Expressions

An expression column is used to create an expression which is a combination of data columns, operators and built-in functions. This expression column will act as a calculated measure that can be configured to report item like other normal numeric columns as a quantitative measure.
The expression icon in the tools pane will be in disabled state, if there is no table found dropped in table design view.

Expression Dialog can be launched through the Expression icon in the query designer toolbar highlighted below:

Now the expression dialog will be launched.

Adding an Expression Column

Click Add in the Expression Dialog to add a new expression column.

Enter a suitable name for the expression in the Name text area. By default, it will be Expression1.

Define an expression in an Expression text area. The syntax for defining a simple expression is,

{function name(}[columnname]{operator[columnname])…}

where, content within curly braces is optional.

Some expressions for reference:

1) YEAR([Order Date]) – To compute year of order date.

2) [Freight]+100 – To compute the total with 100 added to Freight.

Following built-in functions are supported in Expression Designer.

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Category Functions Syntax & Descriptions
Numbers ABS
    Syntax:</br> ABS(numeric_expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns the absolute value of the given expression.</br>
Numbers ACOS
    Syntax:</br> ACOS(numeric_expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns the inverse cosine (also known as arccosine) of the given numeric expression.</br>
Numbers ASIN
    Syntax:</br> ASIN(numeric_expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns the inverse sine (also known as arcsine) of the given numeric expression.</br>
Numbers ATAN
    Syntax:</br> ATAN(numeric_expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns the inverse tangent (also known as arctangent) of the given numeric expression.</br>
Numbers COS
    Syntax:</br> COS(numeric_expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns the cosine of the angle specified in radians, in the given expression.</br>
Numbers DEGREES
    Syntax:</br> DEGREES(numeric_expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns the angle in degrees for the one specified in radians, in the given numeric expression. </br>
Numbers EXP
    Syntax:</br> EXP(numeric_expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns the exponential value of the given expression. </br>
Numbers LOG
    Syntax:</br> LOG(numeric_expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns the logarithm of the given expression to the specified base. </br>
Numbers PI
    Syntax:</br> PI()</br> Description:</br> Returns the constant value of PI.</br>
Numbers POWER
    Syntax:</br> POWER(numeric_expression, numeric_expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns the value of the given expression (expression1) to the specified power (expression2).</br>
Numbers ROUND
    Syntax:</br> ROUND(numeric_expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns a rounded value.</br>
Numbers RADIANS
    Syntax:</br> RADIANS(numeric_expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns the angle in radians for the one specified in degrees in the given numeric expression.</br>
Numbers SIGN
    Syntax:</br> SIGN(numeric_expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns a value representing the positive (+1), zero (0), or negative (-1) sign of the given numeric expression.</br>
Numbers SIN
    Syntax:</br> SIN(numeric_expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns the sine of the angle specified in radians, in the given expression.</br>
Numbers SQRT
    Syntax:</br> SQRT(numeric_expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns the square root of the given numeric expression.</br>
Numbers TAN
    Syntax:</br> TAN(numeric_expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns the tangent of the given numeric expression.</br>
Conditional IF
    Syntax:</br> IF(expression, true_part, false_part)</br> Description:</br> Returns either true part or false part, depending on the evaluation of the expression.</br>
Conditional IFNULL
    Syntax:</br> IFNULL(expression1,expression2)</br> Description:</br> If the expression is numeric/string/date, returns the first expression. If the first expression is NULL, returns the second expression.</br>
Conditional ISNOTNULL
    Syntax:</br> ISNOTNULL(expression)</br> Description:</br> If the expression is numeric/string/date is NULL, returns a string representing false, otherwise returns true.</br>
Conditional ISNULL
    Syntax:</br> ISNULL(expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns true if the given expression evaluates to null.</br>
Logical AND
    Syntax:</br> (expression1) AND (expression2)</br> Description:</br> Returns true if both the expressions evaluates to true.</br>
Logical NOT
    Syntax:</br> NOT(expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns the reversed logical value of the expression being evaluated.</br>
Logical OR
    Syntax:</br> (expression1) OR (expression2)</br> Description:</br> Returns true if any of the expressions evaluates to true.</br>
Date DATEADD
    Syntax:</br> DATEADD(numeric_expression, date_expression)</br> Description:</br> Adds the number of days to the specified date.</br>
Date DATENAME
