Conditional formatting

Conditional formatting (fx) lets a setting take its value from your data instead of a fixed value. Use it to color circles by a measure, set a different image for each row, or switch a layer on and off with a slicer.

Before you start

• Conditional formatting is set in the Format pane. Look for the fx button next to a setting.
• The layer must be on, and the visual must have data, before its settings appear.

The Layer Manager and the Basemaps dialog write fixed values only. Power BI's conditional formatting windows cannot be opened from them, so every editor in the Layer Manager ends with a pointer to the Format pane group that holds the layer's fx settings.

Color circles by a measure

1. In the Format pane, open Data Layers > Circles - Formatting.
2. Select the fx button next to Fill Color.
3. In Format style, choose Gradient, Rules or Field value.
4. Choose the field or measure the color is based on, set the colors or rules, and select OK.

Each circle now takes the color worked out for its own row. To go back to one color, select the fx button again and remove the formatting, or use the eraser next to the setting.

How it works

Power BI works out a conditional formatting value for each value of the * ID (required) field, which is one value per row the visual receives. Icon Map Slicer reads that value when it draws the row.

The three format styles do different jobs:

Field value is the one that makes non-color settings work. A measure can return a number for a width, text for a link, or "Yes" and "No" for a switch such as Visible.

Settings read from every row and settings read once

Most data layer settings are read for every row, so each item can differ. Some settings apply to a whole layer, such as a link, a resolution or a visibility switch. For those, Icon Map Slicer uses the value from the first row. Give them a measure that returns the same value on every row, for example a measure that reads a slicer selection.

Conditional formatting and selection

When a reader selects items, the map does not recolor them with your rules. Selected items keep their own colors and the rest fade, as set by Selection > Formatting. The other visuals on the page are filtered, and their own conditional formatting is worked out again for the filtered data.

When another visual filters Icon Map Slicer, the map receives only the remaining rows, and each setting with fx is worked out again for them. A gradient therefore spreads over the rows that are left.

Large datasets

Conditional formatting applies to every row the visual loads, including rows beyond the first 30,000 when you raise Maximum data rows. See Data rows and limits.

Patterns

Color from a column of color values

Hold a hex color such as #0c62a6 in a column, or build one in a measure. Select fx on the color setting, choose Field value, and pick the column or measure.

Per-row values without a field well

Some values have no field well and are set per row with Field value. Lines are the main example: Width, Color, Weight for Flow, Route Name and Dash Array all take a value per row this way. See Lines.

Show or hide per row

Selectable, Include Tooltip and Include in Auto Zoom are Yes or No settings that accept fx. Return "Yes" or "No" from a measure with Field value, or use Rules, to exclude some rows from selection, tooltips or the auto zoom. Rows that are not selectable cannot be used to filter the report. Display Label in Labels > Content works the same way for data labels.

Switch a layer or link with a slicer

Use a measure that reads the slicer, for example with SELECTEDVALUE, and bind it with Field value to a layer's Visible setting or to its link. The same measure value must come back on every row.

Filter a reference layer from your data

On a file reference layer, bind Filter Value with Field value. Icon Map Slicer reads the value from every row and shows the features that match any of them. See Files and feeds.

Pick the Map Location fields

Map Location filters the report by the area the map shows. Its two fields are picked with fx, not with field wells: on Selection > Map Location, select fx next to Longitude Field to Slice, choose Field value, and pick the longitude column. Do the same for Latitude Field to Slice. See Filter by the map view.

Legend entries from a field

In Legend > Legend labels, the description setting of each layer accepts fx > Field value to label legend entries from a data field. In Legend > Conditional formatting legends, the gradient field of a layer is also picked with fx > Field value. See Legend.

Settings that accept conditional formatting

Names are as they appear in the Format pane. A setting is listed only where the fx button is offered.

Data layers

Line Shape in Lines - Formatting does not accept conditional formatting. Each Lines layer draws one line shape.

Labels, legend and selection

Reference layers and basemap

The controls, the legend's layout, the selection tools, the selection transparencies and the ArcGIS credentials do not accept conditional formatting. The position of reference layer labels does not accept it either.

Tips and limits

• A measure used with Field value must return the type the setting expects: a color, a number, text, or "Yes" or "No".
• If a setting driven by fx seems to be ignored, check the value Power BI returns. Copy the visual, change the copy to a table, and add the measure to it.
• Cells aggregated from coordinates take their colors from the layer's own color scale. Per-row colors from conditional formatting apply to cells drawn from cell IDs, with Use Power BI Formatting on.
• A Flow Tree takes one color per origin, from the first row of that origin.

Related

• Format pane map
• Fields reference
• Legend
• Data rows and limits