Forum Discussion
Interactive form with user parameters
I want to build a report that can collect some info from user (your city from drop down list, some number (eg family memebrs) and as the result provide some calcualtions or visualization relevant for his/her parameters.
So I need some input form to collect user data, than it will show calcualtion build based on user parameters and the data in the report. What would be the best option to do it in power BI?
thank you.
Thank you! Maybe I confised everyone. I found a simple solution. For City I created a visual filter (used list of cities in my data table). For the parameter I created a table with possible parameters values: 1 to 10000, then added a filter to the page that allows people to select the range for the parameter value or specific value. In calculations I use both filter results: City from first one and Average for parameter value.
2 Replies
It depends on how you want to use it. If you want it to be real time (they input data, then the report works) then you have two options:
- a SQL table as the backend, then use a Direct Query report in Power BI. (Can be non-SQL server, just has to support Direct Query). The problem with this is DQ reports are more limited in what they can do, but it may still serve your needs. Power Apps can give you a user interface to let them enter into a SQL table.
- Any table as a backend (Excel Forms for example would work) then give them a button to force a Power BI dataset to refresh via Power Automate. The disadvantage here is non-Premium workspaces can only be refreshed this way 8 times a day, and Premium 48 times.
If it doesn't have to be real time, then Excel Forms is fine, or you can get a little fancy with Power Apps and use Excel, SQL, or pretty much anything (except Access) as a backend. Then just let them know it will show up on the next scheduled refresh.
Thank you! Maybe I confised everyone. I found a simple solution. For City I created a visual filter (used list of cities in my data table). For the parameter I created a table with possible parameters values: 1 to 10000, then added a filter to the page that allows people to select the range for the parameter value or specific value. In calculations I use both filter results: City from first one and Average for parameter value.