    Syntax:</br> DATENAME(date_part, date_expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns a string representing the specified date_part of the given date expression.</br>
Date DATEPART
    Syntax:</br> DATEPART(date_part, date_expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns an integer value representing the specified date_part of the given date expression.</br>
Date DATESUB
    Syntax:</br> DATESUB(numeric_expression, date_expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns the date subtracted from the specified date.</br>
Date DAY
    Syntax:</br> DAY(date_expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns a numeric value representing the day part of the specified date.</br>
Date DAYDIFF
    Syntax:</br> DAYDIFF(start_date_expression, end_date_expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns a numeric value representing the difference between two specified dates.</br>
Date HOUR
    Syntax:</br> HOUR(date_expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns the hour of the given date as an integer.</br>
Date MINUTE
    Syntax:</br> MINUTE(date_expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns a numeric value representing the minute part of the date resulted from specified date expression.</br>
Date MONTH
    Syntax:</br> MONTH(date_expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns a numeric value representing the month part of the date resulted from specified date expression.</br>
Date NOW
    Syntax:</br> NOW()</br> Description:</br> Returns the current date and time.</br>
Date TODAY
    Syntax:</br> TODAY()</br> Description:</br> Returns the current date.</br>
Date YEAR
    Syntax:</br> YEAR(date_expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns a numeric value representing the year part of the date resulting from the specified date expression.</br>
Date MAX
    Syntax:</br> MAX(expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns the maximum value in the given expression.</br>
Date MIN
    Syntax:</br> MIN(expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns the minimum value in the given expression.</br>
String CHAR
    Syntax:</br> CHAR(integer_expression)</br> Description:</br> Converts the given integer ASCII code into a character.</br>
String CONCAT
    Syntax:</br> CONCAT(string_expression1, string_expression2,…, string_expressionN)</br> Description:</br> Returns a string value resulting from the concatenation of two or more string values.</br>
String CONTAINS
    Syntax:</br> CONTAINS(string_expression, substring_expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns true if the given string expression contains the specified substring expression.</br>
String ENDSWITH
    Syntax:</br> ENDSWITH(string_expression substring_expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns true if the given string expression ends with the specified substring expression.</br>
String LEFT
    Syntax:</br> LEFT(string_expression, numeric_expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns the specified number of characters from start of the given string expression.</br>
String LEN
    Syntax:</br> LEN(string_expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns the number of characters in the given string expression.</br>
String LOWER
    Syntax:</br> LOWER(string_expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns a lower case converted string value from a given string expression.</br>
String LTRIM
    Syntax:</br> LTRIM(string_expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns the string value with any leading blanks removed from string expression.</br>
String MAX
    Syntax:</br> MAX(expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns the maximum value in the given expression. </br>
String MIN
    Syntax:</br> MIN(expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns the minimum value in the given expression. </br>
String RIGHT
    Syntax:</br> RIGHT(string_expression, numeric_expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns the specified number of characters from end of the given string expression.</br>
String RTRIM
    Syntax:</br> RTRIM(string_expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns the string value with any trailing blanks removed from string expression.</br>
String STARTSWITH
    Syntax:</br> STARTSWITH(string_expression, substring_expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns true if the given string expression starts with the specified substring expression.</br>
String SUBSTR
    Syntax:</br> SUBSTR(string_expression, starting_index, length_of_the_string)</br> Description:</br> Returns a specific length of string starting from specific index from the given string expression. </br>
String UPPER
    Syntax:</br> UPPER(string_expression)</br> Description:</br> Returns an upper case converted string value from a given string expression.</br>

To include the function names and the column names in the Expression text area, double-click the specific name in respective lists.

Click Save in Expression Dialog to add the expression in the list. The saved expression list will be listed in the left pane like below.

Deleting an Expression Column

  • Select an expression column in left pane.

  • Click Close icon to remove the selected expression column.

Edit an Expression Column

  • Select an expression column in left pane that need to be updated.

  • Edit the Name and Expression text areas, if required.

  • Click Save in Expression Designer window to save the modifications handled.