ALL function for removing filters in Power BI - Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

The ALL function in Power BI helps you ignore filters on a table or column. This lets you see total values without any filter affecting the result. It is useful when you want to compare filtered data to the overall total.

When you want to show total sales for all regions even if a region filter is applied.

When creating a percentage of total measure that ignores slicer selections.

When you want to reset filters on a specific column inside a measure calculation.

When comparing filtered results to the grand total in a report.

When you want to clear filters on a table to calculate overall averages.

Steps

Step 1: Open

- Power BI Desktop

Power BI Desktop opens with your report and data model loaded

Step 2: Click

- Modeling tab

Modeling ribbon options appear

Step 3: Click

- New measure button

A formula bar appears at the top for writing DAX

Step 4: Type

- Formula bar

The measure formula is entered

💡 Example formula: Total Sales All = CALCULATE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), ALL(Sales))

Step 5: Press

- Enter key

The new measure is created and appears in the Fields pane

Step 6: Add

- Report canvas

The measure visualizes total sales ignoring any filters on the Sales table

Before vs After

Before

A sales chart filtered to show only the East region with total sales of 100,000

After

The same chart shows total sales of 500,000 for all regions ignoring the East filter

Settings Reference

ALL function

📍 DAX formula bar

Removes filters from the specified table or column

Default: No default, used inside CALCULATE or other functions

CALCULATE function

📍 DAX formula bar

Changes filter context for the expression, often combined with ALL

Default: No default, used to modify filter context

Common Mistakes

Using ALL without CALCULATE in a measure

ALL alone does not change filter context unless inside CALCULATE

Use ALL inside CALCULATE to remove filters properly, e.g. CALCULATE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), ALL(Sales))

Applying ALL to a column when you want to remove filters on the whole table

Removing filters on one column may not clear all filters affecting the table

Use ALL on the entire table to remove all filters, e.g. ALL(Sales)

Summary

The ALL function removes filters from a table or column in DAX calculations.

Use ALL inside CALCULATE to change filter context and see totals ignoring slicers or filters.

Remember to choose ALL on the right table or column depending on which filters to remove.

Practice

1. What does the ALL function do in Power BI DAX?

easy

A. It removes filters from a table or column, showing all data.

B. It applies additional filters to narrow down data.

C. It sorts data in ascending order.

D. It creates a new calculated column.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of ALL

   The ALL function removes any filters applied on a table or column, so the calculation sees all rows regardless of slicers or filters.

2. Step 2: Compare with other options

   Options B, C, and D describe different functions: filtering, sorting, and creating columns, which ALL does not do.

3. Final Answer:

   It removes filters from a table or column, showing all data. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   ALL removes filters = A [OK]

Hint: ALL clears filters to show full data set [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking ALL applies filters instead of removing them
• Confusing ALL with sorting or column creation
• Assuming ALL changes data values

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to remove filters from the 'Sales' table using ALL inside CALCULATE?

easy

A. CALCULATE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), ALL(Sales))

B. CALCULATE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), REMOVEFILTERS(Sales))

C. CALCULATE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), FILTER(ALL(Sales)))

D. CALCULATE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), ALLFILTERS(Sales))

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify correct ALL usage

   The ALL function is used inside CALCULATE as ALL(TableName) to remove filters from that table.

2. Step 2: Check other options for syntax errors

   CALCULATE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), REMOVEFILTERS(Sales)) uses REMOVEFILTERS which is valid but not ALL; CALCULATE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), FILTER(ALL(Sales))) misuses FILTER with ALL; CALCULATE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), ALLFILTERS(Sales)) uses ALLFILTERS which is different from ALL.

3. Final Answer:

   CALCULATE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), ALL(Sales)) -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   ALL inside CALCULATE = A [OK]

Hint: Use ALL(Table) inside CALCULATE to remove filters [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing ALL with REMOVEFILTERS or ALLFILTERS
• Incorrect use of FILTER with ALL
• Syntax errors like missing parentheses

3. Given the measure:

 Total Sales All = CALCULATE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), ALL(Sales)) 

If a report page filter limits Sales[Region] to 'West', what will Total Sales All show?

medium

A. Sum of Sales Amount only for 'West' region

B. Zero because filter removes all data

C. Sum of Sales Amount for all regions ignoring the filter

D. Error due to conflicting filters

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand ALL effect on filters

   ALL(Sales) removes all filters on the Sales table, including the Region filter.

2. Step 2: Calculate measure ignoring page filter

   CALCULATE with ALL returns the sum of Sales Amount for all regions, ignoring the 'West' filter.

3. Final Answer:

   Sum of Sales Amount for all regions ignoring the filter -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   ALL removes filters, so total ignores 'West' filter [OK]

Hint: ALL ignores filters, shows total regardless of slicers [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming ALL respects page filters
• Thinking ALL causes errors with filters
• Confusing ALL with partial filter removal

4. You wrote this measure:

 Total Sales = CALCULATE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), ALL(Sales[Region])) 

But it still applies other filters on the Sales table. What is the likely issue?

medium

A. The measure syntax is invalid and causes errors.

B. ALL cannot be used on columns, only on tables.

C. You need to use REMOVEFILTERS instead of ALL.

D. ALL(Sales[Region]) removes filters only on Region column, not the whole table.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand ALL on column vs table

   ALL(Sales[Region]) removes filters only on the Region column, so other filters on Sales table remain.

2. Step 2: Explain why other filters might persist

   If other filters exist on Sales table or related tables, they still apply; only Region column filters are removed.

3. Final Answer:

   ALL(Sales[Region]) removes filters only on Region column, not the whole table. -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   ALL on column removes only that column's filters [OK]

Hint: ALL(column) clears that column's filters only [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking ALL(column) removes all table filters
• Believing ALL is invalid on columns
• Confusing ALL with REMOVEFILTERS

5. You want to create a measure that calculates the percentage of total sales ignoring any filters on the 'Product' table but respecting other filters. Which DAX formula correctly uses ALL to achieve this?

hard

A. Percent of Total = DIVIDE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), CALCULATE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), ALL(Sales)))

B. Percent of Total = DIVIDE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), CALCULATE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), ALL(Product)))

C. Percent of Total = DIVIDE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), CALCULATE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), ALL(Product[Category])))

D. Percent of Total = DIVIDE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), CALCULATE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), REMOVEFILTERS(Product)))

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the table to remove filters from

   We want to ignore filters on the entire Product table, so use ALL(Product) inside CALCULATE.

2. Step 2: Confirm measure calculates percentage correctly

   DIVIDE numerator by total ignoring Product filters gives correct percent respecting other filters.

3. Step 3: Check other options

   Percent of Total = DIVIDE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), CALCULATE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), ALL(Sales))) removes filters on Sales, not Product; Percent of Total = DIVIDE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), CALCULATE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), ALL(Product[Category]))) removes filters only on Product[Category]; Percent of Total = DIVIDE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), CALCULATE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), REMOVEFILTERS(Product))) uses REMOVEFILTERS which works but question asks for ALL usage.

4. Final Answer:

   Percent of Total = DIVIDE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), CALCULATE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), ALL(Product))) -> Option B

5. Quick Check:

   ALL(Product) removes Product filters for total [OK]

Hint: Use ALL(Product) inside CALCULATE for total ignoring Product filters [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Removing filters on wrong table
• Using ALL on column instead of table
• Confusing REMOVEFILTERS with ALL