Populate a Tooltip from a Data Dictionary

Hi Erosenthal,

For doing standardized tooltips from a data dictionary there is about 3 or 4 approaches you can try

First Approach:

you can use Field Parameters and Data Dictionary Table to achieve this:

• Create your Data Dictionary table in Power Query:

// Just An Example
let
    Source = Table.FromRows({
        {"Days in Warehouse", "Number of calendar days an item has been in warehouse storage", "Operations"},
        {"Inventory Turnover", "Cost of goods sold divided by average inventory", "Finance"},
        {"Order Fill Rate", "Percentage of orders completely filled from stock", "Operations"}
    }, type table [Metric=text, Definition=text, Category=text])
in
    Source

• Then create relationships between your fact tables and the data dictionary

• Also use the Definition field directly in tooltips by adding it to the Tooltips field in your visuals

Second Approach:

If you prefer DAX you can use calculated columns with LOOKUPVALUE

Definition = 
LOOKUPVALUE(
    'Data Dictionary'[Definition],
    'Data Dictionary'[Metric], [Your Metric Field]
)

Third Approach:

Create a single reusable tooltip page that works for all metrics:

• Create one tooltip report page

• Add a measure that detects the current contxt:

Current Metric Definition = 
VAR CurrentMetric = SELECTEDVALUE('Table'[Metric Name])
RETURN
CALCULATE(
    SELECTEDVALUE('Data Dictionary'[Definition]),
    'Data Dictionary'[Metric] = CurrentMetric
)

• Finally use this measure in your tooltip page

Bonus Approach:

• This is the modern approach which you can use field Parameters to create dynamic metrics then combine with your data dictionary

I recommend you Approach No.1 as it is the most Straightforward and Maintainable Solution 🎊❤️