Waterfall visual: add additional disconnected bart

[PowerToBI]

Hi community,

I have been struggeling now for some time to cretae a waterfall visual displaying three categories but only one breakdown.

What:

I would like to build a waterfall chart showing the three categories in example "Intro", "Start", "End".Only the category "Start" should be broken down by the subcategories "A","B","C". 

In generall is there anyway to achive the supression of the breakdowns of "Intro" and "End" using the standard waterfall chart ?

Model:

There is a fact table that is connected and filtered by a date table. Furthermore there is a category table containing one column category showing the category values "Intro", "Start", "End". This table is discoonected from all other. 

Does anyone had a similar issue in the past? I unfortunately could not find any ressources showing how to achive this using the standard waterfall chart. 

[PowerToBI]

Hi @AshokKunwar ,

Thank you very much. 

This was very helpful so far. With a little switch of the labels I was able to almost obtain what I am looking for.

Is there a way that the visual displays the data as follows.

The start label starts at the same level as the Intro. Then Breakdowns are added on top (done) and the End label is the total label for the chart (Start+Breakdowns). Currently it seems that Intro is the starting point for the chart and all other are breakdwon added on top.  

[PowerToBI]

Hi @AshokKunwar , hi all

Thanks for the help. I tried these thing unfortunately without any success. Below a screenshot of the example model as well as the current visual outcome using the idea of @AshokKunwar .

With all my tries I usually would either get the same picture as below or one that contains a breakdown for Intro as well which is not what I want to achive. 

Any further tip would be high appreciated. 

best regards

[AshokKunwar]

Hii @PowerToBI 

standard waterfall chart doesn't support "selective" breakdowns, you must trick the chart by putting both your main categories and your subcategories into the Category bucket of the visual, leaving the Breakdown bucket empty.

​1. Create a "Waterfall Axis" Table

​Create a new calculated table that contains every label you want to see on the X-axis in the exact order you want them.

WaterfallAxis = 
UNION(
    DATATABLE("Label", STRING, "Order", INTEGER, "Type", STRING,
        {
            {"Intro", 1, "Pillar"},
            {"A", 2, "Breakdown"},
            {"B", 3, "Breakdown"},
            {"C", 4, "Breakdown"},
            {"Start", 5, "Pillar"}, -- Or "End", depending on your logic
            {"End", 6, "Pillar"}
        }
    )
)

Note: Ensure you set the Sort by Column for "Label" to the "Order" column.

​2. Create the Dynamic Measure

​You need a measure that calculates the correct value based on which label is being filtered on the axis.

Dynamic Waterfall Value = 
VAR CurrentLabel = SELECTEDVALUE('WaterfallAxis'[Label])
RETURN
SWITCH( CurrentLabel,
    "Intro", [YourIntroMeasure],
    "A", CALCULATE([Amount], 'BreakdownTable'[Breakdown] = "A"),
    "B", CALCULATE([Amount], 'BreakdownTable'[Breakdown] = "B"),
    "C", CALCULATE([Amount], 'BreakdownTable'[Breakdown] = "C"),
    "Start", [YourStartTotalMeasure],
    "End", [YourEndTotalMeasure]
)

3. Configure the Visual

• ​Category: Use 'WaterfallAxis'[Label].
• ​Breakdown: Leave this Empty.
• ​Values: Use your [Dynamic Waterfall Value] measure.

Important Note on Totals

​In a standard waterfall, the "Total" column is usually automatically generated. If you want "Start" or "End" to act as a "running total" or "summary" pillar, you may need to go to the Format Pane > Pillars and manually define "End" as a total, or ensure your DAX measure for that specific label returns the cumulative sum rather than a delta.

If this dynamic calculation solves your category-based KPI tracking, please mark this as the "Accepted Solution"!

[PowerToBI]

Hi @AshokKunwar , @FBergamaschi , @alish_b 

would you have another Idea on how to solve this ? 

regards

[AshokKunwar]

Hi  @PowerToBI ,

​I see what’s happening—the Waterfall visual is treating "Start" and "End" as just another addition rather than a calculation of the previous steps.

