Rules / Formatting

Do not summarize numeric columns

error NUMERIC_COLUMN_SUMMARIZE_BY · ported · scope: Column, CalculatedColumn, CalculatedTableColumn

What it checks

Visible whole number, decimal, or double columns whose default summarization is anything other than None.

Why it matters

With a default summarization, dragging the column onto a visual produces an implicit sum, and it is easy to sum something that should never be summed: a year, a unit price, a percentage, a key. The implicit measure also bypasses the format string and the logic of the real measures, so two visuals of the same thing disagree. With summarization off, the column lands on a visual as a category and the author reaches for a measure.

How to fix it

In Power BI Desktop, select the column and set Summarization to Don't summarize under Column tools. In the TMDL file the property is summarizeBy: none. Create explicit measures for the aggregations reports need.

Quirks

• A column with no summarizeBy property is treated as Default, which is not None, so it is flagged.

Links

• https://github.com/microsoft/Analysis-Services/blob/master/BestPracticeRules/BPARules.json

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