Handling Shared Columns Across Categories with Slicer to Filter Table Columns via Field Parameters

[drsomething123]

I implemented a solution (based on this thread) where I used a calculated column in my fields parameter table to categorize columns (e.g., "Apple," "Banana") and added a slicer to dynamically show/hide columns in a table visual. This works for columns exclusive to one category.

New Problem: Some columns (e.g., metadata.name) are shared across multiple categories. For example:

• metadata.name should appear for both "Apple" and "Banana" categories.

• The initial solution fails here because the calculated column assigns each field to a single category.

What I Need:
When a user selects "Apple" in the slicer, the table should show:

1. All Apple-specific columns (e.g., Apple_Col1, Apple_Col2).

2. Shared columns like metadata.name.

Constraints:

• I have 15+ categories and want to avoid manual work (e.g., duplicating metadata.name as metadata.apple_name, metadata.banana_name).

• Bookmarks are not scalable.

• Relationships between tables break when filtering from categories to field parameters.

Attempted solution:

I have tried using a bridge table that contains rows of metadata columns and says the category (with there being an extra row for metadata.name, one for banana and one for apple). This might be the solution for it, but I haven't been able to set it up correctly. I set up a many-to-many relationship and selecting apple would filter the parameter table but not remove the extra columns from the table.

[v-saisrao-msft]

Hi @drsomething123,
I wanted to check if you had the opportunity to review the information provided by @johnt75 @burakkaragoz . Please feel free to contact us if you have any further questions. If the response has addressed your query, please accept it as a solution so other members can easily find it.
Thank you.

[johnt75]

One option would be to duplicate rows in the field parameter table so that e.g. metadata.name appears once for every category it should be included in. This would work if you were going to force selection of a single item in the slicer, but would not work well if multiple or no selections were possible.

Another option would be to to set the category column in the field parameter table to something different for entries which should appear across multiple categories, e.g. "Multiple".

With this second approach you would need to create a disconnected table for use in the slicer, e.g.

Category for slicer =
FILTER (
    DISTINCT ( 'Parameter Table'[Category] ),
    'Parameter Table'[Category] <> "Multiple"
)

Next create a measure like

Param is visible =
IF (
    SELECTEDVALUE ( 'Parameter Table'[Category] )
        IN UNION ( VALUES ( 'Category for slicer'[Category] ), { "Multiple" } ),
    1
)

On the matrix visual, add a TopN filter on the field parameter column using this measure as the value and set it to show the top 1.

[burakkaragoz · Accepted solution]

Hi @drsomething123 ,

This is a classic challenge with dynamic column selection and shared fields across multiple categories in Power BI, especially when using field parameters and slicers for column visibility.

Problem Recap

You want the table to show:

• All columns specific to the selected category (e.g., all Apple columns when Apple is selected),
• Plus shared columns (like metadata.name) that belong to more than one category.

But with >15 categories, you want to avoid manual duplication, bookmarks, or unscalable workarounds. Your bridge table idea is close, but the filtering behavior with many-to-many relationships isn’t doing what you want.

---

Solution Approach

1. Redesign the Field Parameter Table

Instead of assigning each column to a single category, structure your parameter table so columns can belong to multiple categories. Here’s how:

• In your field parameter table, create one row per (column, category) pair.
  • For shared columns (like metadata.name), have a row for each category it should appear in.

Example:

Parameter Name Field Category

Apple Brand	metadata.apple_brand	Apple
Apple Color	metadata.apple_color	Apple
Banana Price	metadata.banana_price	Banana
Banana Weight	metadata.banana_weight	Banana
Name	metadata.name	Apple
Name	metadata.name	Banana

• Link this table to your slicer using the Category column.

2. Slicer Drives the Field Parameter

• Use your Category column in a slicer.
• The table visual’s columns are controlled by the field parameter, which is filtered by the slicer.
• Because each shared column appears as multiple rows (one per category), selecting any relevant category in the slicer includes the shared column.

3. Implementation Steps

1. Rebuild your field parameter table (or use DAX to generate it with all (column, category) pairs).
2. Connect your slicer to the Category column in this parameter table.
3. Use the field parameter in your table visual as columns.
4. Optional: Hide duplicates in the slicer using a separate Category table (to keep the slicer tidy).

4. Why the Many-to-Many Bridge Table Didn’t Work

• Many-to-many relationships will not filter columns in visuals that are set up with field parameters—field visibility is driven by the parameter table only.
• Duplicating (column, category) pairs as above “flattens” the mapping and ensures shared columns are always included for all relevant categories.

---

Benefits

• No manual duplication of columns in your main data model.
• Easily scalable for any number of categories or shared columns.
• No bookmarks or complex DAX switching.
• Keeps your model tidy and flexible.

If you’d like, I can provide a sample DAX script to generate such a parameter table or further clarify any of the steps above.

Let me know if this solves your scenario or if you need more granular help setting it up!
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