​To get "Start" to align at the same level as "Intro" and have "End" act as the final sum, you don't actually need a more complex measure; you just need to use a specific formatting feature in Power BI.

​Try this:

1. ​Select your Waterfall chart.
2. ​Go to the Format Pane (the paintbrush icon).
3. ​Expand the Columns (or Pillars) section.
4. ​You will see a list of your Labels (Intro, A, B, C, Start, End).
5. ​Find "Start" and "End" in that list and toggle the switch to "Set as total."

​Why this works:

When you "Set as total," Power BI stops treating that category as a "floating" bar and anchors it to the bottom of the Y-axis. This will make your "Start" pillar look exactly like your "Intro" pillar, and your "End" pillar will represent the final result of the whole sequence.

​If "Start" is meant to be a subtotal of everything before it, this formatting change is the most reliable way to fix the visual without breaking your DAX.

​Let me know if those bars anchor correctly for you!

[v-echaithra · Accepted solution]

Hi @PowerToBI ,

In the standard Power BI waterfall chart, the running baseline is fixed and continuous across the entire visual.
The chart does not support restarting or resetting the baseline at an intermediate category. A baseline reset is only possible when using the automatic final Total column, or splitting the logic across separate visuals. Because of this built-in behavior, two categories cannot independently start from the same baseline within a single standard waterfall.
Consequently, a configuration where multiple categories e.g. Intro and Start independently originate from the same baseline cannot be achieved within a single instance of the standard Power BI waterfall visual.

Hope this helps.
Thank you.

[AshokKunwar]

HII @PowerToBI 

​If this dynamic calculation solves your category-based KPI tracking, please mark this as the "Accepted Solution"!

[AshokKunwar]

Hii @PowerToBI 

You want a single visual to display three different time calculations (Full Year 2024, YTD 2024, and YTD 2025) side-by-side. Because these categories don't exist in your data, a standard relationship will not work.

​The Solution: The "SWITCH" Selection Pattern

​Step 1: Ensure CategoryTable is Disconnected

​Make sure there is no relationship line between your CategoryTable and any other table in the Model View. This allows the category to act as a "switch" without filtering the data prematurely.

​Step 2: Create the Master KPI Measure

​Use this measure to detect which row of the CategoryTable is being rendered and apply the specific date logic for each.

Dynamic Category KPI = 
VAR SelectedCat = SELECTEDVALUE('CategoryTable'[Category])

-- Basic Amount Sum
VAR TotalAmount = SUM('FactTable'[Amount])

-- 1. Full Year 2024 (Intro)
VAR FY2024 = 
    CALCULATE(
        TotalAmount,
        'DateTable'[Year] = 2024,
        REMOVEFILTERS('DateTable')
    )

-- 2. YTD 2024 (Start) - Jan to Oct
VAR YTD2024 = 
    CALCULATE(
        TotalAmount,
        'DateTable'[Year] = 2024,
        'DateTable'[Month] <= 10,
        REMOVEFILTERS('DateTable')
    )

-- 3. YTD 2025 (End) - Jan to Oct
VAR YTD2025 = 
    CALCULATE(
        TotalAmount,
        'DateTable'[Year] = 2025,
        'DateTable'[Month] <= 10,
        REMOVEFILTERS('DateTable')
    )

RETURN
SWITCH(
    SelectedCat,
    "Intro", FY2024,
    "Start", YTD2024,
    "End", YTD2025,
    BLANK()
)

Step 3: Build the Visual

1. ​Put Category from your CategoryTable on the X-Axis or Rows.
2. ​Put Breakdown from your BreakdownTable in the Legend or Columns.
3. ​Add the [Dynamic Category KPI] measure to the Values.

Summary for the Community

​To show different time periods in one visual, use a disconnected table for your headers and a SWITCH measure to inject the specific CALCULATE logic for each header.

​If this dynamic calculation solves your category-based KPI tracking, please mark this as the "Accepted Solution"!

