---
title: "Power BI measures with no description | Metacenta"
description: "Report authors pick a Power BI measure by its name alone. How we find undescribed measures in TMDL, and what a useful description says."
url: "https://metacenta.com/rules/powerbi-measure-undescribed"
updated: "2026-10-14"
tokens: 513
---

Documentation · rule powerbi-measure-undescribed

# Power BI measures with no description

A Metacenta review checks this under the rule **Power BI measures carry a description**. Everything below applies whether or not you ever commission one.

## What this rule checks

From the TMDL files of a Power BI semantic model, this rule flags measures with no `///` description. When more than half have none, we report it once for the model rather than once per measure.

## Why it matters

Report authors choose a measure by its name alone. That is how two similar measures end up on one page meaning different things.

## How to fix it

**Describe the Power BI measures people use.** Add a `///` description above each measure, starting with the ones people use most. Say what it counts and what it excludes.

Before:

```tmdl
	measure 'Net Revenue' = SUM(Sales[Amount]) - SUM(Sales[Refunds])
```

After:

```tmdl
	/// Order value after full refunds, before tax, in GBP.
	measure 'Net Revenue' = SUM(Sales[Amount]) - SUM(Sales[Refunds])
```

## When it is fine to leave

Helper measures that no report uses directly, and that are hidden from report authors, can go without.

## What we need to check it

The `.tmdl` files from a Power BI project saved in the PBIP format. We keep names, whether each measure has a description, and a fingerprint of its DAX. The DAX itself is kept only if you opt in.

[Ask about a review](https://metacenta.com/enquire?src=rule-powerbi-measure-undescribed&via=md)

## Related pages

- [dbt models with no description](https://metacenta.com/rules/model-undocumented)
- [dbt columns with no description](https://metacenta.com/rules/model-columns-undocumented)
- [dbt models that declare no columns](https://metacenta.com/rules/model-no-column-schema)
- [dbt sources with no description](https://metacenta.com/rules/source-undocumented)
- [A sample review, as a client reads it](https://metacenta.com/sample)
- [All published rules](https://metacenta.com/rules)
- [How a review is assessed](https://metacenta.com/standard)