How does the REPLACE function (DAX) work?

The REPLACE function (DAX) replaces part of a text string, based on the number of characters you specify, with a different text string.

REPLACE Formula Syntax

REPLACE (
     <old_text>, <start_num>, <num_chars>, <new_text>
)

How do you use the REPLACE function?

Whereas Microsoft Excel has different functions for use with single-byte and double-byte character languages, DAX uses Unicode and therefore stores all characters at the same length.

This DAX function may return different results when used in a model that is deployed and then queried in DirectQuery mode.

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Considerations when using the REPLACE function

If the argument, num_chars, is a blank or is a reference to a column that evaluates to a blank, then new_text is inserted at the position start_num, without replacing any characters. This is the same behavior as in Excel.

DAX REPLACE function is similar to DAX SUBSTITUTE function.

• You can use REPLACE function, if you want to replace any text of variable length that occurs at a specific position in a text string.
• You can use SUBSTITUTE function, if you want to replace specific text in a text string.

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Formula examples using the REPLACE function

= REPLACE(‘New Products'[Product Code],1,2,”OB”)

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