Sparkline not working in Power BI Service

[changhong]

Hi,

I published the report from PBI Desktop to Power BI service, the sparkline show differently in Desktop and Power BI service. The sparkline is showing 5 quarters, filtered by calculation group). The calculation group works for other visuals when published to Power BI service.

Power BI Desktop:

Power BI Service:

[Poojara_D12]

Hi @changhong 

It sounds like there’s a discrepancy between how the sparkline visual renders in Power BI Desktop versus the Power BI Service, especially when filtered by a calculation group. This type of behavior can sometimes be due to differences in how Power BI Service interprets the model and visuals compared to Power BI Desktop. Here are a few troubleshooting steps to resolve this:

1. Check Version Compatibility

• Ensure that your Power BI Desktop version is up to date. Sometimes, the Power BI Service may have features or bug fixes that are more current than your Desktop version, causing rendering issues with newer visuals like sparklines.

2. Validate Calculation Group Filters

• Since you’re using a calculation group to filter the sparkline, double-check that the calculation group setup is correct and works in a basic table visual in Power BI Service.
• Ensure the calculation group includes all required elements to produce consistent results across both Desktop and Service.

3. Re-apply or Refresh the Calculation Group in Service

• Sometimes, publishing from Desktop to Service can lead to inconsistencies, especially if cached data in Power BI Service is outdated. Try refreshing the dataset in Power BI Service after publishing to see if it resolves the issue.
• Also, try reapplying the filters and manually setting the calculation group in Power BI Service to see if this refreshes the sparkline display.

4. Adjust Sparkline Settings

• In Power BI Desktop, double-check the sparkline settings under the visual’s format options. Ensure the date axis and data points are configured correctly, as sometimes the axis settings or starting points can vary between environments.
• Additionally, confirm that the sparkline is indeed set to filter by quarters, as it may render differently depending on the period selected.

5. Test a Simple Calculation Group Alternative

• If feasible, create a simplified version of the calculation group that filters by quarters only and apply this to the sparkline to see if the issue persists.
• Testing this simplified version can help determine if the issue is tied to a specific calculation within the calculation group.

6. Try Recreating the Sparkline in Power BI Service

• Sometimes visuals don’t render identically when transferred from Desktop to Service. Re-create the sparkline directly in Power BI Service, apply the calculation group filter, and see if it produces the correct result.
• This can help ensure the visual settings are synced to Power BI Service’s rendering engine directly.

7. Contact Microsoft Support if the Issue Persists

• If the issue continues, it may be a rendering bug specific to sparklines with calculation groups in the Power BI Service. Contacting Microsoft Support may be necessary to report this and potentially receive a workaround or bug fix.

These steps should help you identify if the issue is due to versioning, configuration differences, or a potential bug in Power BI Service's handling of sparklines and calculation groups. Let me know if any specific step helps or if more advanced troubleshooting is needed!

Did I answer your question? Mark my post as a solution, this will help others!

If my response(s) assisted you in any way, don't forget to drop me a "Kudos" 🙂

Kind Regards,
Poojara
Data Analyst | MSBI Developer | Power BI Consultant
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@biconcepts?si=04iw9SYI2HN80HKS

[changhong · Accepted solution]

Hi @Poojara_D12 ,

Thanks for the reply! I updated Power BI Desktop, and the sparkline in desktop now displays like it does in the Power BI service. However, I want the way it rendered in the original version. How should I proceed?

Best regards,

Chang Hong

[Poojara_D12]

Hi @changhong 

I'm glad to hear the update synchronized the display between Desktop and Service! 🙂 To revert to the original sparkline rendering behavior, here are a few options:

1. Install an Earlier Version of Power BI Desktop

• You can download an older version of Power BI Desktop from Microsoft’s Power BI previous versions download page and install the version you were using before the update. This may revert sparklines to the original rendering.

2. Use a Custom Visual for Sparklines

• If keeping up-to-date features is important, consider trying a custom visual for sparklines from AppSource. Custom visuals sometimes offer more granular control over rendering, so you might find one that mimics the original behavior.

3. Modify Sparkline Settings in Current Version

• Explore any settings or adjustments in the current version’s sparkline options under the formatting pane. Microsoft occasionally adjusts rendering based on feedback, and some formatting options might bring it closer to the look of the older version.

If you let me know which specific aspects of the original rendering you’re aiming to restore, I can suggest more tailored tweaks!

Did I answer your question? Mark my post as a solution, this will help others!

If my response(s) assisted you in any way, don't forget to drop me a "Kudos" 🙂

Kind Regards,
Poojara
Data Analyst | MSBI Developer | Power BI Consultant
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@biconcepts?si=04iw9SYI2HN80HKS