---
title: "CurrentOrdinal (MDX) | Microsoft Docs"
ms.date: 06/04/2018
ms.prod: sql
ms.technology: analysis-services
ms.custom: mdx
ms.topic: reference
ms.author: owend
ms.reviewer: owend
author: minewiskan
---
# CurrentOrdinal (MDX)


  Returns the current iteration number within a set during iteration.  
  
## Syntax  
  
```  
  
Set_Expression.CurrentOrdinal  
```  
  
## Arguments  
 *Set_Expression*  
 A valid Multidimensional Expressions (MDX) expression that returns a set.  
  
## Remarks  
 When iterating through a set, such as with the [Filter (MDX)](../mdx/filter-mdx.md) or [Generate (MDX)](../mdx/generate-mdx.md) functions, the **CurrentOrdinal** function returns the iteration number.  
  
## Examples  
 The following simple example shows how **CurrentOrdinal** can be used with **Generate** to return a string containing the name of each item in a set along with its position in the set:  
  
 `WITH SET MySet AS [Customer].[Customer Geography].[Country].MEMBERS`  
  
 `MEMBER MEASURES.CURRENTORDINALDEMO AS`  
  
 `GENERATE(MySet, CSTR(MySet.CURRENTORDINAL) + ") " + MySet.CURRENT.ITEM(0).NAME, ", ")`  
  
 `SELECT MEASURES.CURRENTORDINALDEMO ON 0`  
  
 `FROM [Adventure Works]`  
  
 The practical use of CurrentOrdinal is limited to very complex calculations. The following example returns the number of products in the set that are unique, using the **Order** function to order the non-empty tuples before utilizing the **Filter** function. The **CurrentOrdinal** function is used to compare and eliminate ties.  
  
```  
WITH MEMBER [Measures].[PrdTies] AS Count  
   (Filter  
      (Order  
        (NonEmpty  
          ([Product].[Product].[Product].Members  
          , {[Measures].[Reseller Order Quantity]}  
          )  
       , [Measures].[Reseller Order Quantity]  
       , BDESC  
       ) AS OrdPrds  
    , NOT((OrdPrds.CurrentOrdinal < OrdPrds.Count   
       AND [Measures].[Reseller Order Quantity] =   
          ( [Measures].[Reseller Order Quantity]  
            , OrdPrds.Item  
               (OrdPrds.CurrentOrdinal  
               )  
            )  
         )  
         OR (OrdPrds.CurrentOrdinal > 1   
            AND [Measures].[Reseller Order Quantity] =   
               ([Measures].[Reseller Order Quantity]  
               , OrdPrds.Item  
                  (OrdPrds.CurrentOrdinal-2)  
                )  
             )  
          ))  
       )  
SELECT {[Measures].[PrdTies]} ON 0  
FROM [Adventure Works]  
```  
  
## See Also  
 [MDX Function Reference &#40;MDX&#41;](../mdx/mdx-function-reference-mdx.md)