Creative Solution Required - User input fields on a Scatter Chart

[RockandGrohl]

Went down the AI rabbit hole already and got some nonsense out, though it looked promising.

What I'm trying to do is have a scatter chart on Power BI and allow the user to input their own X & Y value to place a dot on the chart, so they can compare a quote against our database of actual products.

It recommended using Numeric Range Parameters as I understand there is no "input field" to do this. This then required multiple additional tables and measures and then it was a big "whoopsie" when you can't add a secondary Y-axis field. Then of course it says "oh yes that's a limitation of Power BI you can't add a secondary Y axis field" grrrrr...  

The numeric range parameters sounds alright you know, I just need something where the user can slice the chart to show the product type they want, and then input some numbers or drag a slider to plot their own quote on the chart. Is that possible? Thanks.

Table name: Database
X axis - Quant 1

Y axis - Rate

So the user would be inputting their own X axis and Rate via range parameters.

[AshokKunwar]

Hii @RockandGrohl 

If this "Virtual Point" strategy allows you to compare your quotes against the database, please mark this as the "Accepted Solution"!

[v-hashadapu]

Hi @RockandGrohl , Hope you're doing okay! May we know if it worked for you, or are you still experiencing difficulties? Let us know — your feedback can really help others in the same situation.

[v-hashadapu]

Hi @RockandGrohl , Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Community Forum.

We find the answer shared by @AshokKunwar  is appropriate. Can you please confirm if the solution worked for you. It will help others with similar issues find the answer easily.

Thank you @AshokKunwar  for your valuable response

[AshokKunwar · Accepted solution]

Hii @RockandGrohl 

Use will create two numeric parameters and then use a measure that "injects" those parameters as a new data point into your chart.

​Step 1: Create the Numeric Range Parameters

​Go to Modeling > New Parameter > Numeric Range for both your X and Y values:

1. ​Input X: (e.g., Range 0 to 1000) -> Creates a table Input X and a measure [Input X Value].
2. ​Input Rate: (e.g., Range 0 to 500) -> Creates a table Input Rate and a measure [Input Rate Value]. Add these as Slicers on your report page.

​Step 2: Create the "Combined" Measures

​You need to create X and Y measures that return the database values for your products plus the parameter value for a "Virtual Product."

​X-Axis Measure:

Plot X = 
IF(
    SELECTEDVALUE('Database'[Product_ID]) = "USER_INPUT", 
    [Input X Value], 
    MAX('Database'[Quant 1])
)

Y-Axis Measure:

Plot Rate = 
IF(
    SELECTEDVALUE('Database'[Product_ID]) = "USER_INPUT", 
    [Input Rate Value], 
    MAX('Database'[Rate])
)

Step 3: The "Dummy Row" Trick

​For the measures above to work, the chart needs a "row" to attach the user input to.

1. ​In your Excel/SQL source, add one "Dummy" row to your Database table.
2. ​Set the Product_ID (or Name) of this row to "Your Quote".
3. ​Leave the Quant 1 and Rate for this specific row as 0 or Blank.

​Step 4: Configure the Visual

1. ​Drag Product_ID to the Values bucket.
2. ​Drag [Plot X] to the X-Axis bucket.
3. ​Drag [Plot Rate] to the Y-Axis bucket.
4. ​Formatting: Go to Markers > Color and use Conditional Formatting. Set the color to Red if the Product_ID is "Your Quote", and Blue for everything else.

​Why this works:

• ​Single Axis: You are only using one Y-axis, but the measure dynamically changes its logic based on which row it is currently plotting.
• ​Interactivity: As the user moves the sliders, the "Your Quote" dot will move live across the screen while the database dots remain static.

​Summary for the Community

​Don't try to add a second Y-axis. Instead, add a Dummy Row to your data and use DAX Measures to swap that row's coordinates with your Numeric Range Parameter values.

​If this "Virtual Point" strategy allows you to compare your quotes against the database, please mark this as the "Accepted Solution"!

[RockandGrohl]

I don't know how to paste DAX without this stupid forum complaining about HTML so I can't post the full solution, sorry, but the axis scaling issue was being caused by me having excluded some datapoints on my background Scatter chart, which meant that the DAX was looking at spotting a max Quantity of, say, 450, when my chart was only showing from 20 to 50. This was causing the scaling issues.

[v-hashadapu]

Hi @RockandGrohl , Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Community Forum.

Yes, it is supported and you don’t need a secondary axis to do it. A Power BI scatter chart can plot multiple series in the same X–Y space, even when one of those series does not come from rows in your data table. The key is that the user’s quote is treated as a separate series whose X and Y values come from measures, not from product rows.

Capture the user’s length and price using numeric range parameters (or a disconnected single-row table) and then expose those values through measures. Those measures are placed on the same scatter chart alongside your product data, using the same X and Y axes. Power BI evaluates the product dots from the Database table as usual and simultaneously evaluates the user quote measures once, producing a single comparison point in the correct X–Y position. Product type slicers will continue to filter the blue product dots normally, while the orange quote dot remains visible because it is intentionally disconnected from the product table.

[RockandGrohl]

Hi, thanks for the response.

I'm not sure I understand. On my X-axis I have "Rate", on my Y-axis I have Cost, these columns come from the database.

I then have the 2 Numeric Range parameters to allow for user-input. The results of these are captured as X & Y values.

But I cannot add these to the fields in the scatter chart as I am only allowed one extra field in the X axis.

Could you please elaborate on your ansewr, thank you?

[rohit1991]

Hii @RockandGrohl 

Power BI doesn’t support true free-text or numeric user input fields on visuals, but this can be achieved indirectly using numeric range parameters (sliders) or a disconnected single-row table to capture X and Y values. You then create measures that read those parameter values and plot them as a separate series on the scatter chart alongside your actual product data. While Power BI doesn’t allow a secondary Y-axis on scatter charts, this workaround lets users slice by product type and dynamically place their own comparison point on the same chart using sliders, which is the standard and supported approach today.

[RockandGrohl]

Hi Rohit, thanks for the response.

My scatter chart in question has the X axis which is the product length, and then the Y axis is the product price. Perhaps I misunderstood your response but I will need the plot the user-input dot in the correct X & Y space.

So to recap, the product type is already chosen with the slicers, but I still need to plot the quote against other dots. This is a good example of what I mean where the orange dot is the user quote against the blue dots (confirmed price in database)