Calculated tables in Power BI - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is a calculated table in Power BI?

A calculated table is a table created using a DAX formula inside Power BI. It is not imported from data but generated based on other data or calculations.

beginner

How do you create a calculated table in Power BI?

You create a calculated table by going to the Modeling tab and selecting 'New Table', then writing a DAX formula that defines the table's data.

intermediate

Which DAX function can you use to create a calculated table that combines rows from two tables?

You can use the UNION() function to combine rows from two tables into a calculated table.

beginner

True or False: Calculated tables update automatically when the data model refreshes.

True. Calculated tables recalculate and update automatically when the data model refreshes or when dependent data changes.

intermediate

What is a practical use case for calculated tables?

Calculated tables can be used to create summary tables, filter data, or create relationships that don't exist in the original data.

Which tab in Power BI do you use to create a calculated table?

A Home

B Modeling

C View

D Data

Calculated tables are created from the Modeling tab by selecting 'New Table'.

What does the DAX function UNION() do when used in a calculated table?

A Filters rows based on a condition

B Joins two tables side by side

C Combines rows from two tables into one

D Calculates the sum of a column

UNION() stacks rows from two tables into a single table.

Which of these is NOT true about calculated tables?

A They are imported directly from external files

B They can be used to create new relationships

C They update when the data model refreshes

D They can be created using DAX formulas

Calculated tables are generated inside Power BI using DAX, not imported from files.

If you want to create a table that only shows sales from 2023, which DAX function might you use in a calculated table?

A SUM()

B AVERAGE()

C UNION()

D FILTER()

FILTER() lets you create a table with rows that meet a condition, like sales from 2023.

What happens to a calculated table when you refresh your Power BI data model?

A It recalculates based on current data

B It deletes automatically

C It stays the same until manually updated

D It exports to Excel

Calculated tables recalculate automatically when the data model refreshes.

Explain what a calculated table is and how it differs from imported tables in Power BI.

Think about how you create it and when it changes.

Describe two practical examples where you might use calculated tables in a Power BI report.

Consider why you might want new tables beyond your original data.