Grouped objects in PowerBI

[82186_00]

Hello , I have grouped a lot of shapes and reports and I want to make a "Template" out of them and add this template to other pages so that when any data in this template changes, the data changes on all pages. in other words... I change the template, and with it the data changes on all the pages where this template is used. Please tell me how it can be done.

[danextian]

Hi @82186_00 

Power BI does not have a concept of "templates" for objects. Any modification to a calculated column or measure automatically propagates across the same semantic model, ensuring consistency in all reports that connect to it via a live connection or DirectQuery. However, changes made to a group of visual elements or objects on one report page do not automatically reflect on other pages or in separate reports. Each report or page manages its own visual configurations independently.

[DataNinja777]

Hi @82186_00 ,

In Power BI, there is no built-in "template" feature that allows grouped objects to be dynamically updated across multiple pages. However, you can achieve a similar effect using Report Page Tooltips, Synced Slicers, or manually maintaining a template page. One approach is to create a separate page that contains all your grouped objects, then use a tooltip action to display this page dynamically wherever needed. To do this, you would create a new page and design your layout, then go to the Format pane, enable "Tooltip" under Page Information, and adjust the page size to fit your design. You can then insert a card or button on other pages and assign the tooltip action to reference your template page, ensuring that whenever the template is modified, the changes are reflected wherever it is used.

Another way to synchronize data across pages is through Synced Slicers. If your template includes filters, you can enable slicer synchronization across pages by selecting a slicer, navigating to the View menu, and choosing "Sync Slicers." This ensures that any changes made in one slicer affect all linked pages, maintaining consistency in the displayed data. However, if your goal is to maintain a consistent visual layout rather than just data synchronization, you may need to copy and paste the grouped objects manually. While this does not allow for dynamic updates, using shared measures in your visuals ensures that the displayed values remain consistent.

For example, if your template contains a measure like:

TotalSales = SUM(Sales[Amount])

or a dynamic date range calculation:

Last30DaysSales = 
CALCULATE(
    SUM(Sales[Amount]),
    DATESINPERIOD(Sales[Date], MAX(Sales[Date]), -30, DAY)
)

these measures will update across all pages where they are used, ensuring consistency in data values. However, layout changes to grouped objects would still need to be manually replicated. If Power BI eventually introduces a feature for reusable component templates, this process could become more streamlined, but for now, using tooltips, synced slicers, and consistent measure references can help achieve the desired effect.

Best regards,