Calendar (or date) table is crucial for performing date intelligence calculations in Power BI.
Normally, you would find a reasonable calendar table in most data models. But occasionally I come across models where there is no calendar table.
So I present to you, the ultimate & best way to generate calendar table using Power Query.
How to create the perfect calendar table with Power Query?
Start by creating a new “blank query” connection in Power BI.
Then use the =List.Dates() function to generate the dates you want.
For example, to get the calendar dates for year 2025 use below code:
= List.Dates(#date(2025,1,1),365, #duration(1,0,0,0))
This will generate a list of all the dates in 2025.
Now, convert the list to a table using the List Tools > Transform ribbon.
Once you have the dates in a table format, you can use the “add column” ribbon and “Date” options to introduce many date related columns.
For example you can add:
- Year (4 digit year value)
- Month number
- Month name
- Weekday name
- Weekday number
- Start of month
- End of month
- Start of week
- Quarter of the year
- Days in a month
Additional "smart" date columns
Apart from all the columns above, I normally add these two columns to my calendar tables.
- Year month (a 6 digit representation like 202308 for ex.)
- Type of month (current month, previous month, next month)
Let’s look at the Power Query (M) code for these columns.
Year Month (yyyymm):
= Table.AddColumn(#"Inserted Start of Month", "Year Month", each [Year] * 100 + [Month])
Type of Month:
= Table.AddColumn(#"Added Custom", "Month Type", each if Date.IsInCurrentMonth([Date]) then "This Month"
else if Date.IsInPreviousMonth([Date]) then "Previous Month"
else if Date.IsInNextMonth([Date]) then "Next Month"
else "Other Month")
Full M Script for generating the 2025 calendar table
Use this M script to generate the calendar table for year 2025.
To apply this, create a blank query in PQ and then go to View > Advanced Editor and paste the code there. Adjust the year in source step (step 1) to get the calendar for any year.
let
Source = List.Dates(#date(2025,1,1),365, #duration(1,0,0,0)),
#"Converted to Table" = Table.FromList(Source, Splitter.SplitByNothing(), null, null, ExtraValues.Error),
#"Renamed Columns" = Table.RenameColumns(#"Converted to Table",{{"Column1", "Date"}}),
#"Changed Type" = Table.TransformColumnTypes(#"Renamed Columns",{{"Date", type date}}),
#"Inserted Year" = Table.AddColumn(#"Changed Type", "Year", each Date.Year([Date]), Int64.Type),
#"Inserted Month" = Table.AddColumn(#"Inserted Year", "Month", each Date.Month([Date]), Int64.Type),
#"Inserted Month Name" = Table.AddColumn(#"Inserted Month", "Month Name", each Date.MonthName([Date]), type text),
#"Inserted Day of Week" = Table.AddColumn(#"Inserted Month Name", "Day of Week", each Date.DayOfWeek([Date]), Int64.Type),
#"Inserted Day Name" = Table.AddColumn(#"Inserted Day of Week", "Day Name", each Date.DayOfWeekName([Date]), type text),
#"Added Conditional Column" = Table.AddColumn(#"Inserted Day Name", "Is Weekend?", each if [Day of Week] = 6 then "Yes" else if [Day of Week] = 0 then "Yes" else "No"),
#"Inserted Start of Month" = Table.AddColumn(#"Added Conditional Column", "Start of Month", each Date.StartOfMonth([Date]), type date),
#"Added Custom" = Table.AddColumn(#"Inserted Start of Month", "Year Month", each [Year] * 100 + [Month]),
#"Added Custom1" = Table.AddColumn(#"Added Custom", "Month Type", each if Date.IsInCurrentMonth([Date]) then "This Month"
else if Date.IsInPreviousMonth([Date]) then "Previous Month"
else if Date.IsInNextMonth([Date]) then "Next Month"
else "Other Month")
in
#"Added Custom1"
Perfect Calendar with Power Query - Video
Check out this video to understand the process better.
How to customize the Calendar Query for other years?
You can change the “Source” step and replace the year number or number of days to generate the calendar for whatever year you need. For example, to make the 2 years calendar for years 2026 and 2027, use this code:
= List.Dates(#date(2026,1,1),730, #duration(1,0,0,0))
To make the calendar for next “n” years:
We can use additional date functions in Power Query M language to generate the calendar for next “n” years from a start date. For example, if you change the source step to below code, you will get next 5 years calendar from 1-Jan-2025.
= let start_date = #date(2025,1,1), number_of_years = 5, end_date = Date.AddYears(start_date,number_of_years), total_days = Duration.Days(end_date - start_date)
in List.Dates(start_date,total_days, #duration(1,0,0,0))
More ways to make the calendar table
Check out below tutorials from other Power BI / Excel folks to see different Power Query scripts.
24 Responses
I’d suggest simply using the subtotal function and filtering the data using the Win/Loss column. You get the same results and the formula is more comprehensible.
@John
That is one option.
