Adjust Formatting for different Row Levels

[Nks_Mr]

Hi togeter,

since I'm working with confidential data, I rebuild a dummy matrix to show my problem - so ignore the ugliness please.

I have the following matrix with two row levels (department / subdepartment):

Only the second level rows have data. That's why I want to make the background color of the high level rows also in dark blue. How does this work?

[v-mdharahman]

Hi @Nks_Mr,

Thanks for reaching out to the Microsoft fabric community forum.

It looks like you are facing a limitation in Power BI where it's not currently possible to apply different background colors to row headers based on hierarchy level in a Matrix visual. Power BI does not natively support hierarchy-level-specific background color formatting for row headers at this time. As you want the top-level headers (departments like Sales) to have a dark blue background while leaving the second-level rows (subdepartments) with a lighter color.

This is a known limitation and requires creative workarounds such as conditional formatting, visual overlays, or use custom visuals which allow more granular styling control for different row levels.

If I misunderstand your needs or you still have problems on it, please feel free to let us know.  

Best Regards,
Hammad.
Community Support Team

If this post helps then please mark it as a solution, so that other members find it more quickly.

Thank you.

[Nks_Mr]

Hello @v-mdharahman,

since I did not find a option how to do it, I already assumed that I need some kind of creative workaround. That is the reason why I am writing in this community - to find someone who can help me with a nice workaround.

Thanks for answer!

Best

[v-mdharahman · Accepted solution]

Hi @Nks_Mr,

Since you are looking for a creative workaround, here are few ideas that can help you create the desired colour variation where top-level rows (like "Sales" or "Procurement") have a different colour background.

* You can use a Custom Column for styling. First add a column to the data model that identifies the hierarchy level "RowLevelType = IF(ISBLANK([Subdepartment]), "Department", "Subdepartment")". Then use this field in a conditional formatting rule for background color (only partially effective, it won’t change the row header's background).

* You can also overlay with a Shape or Rectangle (in report design). If the matrix is static, consider overlaying a dark blue rectangle behind the department row using layers in Power BI canvas to simulate the background.

This is a manual solution, not dynamic.

* You can also use a Third-Party Custom Matrix Visual. Some custom visuals available on AppSource allow more granular styling control for different row levels.

Example: KPI Matrix, Zebra BI Table, etc.

If I misunderstand your needs or you still have problems on it, please feel free to let us know.  

Best Regards,
Hammad.
Community Support Team