Forum Discussion
Filter by List
Hello, I am using the Mass Filter in Power BI Service because users need to filter by a list. However, I am facing issues: once the filter is updated, it stops working and you have to add the field to the filter again. Maybe someone has found a better way to filter by a list? I would appreciate it if you could share your approach.
I guess you are using the Mass Filter custom visual (from INSIDERS.COOP); is popular for exactly this scenario—letting users paste a comma-separated, line-separated, or space-separated list of values (e.g., IDs, names, codes) to bulk-filter reports in Power BI Service.
You're not alone in hitting the issue where the filter "stops working" after an update or refresh, requiring you to re-add the field to the visual.Why This Happens (Common Causes)
From community reports (Fabric forums, Reddit, and visual docs around 2024–2026):
- After publishing/updating the report or refreshing data, the Mass Filter sometimes loses its configured field binding → users must re-edit the visual in Service and re-assign the field to filter on.
- This appears tied to how custom visuals handle persisted state in the Service, especially after model changes, dataset refreshes, or Power BI updates.
- Some users report it resolves temporarily by re-adding the field, but it recurs → not ideal for end-users who rely on it.
The visual's maintainers recommend always updating to the latest version when available (via AppSource in Power BI Desktop/Service), as fixes for persistence and compatibility often come in updates.
Better / More Reliable Alternatives for List/Paste Filtering
Inforiver Super Filter (Custom Visual – Most Recommended Alternative) This is currently one of the top-rated replacements for Mass Filter:
- Supports bulk copy-paste of lists (from Excel, CSV, email, etc.) with instant apply.
- Handles inclusive/exclusive (In / Not In), advanced search, hierarchies, and more.
- Better persistence and sync slicer support in recent versions.
- Free tier available; premium unlocks extras (but basic bulk paste works free).
- Many users switched from Mass Filter after similar bugs → praised for reliability in Service.
- Search AppSource for "Inforiver Super Filter" → add to your report.
Other Strong Custom Visual Alternatives
- Text Filter (by OKVIZ or similar) → Simple paste/search for lists; lightweight and stable.
- Filter by Powerviz or Chiclet Slicer (with search enhancements) → Good for bulk selection.
- Data Slicer (paid version often mentioned) → Reliable paste functionality.
General tip: When using any custom visual, always configure it in Power BI Desktop, publish, then test in Service immediately. If issues recur, report to the visual's support (via AppSource comments or GitHub if available).
DAX + What-If Parameter or Disconnected Table (If You Want Zero Custom Visuals) For advanced control (e.g., if lists come from users regularly):
- Create a disconnected parameter table or use a What-If text parameter.
- Use a measure with CONTAINSSTRING or IN + VALUES to filter dynamically.
- But this is more developer-heavy and less user-friendly for direct paste → better as a fallback.
I hope this helps. if so please mark it as a solution. Kudos are welcome.
4 Replies
Hi Julia2023
Have you tried the new list slicer? You can search multiple values by pasting.
Create and use a List slicer (preview)
I guess you are using the Mass Filter custom visual (from INSIDERS.COOP); is popular for exactly this scenario—letting users paste a comma-separated, line-separated, or space-separated list of values (e.g., IDs, names, codes) to bulk-filter reports in Power BI Service.
You're not alone in hitting the issue where the filter "stops working" after an update or refresh, requiring you to re-add the field to the visual.Why This Happens (Common Causes)
From community reports (Fabric forums, Reddit, and visual docs around 2024–2026):
- After publishing/updating the report or refreshing data, the Mass Filter sometimes loses its configured field binding → users must re-edit the visual in Service and re-assign the field to filter on.
- This appears tied to how custom visuals handle persisted state in the Service, especially after model changes, dataset refreshes, or Power BI updates.
- Some users report it resolves temporarily by re-adding the field, but it recurs → not ideal for end-users who rely on it.
The visual's maintainers recommend always updating to the latest version when available (via AppSource in Power BI Desktop/Service), as fixes for persistence and compatibility often come in updates.
Better / More Reliable Alternatives for List/Paste Filtering
Inforiver Super Filter (Custom Visual – Most Recommended Alternative) This is currently one of the top-rated replacements for Mass Filter:
- Supports bulk copy-paste of lists (from Excel, CSV, email, etc.) with instant apply.
- Handles inclusive/exclusive (In / Not In), advanced search, hierarchies, and more.
- Better persistence and sync slicer support in recent versions.
- Free tier available; premium unlocks extras (but basic bulk paste works free).
- Many users switched from Mass Filter after similar bugs → praised for reliability in Service.
- Search AppSource for "Inforiver Super Filter" → add to your report.
Other Strong Custom Visual Alternatives
- Text Filter (by OKVIZ or similar) → Simple paste/search for lists; lightweight and stable.
- Filter by Powerviz or Chiclet Slicer (with search enhancements) → Good for bulk selection.
- Data Slicer (paid version often mentioned) → Reliable paste functionality.
General tip: When using any custom visual, always configure it in Power BI Desktop, publish, then test in Service immediately. If issues recur, report to the visual's support (via AppSource comments or GitHub if available).
DAX + What-If Parameter or Disconnected Table (If You Want Zero Custom Visuals) For advanced control (e.g., if lists come from users regularly):
- Create a disconnected parameter table or use a What-If text parameter.
- Use a measure with CONTAINSSTRING or IN + VALUES to filter dynamically.
- But this is more developer-heavy and less user-friendly for direct paste → better as a fallback.
I hope this helps. if so please mark it as a solution. Kudos are welcome.
Hi Julia2023,
Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Fabric Community.
Thank you danextian and pcoley for the prompt response.
As we haven’t heard back from you, we wanted to kindly follow up to check if the solution provided by the user's for the issue worked? or let us know if you need any further assistance.
Thanks and regards,
Anjan Kumar Chippa
Hi @Julia2023,
We wanted to kindly follow up to check if the solution provided by the user's for the issue worked? or let us know if you need any further assistance.
Thanks and regards,
Anjan Kumar Chippa
