NEW Button Slicer Visual in Power BI

In a recent episode of the Report Design Series, Microsoft Certified Trainer Allison Gonzalez of Pragmatic Works walks through the exciting release of a new visual in Power BI — the Button Slicer. This updated visual allows for greater customization and visual enhancements, making report slicers more dynamic and appealing. Here’s a breakdown of what makes this slicer a game-changer.

Introduction to the Button Slicer

• This new slicer replaces the basic slicer, offering modern styling options.
• It integrates seamlessly with Power BI Desktop and features extensive formatting tools.
• Users must ensure they are using the November 2023 release and have enabled it in Preview Features.

Styling Options Galore

Allison demonstrates how the Button Slicer mimics the customization flexibility seen in the new Card visual released earlier in the year:

• Background colors and transparency control.
• Custom borders, shadows, and shapes (rectangles, rounded rectangles, snipped tabs).
• Turn titles on or off depending on visual clarity.

Slicer Functionality Enhancements

The Button Slicer improves user experience with more interactivity and control:

• Single-select enforcement to restrict user selection to one item at a time.
• Select All toggle for broader filtering capabilities.
• Flexible layout settings with column/row control and spacing adjustments.

Text Formatting for User States

Allison emphasizes the ability to style slicer text for different interaction states:

1. Default: The baseline view of the slicer text.
2. Hover: When a user moves their mouse over the slicer.
3. Press: The moment of clicking (optional to style).
4. Selected: The active choice made by the user.

Each state allows for font size, color, position, and transparency changes, letting users fine-tune the visual feedback in their reports.

Button Styling & Behavior

• Customize the button’s look for each state — default, hover, selected.
• Adjust borders, background colors, and width to match themes or user experience preferences.
• Design buttons to visually reflect their state clearly and cleanly.

Adding Images to Buttons

One of the most exciting features is the ability to incorporate images:

• Use image URLs to display icons or graphics within slicer buttons.
• Supports custom visuals, like trainer headshots or geographic icons.
• Each slicer state can have a different image configuration, offering an advanced design experience.
• Control image fit (fill, normal), transparency, blur, and saturation.

Advanced Use Case Examples

Allison showcases several advanced slicer configurations:

• Accent bars added to specific sides of the buttons (top, left, bottom, right).
• Dynamic hover effects and clickable visuals with animated styling.
• Custom shapes and arrangements for both country and year slicers.

Final Thoughts

With this new Button Slicer, Power BI users now have unprecedented control over how their slicers look and function. Whether it's creating a dashboard with professional flair or making data filtering more intuitive, this new visual brings functionality and aesthetics together. Allison encourages users to experiment with the various features, from shapes to images, and incorporate the slicer into their future reports.

For more design ideas and tips, revisit the earlier episodes in the Report Design Series where Allison dives into color theory, layout, and placement best practices.

Don't forget to check out the Pragmatic Works' on-demand learning platform for more insightful content and training sessions on Power BI and other Microsoft applications. Be sure to subscribe to the Pragmatic Works YouTube channel to stay up-to-date on the latest tips and tricks.