TREATAS – simple calculation using “non existent” relations (DAX – Power Pivot, Power BI)
This is a short explanation of the TREATAS function. It enables us to calculate measures, that usually uses relations, when actually not having them.
It is useful when you can not create a relation.
How to do it?
Let´s say there are two tables. The first one is a dimension, describing names and types of goods.
The second one is a fact table, containing, among other columns, Revenue. This Revenue is going to be grouped by names of goods.
If there was a relation (from Goods ID to Goods ID), it would be a piece of cake. And, actually, no measure would be necessary. But, having no relation, we create a measure containing TREATAS and use it in a visual.
- REVENUE with treatas = CALCULATE(
- CALCULATE puts SUM and TREATAS together
- SUM summarizes
- TREATAS defines, which columns from both tables create the "fictional" relation
- DISTINCT (or VALUES) because the relation needs unique values on one side.
Then the result is like this: