Question Regarding to Data Type

[smiyatak]

Hi

I would like to ask a question regarding to data type of the retail analysis sample that I downloaded from this power BI website

https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/documentation/powerbi-sample-retail-analysis-take-a-tour/

The picture shows the list of fields/measures. There is a traffic signal icon on the bottom of the list where it says "This Year Sales". Could someone tell me what this is and how this works/ how it was made?  

Similary, this is also from same sample data. On the top of the fields list, there is icon where it says "Date".

Please describe what it is and how this works/ how it was made.  Thank you!

[Sean · Accepted solution]

@smiyatak

Unfortunately currently you can't create the KPIs in PBI - you have to import from Power Pivot (Excel)

Look at my response here

http://community.powerbi.com/t5/Desktop/Is-it-possible-to-create-a-similar-report-visual/td-p/33530/...

and then

Please VOTE here

https://ideas.powerbi.com/forums/265200-power-bi-ideas/suggestions/6556753-ability-to-set-goals-and-...

[v-qiuyu-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi @smiyatak,

In my opinion, the icon before the "Date" is created in data model of workbook.

When you export workbook to Power BI, it's generated automatically when detecting the elements from the workbook. It doesn't have special meaning, you can check data type of this field in Power BI, then use it in visuals.

Best Regards,
Qiuyun Yu

[smiyatak]

Thank you!

[smiyatak]

In the signal like icon, it has value, Goal and Status

[Sean · Accepted solution]

@smiyatak

Unfortunately currently you can't create the KPIs in PBI - you have to import from Power Pivot (Excel)

Look at my response here

http://community.powerbi.com/t5/Desktop/Is-it-possible-to-create-a-similar-report-visual/td-p/33530/...

and then

Please VOTE here

https://ideas.powerbi.com/forums/265200-power-bi-ideas/suggestions/6556753-ability-to-set-goals-and-...

[KHorseman]

That isn't a data type. It's a hierarchy of several different columns. It's used when you want to pre-set drilldown behavior for a set of columns. For instance, you could have a hierarchy like Country > Province > City. Or Year > Quarter > Month. You create this by dragging and dropping one column over another in the Fields area of the report editor, or by right-clicking on a column and selecting New Hierarchy.  Oops, nope. I need to wear my reading glasses. That's the symbol for KPI, not hierarchy.

[smiyatak]

Thank you!