Dynamic column selection for matrix visual

[Anonymous]

hi

i have the columns along with calculated measures in the matrix visual . currently everything is static and matrix visual as a scroll and it is becoming hard for the users to come up with the analysis on columns list . On adhoc basis they want to remove and add the columns in matrix visual similar power pivot functionality . Is this  possible to acheive along with calculated as measure of this

[wlad]

In my model I have 12 columns. Is there a way to sum the selected columns?

[MFelix]

Hi @wlad 

How are you selecting the columns?

[wlad]

Hi,

However I select with a slicer or directy in a matrix the sum is wrong

Sum is correct only if I select one column

[MFelix]

Hi @wlad,

How do you have everything setup? is it diferrent columns? If they are different columns the totals on the matrix will not sum the columns since each field is unique.

For this you have two alternatives, create an unrelated table with the name of the columns you want to use and then adding a switch statement you can calculate each value individually and sum the total of all of them in another total value. Unpivo your columns and use the value for the columns on your matrix.

Can you please share a mockup data or sample of your PBIX file. You can use a onedrive, google drive, we transfer or similar link to upload your files.

If the information is sensitive please share it trough private message.

[wlad]

Hi @MFelix ,

My data model is similar to "Column Selection Test.pbix " I found in an earlier post and since the table is built using summarizecollumns I can't unpivot it.

So the second solution is suitable for me:
"Create an unrelated table with the name of the columns you want to use and then adding a switch statement you can calculate each value individually and sum the total of all of them in another total value"

Thank you for your help

[MFelix · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous ,

To what I can understand you want to have an option for users to select columns that they see on the matrix table that is not an option you have on PBI by default however you can create a workaround.

Create an unrelated table with all your Columns Names that you want to have as on off on your matrix.

In my case I created a table named Selector:

Columns selection

Quantity
Value

Then add the following measures:

Column selection = MAX(Selector[Columns selection])

Totals Columns = SWITCH([Column selection];"Quantity";[Quantity total];"Value";[Value total])

On the second measure you should add all the related measure that you have for each column you want to show.

Now create your matrix in the following way:

Rows: Category (this are the columns that you want to have the details (keep the ones you have)

Columns: Selector[Columns Selection]

Values: [Totals Columns]

Should give the result below:

See attach PBIX.

Regards,

MFelix 

[Anonymous]

Hello @MFelix,

thanks for your solution. Is it also possible to do this when the columns are not measures but "normal" columns? So I have a table with many columns and i want my users to choose which columns to display in the matrix visual. I am not sure if its possible and what to change in your solution. Could you please help me with this? Thanks. 

[Anonymous]

Hello Miguel,

We can create a matrix without having anything in the "columns" section. However for the dynamic column logic which you demonstrated here, when i remove "Selector[Columns Selection]" from the columns section, the matrix gives error. Can you please help me by explaning this behavior.

Regards,

Rajnish Singh

Regards,

Rajnish Singh

[MFelix]

Hi @Anonymous,

When you use the normal fields on a matrix you don't need to have values on the columns or rows, however that won't mae it dinamic since the value is on the matrix or not. 

In this case since the need is to show/hide selected values there is a need of context and that is given by that column of the Selectors table.

If you notice the first part of the measure is SELECTEDVALUE that forces the context transition to show or hide the column so if you take it out the measure does not work. 

[ttt]

Hi @MFelix ,

Thanks! This works well for me. However, I'd like to add month columns on top of the columns selection (New Budget and Rolling Forecast columns). When I did that, the columns selection did not show up.

Before I added month columns

After I added month columns

Would it be possible to do multiple headers in this case? The month columns don't need to be dynamic. It would be a plus if it can be.

Thank you in advance!

[MFelix]

Hi @ttt,

When you add more than one column on a row or columns part of a matrix you get an hierarchy and you can drill down to lower levels, if you check the header of the table you have a arrow that splits into two if you click it you will go to the lowest level showing the months and the the measures. 

[ttt]

@MFelix Thank you so much! It worked. I thought the drill down buttons were only for multiple rows.

[MFelix]

Hi @ttt ,

In the matrix works for columns and rows if you have hierarchy on both.

[ttt]

@MFelix got it. Thanks so much! One last question, I want the users to be able to sort the matrix by value in each column e.g sorting rolling forecast amounts in Dec from largest to smallest, sorting new budget amounts in Nov from smallest to largest. Is it possible to do so?

Thanks for all your help! Appreciate it.

[MFelix]

Hi @ttt ,

If the users click on the header of the column they are abble to sort the information by that column, to have the sorting by more than one column they need to do SHIFT + CLICK on the other column headers.

[ttt]

Hi @MFelix ,

That usually works for me when I don't have data in the Columns field. When I have Columns data clicking on a column header only put a spotlight on that column.

[AllisonKennedy]

@ttt  I belive you can only sort by column, not by values/measure.

[Anonymous]

Thanks @MFelix , this makes sense a lot. However I do not have any of the values in Columns, I have it as measure instead 

Example, Volume, Margin, Unit Margin i dont have it as column, i have it as measures. So how do I have a dynamic column selections like you said.

I won't be able to create a unrelated table with all those columns as suggested in your earlier reply!

Hope i did not confuse you much!

[MFelix]

Hi @Anonymous ,

The idea is the same because in this one we exchange the column values by measures:

Totals Columns = SWITCH([Column selection];"Quantity";[Quantity total];"Value";[Value total])

 As you can see in the syntax above the [Quantity total] not having a name before it means its a measure, so in your case you need to create a disconnected table with your measures names and then adjust the formula above with the measure names, be aware that if the measure have different formats you must use the format, to make the correct formatting.

[Anonymous]

Hey @MFelix ,

I tried that and unfortunately didn't work for me. I used the same formulas as you did, same field names, but I get a matrix like this.