Power BI: Update Slicer Type From Format Pane

In the December 2022 update of Power BI, slicers and slicer formatting have undergone some key improvements, particularly in terms of user accessibility and functionality. Angelica Choo Quan, a trainer at Pragmatic Works, walks through these updates, demonstrating how they make it easier to use and format slicers both on desktop and mobile layouts.

Previous Power BI Slicer Experience

Before the December 2022 update, Power BI slicers required users to take extra steps when modifying their slicer settings. Here’s what the process used to look like:

• To modify the slicer, users had to hover over the slicer and open a dropdown menu.
• This dropdown allowed users to switch between slicer types such as 'Between,' 'Less than or Equal to,' and 'Greater than or Equal to.'
• Users could also change the slicer to display a list of years for filtering data, or modify the slicer’s layout by switching to horizontal tiles, requiring them to go to the visualization pane.

Although functional, these steps were a bit cumbersome, and Power BI users were looking for a more efficient solution.

New Power BI Slicer Features in December 2022 Update

With the December 2022 update, Power BI introduces a more streamlined slicer modification process:

• Users can now modify slicer settings directly from the slicer visual, making the process more intuitive.
• The update allows for quicker selection of slicer types like 'Between,' 'List,' and 'Drop-down' directly from the visual itself.
• The horizontal list option has been replaced with the more user-friendly 'Tile' option, simplifying layout changes without needing to visit the visualization pane.
• Power BI users can now modify slicer settings from within the mobile layout in Power BI Service, enhancing the mobile user experience.

Step-by-Step Walkthrough of the New Features

Here’s a quick guide to using the new slicer formatting features in Power BI:

1. Hover Over the Slicer: Hovering over a slicer in Power BI will now reveal the options for modifying the slicer’s appearance and function.
2. Select Your Slicer Type: From the dropdown, choose the slicer type (e.g., 'Between,' 'List,' 'Tile') that suits your needs.
3. Modify Layout: Instead of heading to the visualizations pane, you can switch between a vertical list and horizontal tiles directly from the slicer settings.
4. Mobile Layout Options: In Power BI Service, slicer modifications are just as simple. Users can access the mobile view and change slicer settings to make it more mobile-friendly.

Mobile Layout in Power BI Service

The mobile layout has also been improved. With the slicer formatting options now accessible in Power BI Service, users can seamlessly switch between slicer types and view the data in a mobile-friendly layout. The update makes it easier to interact with reports on the go.

Conclusion

The December 2022 Power BI update significantly improves the slicer experience, both on desktop and mobile. With easier access to formatting options and a more intuitive interface, users can now modify slicers quickly and efficiently, leading to a smoother report development process.

For more in-depth tutorials on Power BI and other Microsoft Power Platform tools, check out Pragmatic Works' on-demand learning platform.