SELECTEDVALUE Format Strings not working for Chart Axis

Hi ajohns3 ,

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Community Forum.

This is a known limitation in Power BI, dynamic format strings when used with SELECTEDVALUE() and when the measure is plotted on chart axes like Y-axis, X-axis, or secondary axis.

Please try below alternative workarounds.

1. Use a calculation group for formatting, Create a format calculation item that handles display logic separately.

SELECTEDVALUE('Fruit Table'[Fruit Name], "Multiple Fruit Types")

And assign that as a dynamic string expression in a calculation group.

2. You can use an intermediary variable.

Fruits Available =
VAR _value = SUM('Table'[Number of Fruits])
VAR _fruit = SELECTEDVALUE('Table'[Fruit Name])
RETURN
_value

Format string:

VAR _fruit = SELECTEDVALUE('Table'[Fruit Name])
RETURN
"#,0 " & IF(NOT(ISBLANK(_fruit)), _fruit, "Multiple Fruit Types")

Note: This doesn’t fix the axis issue in all visuals, but helps make behavior consistent in tables/cards.

3. If you are expecting user communication not formatting logic, consider leaving the measure format as static , and use a dynamic text label like card/visual title instead.

Title_Fruits =
"Fruits Available - " &
SELECTEDVALUE('Table'[Fruit Name], "Multiple Fruit Types")

Then show that in the chart title or subtitle dynamically. This keeps the axis numeric.

I hope this information helps. Please do let us know if you have any further queries.

Regards,

Dinesh

Thanks v-dineshya,

I tried out your second solution. The calculation item solution I would like to avoid as I do make use of implicit measures.

The format string you suggest 

VAR _fruit = SELECTEDVALUE('Table'[Fruit Name])
RETURN
"#,0 " & IF(NOT(ISBLANK(_fruit)), _fruit, "Multiple Fruit Types")

does seem to produce the desired result.

I have also found that adding an ALLSELECTED() filter to the format string also gives the desired result. 

"#,0 " & CALCULATE(SELECTEDVALUE('Table'[Fruit Name], "Multiple Fruit Types"), ALLSELECTED())

 I expect there are situations where these approaches will diverge.