[PowerToBI]

Hi @FBergamaschi , @alish_b 

Of course some here are the tables from my example. 

In general and some more context. For the category Intro I want to display kpi FY 2024, for category Start YTD 2024 (Jan-Oct) and for End YTD 2025 (Jan-Oct) shall be displayed. The kpis I do know how to calculate.

The date table is filtering the fact table

1. CategoryTable

Category

Intro

Start

End

2.breakdownTable

Breakdown

A

B

C

3.FactTable

Date	Breakdown	Amount
01.01.2024	A	100
01.02.2024	A	120
01.03.2024	B	150
01.04.2024	C	130
01.05.2024	A	140
01.06.2024	B	160
01.07.2024	C	170
01.08.2024	A	180
01.09.2024	B	190
01.10.2024	C	200
01.11.2024	A	210
01.12.2024	B	220
01.01.2025	A	200
01.02.2025	B	210
01.03.2025	C	220
01.04.2025	A	230
01.05.2025	B	240
01.06.2025	C	250
01.07.2025	A	260
01.08.2025	B	270
01.09.2025	C	280
01.10.2025	A	290

4.date table

Date	Year	Month
01.01.2024	2024	1
02.01.2024	2024	1
02.01.2024	2024	1
03.01.2024	2024	1
03.01.2024	2024	1
04.01.2024	2024	1
...	....	...
01.10.2025	2025	10

[PowerToBI]

Hi @FBergamaschi ,hi @alish_b 

of course. I hope this helps. otherwise I adjust.

KPI detail

In the very end: Intro shall show the value for full year 2024. Start should display YTD 2024 and End should display YTD 2025. The calculation of full year and YTD figures are not an issue. 

Tables

The example tables are as follows:

1. CategoryTable

Category	Index
Intro	0
Start	1
End	2

2. BreakdownTable

Breakdown

A

B

C

3. FactTable

Date	Breakdown	Amount
Monday, January 1, 2024	A	100
Thursday, February 1, 2024	A	120
Friday, March 1, 2024	B	150
Monday, April 1, 2024	C	130
Wednesday, May 1, 2024	A	140
Saturday, June 1, 2024	B	160
Monday, July 1, 2024	C	170
Thursday, August 1, 2024	A	180
Sunday, September 1, 2024	B	190
Tuesday, October 1, 2024	C	200
Friday, November 1, 2024	A	210
Sunday, December 1, 2024	B	220
Wednesday, January 1, 2025	A	200
Saturday, February 1, 2025	B	210
Saturday, March 1, 2025	C	220
Tuesday, April 1, 2025	A	230
Thursday, May 1, 2025	B	240
Sunday, June 1, 2025	C	250
Tuesday, July 1, 2025	A	260
Friday, August 1, 2025	B	270
Monday, September 1, 2025	C	280
Wednesday, October 1, 2025	A	290

4. DateTable

Date	Year	Month
Monday, January 1, 2024	2024	1
Tuesday, January 2, 2024	2024	1
Tuesday, January 2, 2024	2024	1
Wednesday, January 3, 2024	2024	1
Wednesday, January 3, 2024	2024	1
Thursday, January 4, 2024	2024	1
Thursday, January 4, 2024	2024	1
...	...	...
Wednesday, October 1, 2025	2025	1

[FBergamaschi]

Please include, in a usable format, not an image, a small set of rows for each of the tables involved in your request and show the data model in a picture, so that we can import the tables in Power BI and reproduce the data model. The subset of rows you provide, even is just a subset of the original tables, must cover your issue or question completely. Alternatively, you can share your .pbix via some cloud service and paste the link here. Do not include sensitive information and do not include anything that is unrelated to the issue or question. Please show the expected outcome based on the sample data you provided and make sure, in case you show a Power BI visual, to clarify the columns used in the grouping sections of the visual.

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[alish_b]

Hi @PowerToBI ,

Please attach some sample data and expected output (or a mockup that gives an idea of how output should look like) so that we can assist you better.