ALL function for removing filters in Power BI - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What does the ALL function do in Power BI DAX?

The ALL function removes filters from a table or column, showing all data regardless of any applied filters.

beginner

How would you use ALL to ignore filters on a specific column?

Use ALL(ColumnName) inside a measure to ignore filters on that column and calculate over all its values.

intermediate

What is the difference between ALL and REMOVEFILTERS in Power BI?

ALL returns all rows ignoring filters and can be used inside CALCULATE; REMOVEFILTERS explicitly removes filters but behaves similarly in many cases.

beginner

Write a simple DAX measure using ALL to calculate total sales ignoring any filters on Product Category.

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

intermediate

Why is ALL useful in creating percentage of total calculations?

ALL removes filters so you can calculate the total over all data, which is needed to find the percentage of a part compared to the whole.

What does ALL(Product[Category]) do in a DAX measure?

A Removes filters on Product Category

B Applies filters only on Product Category

C Counts distinct Product Categories

D Filters Product Category to selected values

ALL(Product[Category]) removes any filters on the Product Category column, so calculations consider all categories.

Which function can be used to remove filters from a whole table in DAX?

A ALL(TableName)

B FILTER(TableName)

C SUM(TableName)

D CALCULATE(TableName)

ALL(TableName) removes filters from the entire table, allowing calculations over all rows.

In which DAX function is ALL commonly used to modify filter context?

A SUMX

B CALCULATE

C FILTER

D VALUES

ALL is often used inside CALCULATE to change or remove filters for a calculation.

What happens if you use ALL without CALCULATE in a measure?

A It sums values ignoring filters

B It removes filters automatically

C It returns a table ignoring filters but does not change filter context

D It causes an error

ALL returns a table ignoring filters but does not change the filter context unless used inside CALCULATE.

Why would you use ALL in a percentage of total sales measure?

A To filter sales by category

B To apply filters on dates

C To count sales transactions

D To calculate total sales ignoring filters for the denominator

ALL removes filters so the total sales calculation includes all data, which is needed for the percentage denominator.

Explain how the ALL function changes filter context in a Power BI measure.

Think about how filters normally limit data and how ALL ignores them.

Describe a real-life example where using ALL in a measure would be helpful.

Imagine you want to show sales for one product as a percent of all sales.

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