PL-300 Visualize and analyze the data Practice Question
You have a Power BI report that uses a measure with a filter context. You want to override the filter context for a specific calculation. Which function should you use?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
CALCULATE
CALCULATE (option C) is correct because it is the only DAX function that modifies the filter context of a measure, allowing you to override or replace existing filters for a specific calculation by supplying new filter arguments. ALL (option A) is a table function that removes filters from a column or table but does not itself change the evaluation context of a calculation. FILTER (option B) returns a filtered table and is typically used as an argument inside CALCULATE, not as the context-modifying function itself. VALUES (option D) returns a one-column table of distinct values and does not alter filter context.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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ALL
Why it's wrong here
ALL removes filters from one or more columns or from an entire table, yet when invoked by itself it simply returns a table or column of values with filters ignored. It does not automatically alter the filter context under which a measure evaluates; rather, it serves as a filter argument inside CALCULATE or CALCULATETABLE to clear specific filters. Therefore, ALL alone is not the function that modifies filter context for a measure calculation.
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FILTER
Why it's wrong here
FILTER returns a table representing a subset of another table based on a Boolean condition, but it does not itself change the filter context of a measure. It is an iterator that can be used as a filter argument inside CALCULATE, yet on its own it simply produces a filtered table for row-by-row evaluation or further table operations. Since the question asks about modifying the filter context of a measure, FILTER is not the function that accomplishes that on its own.
- ✓
CALCULATE
Why this is correct
CALCULATE is the only DAX function that directly modifies the filter context for an expression, allowing you to add, remove, or override existing filters when computing a measure. It evaluates its first argument (typically a measure or aggregation) in a new filter context constructed from its subsequent filter arguments, which can include expressions, tables, or filter modifiers like ALL. This makes CALCULATE the correct choice when the goal is to apply a specific filter to a measure regardless of the surrounding report filters.
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VALUES
Why it's wrong here
VALUES returns a one-column table containing the distinct values from a column in the current filter context. It is a lookup function that exposes the active filters but does not alter or override them in any way. Because the requirement is to modify filter context for a measure, VALUES cannot be used directly; it is more commonly placed inside a CALCULATE or used with HASONEVALUE for conditional logic.
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