Why is my Exported Data Different than What is in Visual?

[ERing]

I'm having an issue across several of my reports where the data shown in my visual is different from the exported data. In the example below, my report visual shows totals of 18,071 Sales and $243,151,896.39 in Revenue. I've exported the data from that visual and summed the same columns and the result is 17,861 Sales and $241,361,494.36 in Revenue. So the total in my visual is showing 210 more sales and $1,790,402.03 more in Revenue compared to the exported data.

What causes this and how can I resolve it?

[lbendlin]

That would be a question for your measure definitions and applied filters.  One of the export options helpfully lists the applied filters for the export - check that out first.  Also note that static outputs tend to make measures useless.

[ERing]

Can you elaborate on these points? I don't quite understand. I don't see how a data export is useful if it doesn't match what is in the visual. I believe most people would assume they are exporting the data as it is displayed in the visual.

1. "That would be a question for your measure definitions and applied filters"

2. "Also note that static outputs tend to make measures useless"

[lbendlin]

Exports as such are a contentious topic. In their pure definition they lead to a breaking of lineage.  You take something dynamic (like a Power BI visual) and freeze it at that moment in time.  If you then try to treat the exported values as measures you will be disappointed, as they will yield static results.

The preferred option is to leave the data where it is (in the sematic model) and connect to it "live", via a cube (Analyze in Excel) or via DAX (Excel with live connection).  That will keep the lineage and in the case of the cube even keep the measures intact.

I agree with you that data export from Power BI isn't useful 🙂  That's what you said, right?

[ERing]

Haha. I agree with you and think that's what I said?

The issue here is that I have many end users who are comfortable with Excel and want to be able to look at the data in Excel. In most cases, it isn't neccessary, but thats a battle I'm not going to win.

Even with that said, I must agree with them, that I'd expect the totals of each column of an export to be what is shown as totals in the visual. Now users are having doubts and asking me "which totals are correct?"

[lbendlin]

It's a long and painful process but once they see the advantages of live connections in Excel they will slowly migrate over. Keep up the good fight