Power BI: Create Dynamic Slicers Using Field Parameters

In this tutorial, Angelica Choo Quan, a trainer at Pragmatic Works, demonstrates how to create dynamic slicers in Power BI using field parameters, a new feature introduced in the November 2022 update. This feature allows users to control fields in slicers dynamically, offering enhanced flexibility when analyzing data in Power BI.

Overview of Dynamic Slicers

Before the November update, Power BI users couldn't control slicers with field parameters. Now, thanks to the new field parameter feature, you can create slicers that dynamically adjust based on selected fields. This tutorial walks through how to enable and use this feature to enhance your Power BI reports.

Step 1: Enable the Field Parameters Feature

To begin using dynamic slicers, ensure the field parameters feature is enabled in Power BI Desktop. Follow these steps:

• Go to the File menu in Power BI Desktop.
• Select Options and Settings, then choose Options.
• In the Options menu, navigate to the Preview Features section.
• Ensure that Field Parameters is checked. If not, check it and restart Power BI.

Step 2: Create the Field Parameter

Next, Angelica demonstrates how to create a field parameter for dynamic slicers:

1. In Power BI Desktop, go to the Modeling tab on the ribbon.
2. Select New Parameter and then choose Fields.
3. Choose the fields you want to include in your parameter. For this example, Angelica selects fields from the AdventureWorks dataset such as Class, English Product Name, and Model Name.
4. Ensure that the Add slicer to this page option is checked, and then click Create.

Step 3: Format the Slicer

After creating the field parameter, you can format the slicer for a better user experience:

• Select the slicer visual, go to the Format pane, and change its orientation from vertical to horizontal.
• Resize the slicer to fit your report layout, ensuring it looks clean and functional.

Step 4: Create a Sub-Slicer

Now, create a sub-slicer that will update based on the field selected in the main slicer:

1. Select one of the fields in your parameter (e.g., English Product Name).
2. Copy the slicer visual and paste it onto the report canvas.
3. Resize the new sub-slicer to fit the layout and adjust the slicer’s visual settings.
4. In the Visualizations pane, select the dropdown in the Field section and choose Show Values of Selected Field.
5. This action will display the values associated with the selected field.

Step 5: Use the Dynamic Slicers

With your slicers set up, you can now use them to filter and analyze your data dynamically:

• When selecting a field in the parameter slicer, the sub-slicer will automatically update to reflect the corresponding field values.
• Additionally, the changes will be reflected in other visuals, such as the bar chart and table, allowing for dynamic filtering and interaction.

Conclusion

Angelica concludes the tutorial by emphasizing the power of dynamic slicers in Power BI. By using field parameters, you can create interactive and flexible reports that empower users to analyze data more effectively. With this new feature from the November 2022 update, Power BI users now have even more control over their reports and dashboards.

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