Personal Bookmark Overwriting Updates to Filter Pane

[Hannahllmm]

We have an embedded report that has multiple slicers all using the same field parameter and a table that displays what the user has selected from these slicers. There are multiple slicers because there are hundreds of measures a user could select, so we have a page allowing them to make selections with separate slicers to help break down the options. Users have then saved their own bookmarks with the selections they've made. We have over 100 personal bookmarks users have saved.

Recently we added a new slicer with a Visual Level Filter. The problem is that when users select an old bookmark the visual level filter for this slicer is removed because the filter state is being updated. Has anyone found a way to prevent this? 

[v-tejrama]

Hi @Hannahllmm ,

Thank you @cengizhanarslan  for the response provided!

Has your issue been resolved? If the response provided by the community member addressed your query, could you please confirm? It helps us ensure that the solutions provided are effective and beneficial for everyone.

Thank you.

[Hannahllmm]

Unfortunately not, I was wondering if there'd be a way to controld this given we have embedded the reports. I wondered if anyone had experience with embedded reports and this filtering scenario 

[v-tejrama]

Hi @Hannahllmm ,

Thanks for following up. In both embedded and standard scenarios, personal bookmarks in Power BI restore the full report state as saved, including filters and slicers. If a filter was added after a bookmark was created, applying that bookmark removes the newer filter.

Embedding doesn't change this behavior, and there's no built in way to prevent a visual filter from being overwritten by a bookmark. To enforce filter logic, consider moving it into the data model or DAX, or programmatically reapply filters after bookmarks, though this can add complexity.

Thank you.

[v-tejrama]

Hi @Hannahllmm ,

I wanted to follow up and see if you had a chance to review the information shared. If you have any further questions or need additional assistance, feel free to reach out.

Thank you.

[Hannahllmm]

It sounds like for our use case the only option would be to programmatically reapply filters for existing personal bookmarks. Do you have any more information about this? Thank you

[v-tejrama · Accepted solution]

Hi @Hannahllmm ,

You're definitely on the right track with your thinking. Right now, embedded reports don’t have a built-in way to stop personal bookmarks from restoring everything to how it was saved including slicers and visual filters. That’s just how bookmarks work, even when embedded.

There’s nothing in the embed setup that can change this. The usual workaround is to let the bookmark load as normal, and then use the JavaScript Embed API to quickly reapply your required filter. Since your filter runs right after the bookmark, it ends up being what the user sees. If your filter is something that should always stick, it’s best to build that logic into the semantic model or DAX layer so bookmarks can’t override it. But if you can’t change the model, just reapplying the filter in your code is the way to go.

Thank you.

[v-tejrama]

Hi @Hannahllmm ,

I wanted to check if you had the opportunity to review the information provided. Please feel free to contact us if you have any further questions.

Thank you

[cengizhanarslan]

Unfortunately there’s no way to “protect” a visual-level filter from being overwritten by existing personal bookmarks. When a user re-applies an old personal bookmark, Power BI restores the filter snapshot from the time it was created.

[tayloramy]

Hi @Hannahllmm, 

As far as I know, there is no way around this. 

You might be able to republish the report with personal bookmarkd disabled, and then publish it again with personal bookmarks enabled. That might (i'm not sure if it actually will) remove all personal bookmarks and force your users to make them again, hopefully with your new slicer setting saved in them this time. 

This is the biggest struggle I have with personal bookmarks. In concept they are fantastic, but then when you need to manage them and the report changes/filters need to change, they are a nightmare.