Y-axis problem and no problem with X-axis

[eas568]

I've ran out of resources and this has been a headache.  I have a Year column with values, 2000-2024.  When I add it to my table on the Y-Axis it shows it as sum and i don't have the option to remove it as sum.  I checked under Model View to see the data type and it is date, I changed it to date/time and it still didn't work.  Under Table View, the column is not summarized. But when i add it to the X-axis it has no problem showing the year values.  How do I fix this? It looks like this is only a problem when adding to the Y-axis because I can't just say remove options and get value.  I just want the pull the values from the table and do no kind of calculation.  Thanks in advance

[v-yajiewan-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi  @eas568, hello ToddChitt, thank you for your prompt reply! 

Column Chart:

Designed for vertical comparison of values, so the Y-axis is typically used for numerical fields.

The X-axis is usually used for categorical fields, making it easy to compare values across different categories.

Bar Chart:

Designed for horizontal comparison of categories, so the Y-axis is typically used for categorical fields.

The X-axis is usually used for numerical fields, making it easy to compare values across different categories.

To address your issue, it's recommended to use a bar chart instead of a column chart:

Best regards,

Joyce

If this post helps, then please considerAccept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

[ToddChitt]

It looks like you had it there at one time. Put [Year] on the X axis and drag [Alamama] to the Y Axis. Because Power BI wants to AGGREGATE things on the Y axis, it will make you choose something like SUM or MIN or MAX or COUNT. 

But since for any one [Year], you have only one value for [Alabama] the SUM of that one value will be THAT ONE VALUE, along with the MIN and MAX. Just don't use COUNT. 

[ToddChitt]

What you show is a COLUMN chart (with vertical columns). For that, one would typically put the time series (years) on the X axis and that looks right. It shows the aggregation as MAX but you should be able to change that to SUM if needed. Is the data column [Alabama] numeric? Is it a measure

I'm not sure what the issue is. 

Can you describe in spoken language what analysis you are wanting to display?

[eas568]

The data for each state is the average already calculated through excel before importing it into Power BI, I am wanting to display a simple graph showing the averages that is already calculated and does not need to be tampered with throughout the years 2000-2024.  The x-axis displays the actual data but y-axis tampers it. When you say times series is typically put in x-axis, does that mean x-axis is for non-tampered data and y-axis is for data that will be tampered with? 

[ToddChitt]

First, what type of visual are you shooting for? Column chart (vertical columns) or a Bar chart (horizontal bars)?

Can you give us some sample data to view? Maybe some screenshots? And what end result are you looking for?

[eas568]

It happens on either chart but here is an example on a bar chart.  It's literally only the y-axis that creates the problem, after switching the data the Y-axis creates some new value.