Annoying empty column in Matrix visual that just won't go away

[Moehimby]

Hey all, I'm back again for your good advice.

I have a very simple Matrix visual that has "Grade" set as the column header and a simply Count measure that is set to the Matrix values. I have also set the visual filter to not display BLANKS. Despite this I still get this annoying empty column at the start of the Matrix, like so : 

I'd really like to get rid of it.... I can hover the cursor over the column line and drag it left which worked, but upon refreshing the report or filtering data this empty column always comes back...

Any help would be super appreciated.

[v-yilong-msft]

Hi @Moehimby ,

First of all I don't think this is a blank column. In Matrix in Power BI, there are Rows, Columns, Values.

The blank columns you are seeing are blank because you are not adding any values to the Rows.

When you add values to the Rows, the blankness will disappear.

Best Regards

Yilong Zhou

If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

[Moehimby]

Of course, this is so obvious now. Question is still if I can get rid of this, I've tried using the table tool as well and I end up with the same layout you have above but I really want to display the visual horizontally and not vertically. Is there a way to accomplish this? E.G.

A   B   C   D

5   7   6    2

[v-yilong-msft]

Hi @Moehimby ,

If you just want to achieve the effect you described, I think you can click on the Border in the Grid.

This is the original table and matrix style.

Select 'Bottom' in the Border position to remove the vertical lines.

Best Regards

Yilong Zhou

If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

[Moehimby]

Looks better thanks! Doesn't resolve the issue though it's really that I want to reclaim the space so I can keep the visual neat and visible in the space I have available for it.

Thanks!

[Greg_Deckler]

@Moehimby Yes, you can follow the directions that I posted earlier. Here's a video of how to do it as well.

[Moehimby]

Thanks again I posted in my OP and in a reply that I've tried to do this already, when the data is refreshed or sliced the matrix snaps back to show the empty column again though.

[Greg_Deckler]

@Moehimby That only seems to happen if you have a single row. For example, if you switch Values to rows ( Values | Options ) and add another measure, that doesn't happen. Very inconsistent.

[Moehimby]

It is I've never had this issue other than with this one little example.

[Greg_Deckler]

@Moehimby Hover your mouse over the line next to the A. It should change your cursor. Grab it and drag to the left to get rid of it.

[Moehimby]

I've tried doing that but it seems to reset back to showing that empty column when the data is sliced or refreshed.