RELATED for cross-table values in Power BI - Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

RELATED helps you get data from another table that is connected to your current table. It solves the problem of showing related information without copying data between tables.

When you want to show a product name from the Products table in your Sales table report.

When you need to get the customer city from the Customers table while looking at orders.

When you want to calculate a measure using a value from a related table.

When you have two tables linked by a key and want to bring data from one to the other.

When you want to avoid duplicating data by using relationships instead.

Steps

Step 1: Open

- Power BI Desktop and load your data model with related tables

You see your tables and their relationships in the Model view

Step 2: Click

- Model view to confirm there is a relationship between the two tables

You see a line connecting the tables, showing they are related

Step 3: Go to

- Data view or Report view

You can create a new measure or calculated column

Step 4: Click

- Modeling tab > New column

A formula bar appears to write your DAX formula

Step 5: Type

- Formula bar

The new column shows values from the related table

💡 Use syntax: RELATED(RelatedTable[ColumnName])

Step 6: Press

- Enter key

The new column is added to your current table with related values

Step 7: Use

- The new column in your report visuals

You see combined data from both tables without duplicating data

Before vs After

Before

Sales table has only product IDs, no product names visible

After

Sales table shows product names from the Products table using RELATED

Settings Reference

Relationships

📍 Model view

Defines how tables are connected for RELATED to work

Default: One-to-many

Cross filter direction

📍 Manage relationships dialog

Controls how filters flow between related tables

Default: Single

Common Mistakes

Using RELATED when there is no relationship between tables

RELATED requires a defined relationship to work and will give an error if missing

Create a relationship between the tables first in Model view

Using RELATED in the wrong table direction

RELATED only works from the many side to the one side in a one-to-many relationship

Use RELATED only in the table on the many side of the relationship

Summary

RELATED brings data from a connected table into your current table.

It requires a relationship between tables to work correctly.

Use RELATED in calculated columns or measures on the many side of a one-to-many relationship.