Forum Discussion
Duplicate PivotChart Functionality
Hi,
I have a solution that was developed using Access 2010. The data is entered using a form or it can be imported from an Excel sheet. The user will then pull up Chart view and can drag headers from the top of the window onto the desired axis on the pivot table to display the chart. Then the header can be deleted from the axis and another inserted. This provides a truly user-friendly interface for a non-technical person.
Now we are upgrading to Access 2016 and there is no Chart view. From what I can tell, the pivot chart was removed from Access in the 2013 version. What can I do to retain this functionality in Access 2016?
When researching this, I found an Excel-datasource suggestion, but the user is not comfortable with this solution. I also found PowerBI desktop, but seem unable to get the desired ease-of-use from this software. Has anyone found a workable solution for PivotCharts utilizing an Access datasource?
It is impossible to give "exact steps" without sample data.
Can you provide a screenshot of your underlying data structure? Below is the structure you will need to create to get three lines in a chart that represent individual calendar years:
Month+Date Key | 2012 data | 2013 data | 2014 data | Date Axis Sort Order
Jan 1 x x x 1
Jan 2 x x x 2
Jan 3 x x x 3
...
etc.
Then you would create a line chart and put the Month+Date Key as the axis. Sort the Month+Date Key field by the Date Axis Sort Order column (under the Modeling tab I believe). Then add the 2012, 2013, and 2014 fields to your Values area and they will share the common axis but each represent a separate year.
If you want to only display 1 year at a time and have a slicer for year, then the table structure needs to be different, or you have to do some more complex DAX which is probably not a good choice given your challenges so far.
19 Replies
- I think if you give Power BI a chance it will grow on you. It is exactly what you describe wanting (a UI for easily creating visuals) you just aren't used to the new data connection/ETL experience
I was thinking that it would, but I have not been impressed so far. Do you have some guidance on accomplishing this feat? It doesn't matter whether the solution requires back end programming or can be accomplished directly through UI setup, as long as the result is drag and drop (or check/uncheck) for the end user. I have come up completely empty on trying to research this.
My recommendation is to connect Power BI to Access and use Power BI as your visualization layer. To connect to Access, make sure your PBI version (32x or 64x) matches your version of Access. Additionally, you may be required to download the correct database engine (see here for more info: https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/documentation/powerbi-desktop-access-database-errors/).
Once connected, you will be able to select the data you want to connect to, and perform any transformations you wish (all via a UI). Then, the data gets loaded to a data model, and you can create relationships (just like the UI in Access). Then, all you have to do is select which type of visual and drag and drop the fields you want to the axis, values, etc.
I'm not sure why you are coming up "completely empty" on researching this. If you have a specific example/question about functionality or replicating something you did in Access, please provide a screenshot and sample data.
Hi,
Have you upgraded the Access databse from 2010 to 2016? I think you just open the database in 2016 and it will prompt you to upgrade.
Next step is to work out if Access 2016 is 64bit or 32bit as someone else mentioned. Then download the matching Power BI Desktop software. Then make sure you can make a Then write back on this topis to tell everyone which versions you are using. If they match my versions I will make a sample PBX file if you email me the Access DB.
Regards,
Garry
The actual database version is 2003+, but it works fine in Access 2010. If I upgrade the db itself to 2016, will it support the current 2010/2016 machines that we have in place?
I have PowerBI on a separate Win10 VM that we have set up. I am able to connect to the database fine, after removing the password. Am I missing functionality that would be provided by PowerBI if it the database itself were updated to 2016?
The VM is running Win10Pro 64bit and the PowerBI (PBIDesktop.exe) version is 2.41.4581.361. The only indicator that it is a 64bit version of the software is that it is in the Program Files directory.
Hi,
MS Access is generally not backwards compatible. So upgrading the 2016 will stop another accessing the database using older versions.
There is no need to upgrade the database. You should be able to connect with the correct driver installed.
There is no functionality in Power BI that use will miss out on by not upgrading. I though it would be best to have the database on the latest version but that's up to you.
Did you manage to create a chart for your user?