There are times however when you want to see the whole data table or a filtered subset and still want to produce summary reports against an unfiltered field.
Is there a particular reason why you are using a comma and the unary (–) operator for the second array in the SUMPRODUCT formula? It seems to work the same if you were to string the arrays together using the asterisk (*). The advantage is that SUMPRODUCT treats the entire string of arrays as a single array.
@Mathew
Your correct, There is no difference.
I thought it may have been easier to explain this method.
Is there a way to do this on a large set of data? As in ~100,000 rows? When I try I get an error because the formula becomes too long. It says the max length of a formula is 8,192 characters. Excel 2010.
How do I incorporate a specific text within a cell for the second array. For instance, – -(C7:C13=”Apple”)
when I chose a specific text the formula does not work.
@RB
I am not sure what is the issue as if I use the sample data in the post the following work fine
Count:
=SUMPRODUCT(SUBTOTAL(3,OFFSET(C7:C13,ROW(C7:C13)-MIN(ROW(C7:C13)),,1)), –(C7:C13=”L”))
Sum:
=SUMPRODUCT(SUBTOTAL(3,OFFSET(C7:C13,ROW(C7:C13)-MIN(ROW(C7:C13)),,1)),(C7:C13=”L”)*(D7:D13))
You may want to check that there are no leading or trailing spaces in your list of Apples
I should have given a better explanation. Heres my situation. I have a column with cells filled with names like Column 1, Column 2, Pier 1, Pier 2, etc. If the cell just contained Pier and searched for that it works. But because it has other characters in the cell its not recognizing the pier. So how can I extract specific characters of a string of text in this formula?
Hopefully this was a better explanation
Hello-
This formula works pretty well for me except that it slow down excel and prevents some of my macros from working. I was wondering if there was a way to program this in VBA so that excel isn’t always trying to recalculate it. I would like to use a push of a button to get it to run then paste in a cell.
Thanks!
I am trying to sum filtered data in a column, but would want to ignore the negative values in the column. How to go about doing this?
@Akshay
Why not just add a filter to that column to only show the values greater than zero?
The negative values are required for reporting purposes, but their effect on the total is distorting the required output. Please advise.
@Akshay
I’d suggest making a post in the Chandoo.org Forums
http://forum.chandoo.org/
Attach a sample file to simplify the task
I have this working for counting and summing, however, I have a list and for the second array, I need a criteria. That is, I’m looking for b13:b200=”01.??.??” or =left((a1,2) or something like that. These types of criteria matches do not appear to work as I get a blank as a result.
Thanks!
@Bob
As your formula b13:b200=”01.??.??” looks like you are trying to check the first day of the month of the range
What about trying Day(B13:B200)=1
Hai Experts,
i understood this formula well and working fine in MS Excel 2013
but when the same am trying to place in google Spreadsheet it shows error as
“SUMPRODUCT has mismatched range sizes. Expected row count: 1. column count: 1. Actual row count: 2014, column count: 1.” and as a result #VALUE! Appears in cell.
Can anyone please help me how would i get it done in Google Spread sheet
or is there any other formula as a substitute for this.
Thank you very much.
thanks for providing this.. but why does excel keeps on prompting Circular referencing in cell D3?
@Vivek
I don’t know
I just downloaded the file and it is working fine and not showing that error
Goto the Formulas, Calculation Options Tab and check that Calculation is set to Automatic
What version of Excel and Windows are you using ?
I know that this forum is for MS Excel, but I am trying to help someone who is working in Google Sheets. The below formula works in Excel but Google Sheets returns:
“SUMPRODUCT has mismatched range sizes. Expected row count: 1. column count: 1. Actual row count: 39000, column count: 1.” and as a result #VALUE! Appears in cell.
This is the same problem asked by Srichirin above. Does anyone know if there is a formula for Google Sheets that will replicate what MS Excel does?
=SUMPRODUCT(SUBTOTAL(3,OFFSET($C$6:$C$39500,ROW($C$6:$C$39500)-MIN(ROW($C$6:$C$39500)),,1)),- -($C$6:$C$39500=H1),($D$6:$D$39500))
Trying to find a SUMPRODUCT formula that counts the word Closed by date for the last 7 days in a filtered list.
=COUNTIF(M:M,”>”&TODAY()-7) works ok for unfiltered count Column M contains Closure dates (blank if open) and Column L is Status Open or Closed
@ Terry
Please ask the question at the Chandoo.org Forums
https://chandoo.org/forum/
Please attach a sample file to ensure a quicker more accurate answer
I used this formula and worked like a charm! But, now I’ve been requested to use it but adding not one but two criteria in the same formula. For instance the sum I was doing added negative and positive numbers. I’ve been asked to use the exact same formula but adding that only positive numbers were considered… any idea on how to do this?
How exactly do you do sum filtered cells when two criteria are need not just one?
Thank you so much brother literally I have been struggling since morning to get the sum of the filtered category, however, after reading your blog attentively i got my solution, so thanks a lot once again.