Another language to learn? Yes, if you want to use PowerPivot calculated members. Fortunately it’s not that complex…
What Is DAX?
DAX is an expression language based on Excel formula syntax. Because DAX is designed to work with multiple tables of data, it includes functions that implement relational database concepts. DAX also adds new functionality that allows you to create dynamic aggregations, making DAX formulas smart about calculating values in a PivotTable. Excel users will be happy to learn that DAX includes part of the existing Excel function library, and many functions are the same as Excel functions.
PowerPivot Team Blog : Introduction to Data Analysis Expressions (DAX) in Gemini
One limitation… no spreadsheet-driven data constants or variables.
DAX Doesn’t Refer to Data by Cell Location
In DAX, we do not have the Excel notion of addressing a single cell of data. We do not identify values by where they are located in the grid. We can’t refer to cell B23 or range B12:C15. DAX functions always operate on columns of data in a table. Instead of viewing our data set as a large rectangle of cells, we think of the data as a set of tables which contain columns and rows.
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