Skip to main content
cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Join us at FabCon Atlanta from March 16 - 20, 2026, for the ultimate Fabric, Power BI, AI and SQL community-led event. Save $200 with code FABCOMM. Register now.

Reply
cmilligan262
Helper II
Helper II

PowerBI forcing Value Conditional Formatting

I'm trying to add conditional formatting to my totals in PBI. I'm having an issue where it is forcing me to designate values to apply the conditional formatting rather than basing it on lowest, middle, and highest value.

 

This is inside of a matrix and based on a measure. I've been able to use lowest middle and highest in other visuals in the reports, so I'm not sure why it's forcing it in this situation. 

 

Also is there a way to only apply values to column total, rather than both column and row totals?

 

cmilligan262_0-1643218077312.png

 

3 REPLIES 3
v-yalanwu-msft
Community Support
Community Support

Hi, @cmilligan262 ;

If your visual object is a matrix and does column totals, you need to create a measure using the ISINSCOPE() function;

Then you can choose the appropriate method from Color based on a calculation, Color by Color values, Color by Rules, Color by Color scale.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/create-reports/desktop-conditional-table-formatting


If that still doesn't work, can you share more about the table structure and the result presentation you want to output?

Best Regards,
Community Support Team_ Yalan Wu
If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

cmilligan262
Helper II
Helper II

So I found a workaround. By taking one of my other visuals where this field is conditionally formatted as desired as a template. I pasted that visual in the page I'm editing and changed the visual to match without changing the conditional formatting. This seems to work but BI doesn't like it as it just seems to be accepting it but I can't select it to be that way in the conditional formatting screen.

 

@amitchandak thank you for your response. As far as conditional formatting goes is there a way to get it to apply to the column subtotal but not the row subtotal? 

amitchandak
Super User
Super User

@cmilligan262 , I doubt there is the way. But you can create a color measure, there you can use isinscope or isfiltered and control it. But the measure is not good for gradient .

 

examples

Color = if(FIRSTNONBLANK('Table'[Year],2014) <=2016 && AVERAGE(Sales[Sales Amount])<170
,"lightgreen",if(FIRSTNONBLANK('Table'[Year],2014)>2018,"red","yellow"))

 

Color sales = if([Sales Today] -[sales yesterday]>0,"green","red")

 

 

color =
switch ( true(),
FIRSTNONBLANK('Table'[commodity],"NA") ="commodity1" && sum('Table'[Value]) >500,"lightgreen",
FIRSTNONBLANK('Table'[commodity],"NA") ="commodity2" && sum('Table'[Value]) >1000,"lightgreen",
// Add more conditions
"red"
)

 

How to do conditional formatting by measure and apply it on pie?: https://youtu.be/RqBb5eBf_I4

Share with Power BI Enthusiasts: Full Power BI Video (20 Hours) YouTube
Microsoft Fabric Series 60+ Videos YouTube
Microsoft Fabric Hindi End to End YouTube

Helpful resources

Announcements
FabCon Global Hackathon Carousel

FabCon Global Hackathon

Join the Fabric FabCon Global Hackathon—running virtually through Nov 3. Open to all skill levels. $10,000 in prizes!

October Power BI Update Carousel

Power BI Monthly Update - October 2025

Check out the October 2025 Power BI update to learn about new features.

FabCon Atlanta 2026 carousel

FabCon Atlanta 2026

Join us at FabCon Atlanta, March 16-20, for the ultimate Fabric, Power BI, AI and SQL community-led event. Save $200 with code FABCOMM.