Trend Lines!

[joglidden2]

PBI Team, why are Trend Lines such a complete goat-rope?!?  I really wish you would work on this so it's less confusing, more straightforward, and maybe provide some better guidance on what is and is not possible with simple trend lines. Like, this is a really, really common need. Going back to Excel now...

Randomly, the option appears for a "Line Chart", but then when I try the same thing for a "Scatter Chart", no way, no how. Again, really? Can't add a trend line to a scatter chart? I'm totally open to suggestions. 

[PaulDBrown · Accepted solution]

@joglidden2 

Not exactly a simple drag an drop experience, but it might be worth exploring Charticulator to create your own custom visual:

https://charticulator.com

there are also a number of posts about creating trend lines using DAX. One example:

https://community.powerbi.com/t5/Desktop/DAX-to-create-a-Trend-line/m-p/398438 

[joglidden2]

@PaulDBrown, I'm marking your post as the solution, because I think you are correct, in that the only current solution to producing a trend line for a scatter chart is to use DAX or R, or a custom visual. The capability simply does not currently exist for native scatter charts. I'd like to create a suggestion for the PBI team to work on this, but don't remember how to do that. 

[PaulDBrown]

@joglidden2 

As @V-lianl-msft  suggested, you can try submitting an "idea" on

https://ideas.powerbi.com/ideas/ 

However, beware that generally speaking, the ideas are prioritized based on the number of votes each submission generates, so I wouldn't count on a  quick fix. 

[amitchandak]

@joglidden2 The information you have provided is not making the problem clear to me. Can you please explain with an example.

Can you please refer this in between, if this can of some help:https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/visuals/power-bi-line-chart

Appreciate your Kudos.

[joglidden2]

@amitchandak , you're right, this post is not very useful. I'm mostly venting my frustration. 

Here's my question: is it possible to add a trend line to a scatter chart?

[V-lianl-msft]

Hi @joglidden2 ,

The third tab in the visualisations sidebar is Analytics.Click it and then select trend line.

If thex axis is type Categorical, you won't get the trend option.

I haven't found the right visual to replace it,you may submit your idea to help improve power bi.

https://ideas.powerbi.com/ 

Best Regards,
Liang
If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

[joglidden2]

@V-lianl-msft , for a scatter chart, under X-axis, there is no option for categorical/linear/whatever. Same thing for Y-axis. 

[amitchandak]

@joglidden2 , The only option(What I know) to add line scatter visual as of now is using advanced analytics. I doubt that will help. Because they are static lines. You can use scatter as dot visual by using a-axis a date. That will also not fit the purpose. 

Do you have some kind screenshot, so I can check if something can be done or present as a custom visual: https://appsource.microsoft.com/en-us/marketplace/apps?product=power-bi-visuals

[joglidden2]

@amitchandak , I think your suggestion of a custom visual is the only decent option for now. The closest thing I found was the "Craydec Regresssion Chart". But seriously, how PBI doesn't have a native scatter chart with a "trend line" is baffling to me. This is a really common charting routine in Excel.