Read more

Analyzing table and column size is an important step in optimizing a data model for Power Pivot, Power BI, or Analysis Services Tabular. This article describes VertiPaq Analyzer, an Excel workbook to analyze detailed information extracted from Dynamic Management Views.  Read more

DAX is a functional language that does not allow you to create functions. However, if you need to pass a parameter to an algorithm, you can use a measure passing a value through a filter argument in CALCULATE, as described…  Read more

Choosing the right hardware is critical for a solution based on Analysis Services Tabular. Spending more does not always mean having a better machine. This short article describes how to choose the right server and, as you will see, the…  Read more

The default memory settings for Analysis Services Tabular might be less than optimal. This article describes why this might happen, and guides you choosing the right configuration.  Read more

The names used for table, columns, and measures in DAX cannot be renamed without breaking existing DAX formulas. This article describes how to leverage translations to decouple user interface from internal model names in Analysis Services Tabular.  Read more

This page contains descriptions and links to necessary tools and resources for DAX and Tabular developers.  Read more

The autoexist feature used by MDX queries sent to an Analysis Services or Power Pivot data models can have different behaviors depending on the normalization level. This article describes these differences and provides best practices to avoid unwanted results.  Read more

In DAX there are different ways to test whether a table is empty. This test can be used in complex DAX expressions and this short article briefly discuss what are the suggested approaches from a performance perspective.  Read more