Bookmarks in Power BI are powerful features that capture the current state of a report page, allowing users to save and return to specific views with a single click. They preserve filter selections, slicer states, visual visibility, drill-down positions, and sort orders, making them essential for c…Bookmarks in Power BI are powerful features that capture the current state of a report page, allowing users to save and return to specific views with a single click. They preserve filter selections, slicer states, visual visibility, drill-down positions, and sort orders, making them essential for creating interactive and dynamic reports.
To configure bookmarks, navigate to the View tab in Power BI Desktop and enable the Bookmarks pane. This opens a panel where you can manage all your bookmarks. To create a new bookmark, first set up your report page exactly as you want it captured - apply filters, adjust slicers, show or hide visuals, and configure any other settings. Then click 'Add' in the Bookmarks pane to save this state.
Each bookmark has configurable options accessible through the ellipsis menu. You can choose whether the bookmark captures Data (filters and slicers), Display (visual visibility and formatting), or Current Page settings. The 'Selected visuals' option limits the bookmark to only affect specific visuals you have highlighted, which is useful for creating targeted interactions.
Bookmarks work seamlessly with buttons and images to create navigation experiences. Select a button, go to the Format pane, enable the Action property, and set the action type to Bookmark. Choose your desired bookmark from the dropdown, and users can now navigate by clicking that button.
For storytelling purposes, bookmarks can be organized in sequence to guide viewers through data insights. The Bookmarks pane allows reordering through drag-and-drop functionality. You can also group related bookmarks together for better organization.
Advanced techniques include using bookmarks to toggle between different visual types, create show/hide panels for additional information, or reset all filters to default states. Personal bookmarks allow report consumers to save their own preferred views when viewing published reports in the Power BI service, enhancing the personalized analytical experience for each user.
Configure Bookmarks in Power BI - Complete Guide for PL-300 Exam
Why Configure Bookmarks is Important
Bookmarks are a powerful feature in Power BI that enable you to capture the current state of a report page and save it for later use. They are essential for creating interactive storytelling experiences, building custom navigation, and allowing users to quickly switch between different views of data. For the PL-300 exam, understanding bookmarks is crucial as they represent a key skill in creating professional, user-friendly reports.
What Are Bookmarks?
A bookmark in Power BI captures a snapshot of a report page, including: - Current filter and slicer selections - Visibility of visual elements - Sort order of visuals - Drill location - Spotlight status - Cross-highlighting state - Current page selection
Bookmarks essentially save the exact state of your report at a specific moment, allowing users to return to that precise view with a single click.
How Bookmarks Work
1. Creating a Bookmark: - Navigate to View tab and select Bookmarks Pane - Configure your report page exactly as you want it saved - Click 'Add' in the Bookmarks pane - Name your bookmark descriptively
2. Bookmark Properties: - Data: Captures filters, slicers, and highlighting - Display: Captures visibility and formatting of objects - Current Page: Records which page the bookmark was created on - All Visuals/Selected Visuals: Determines scope of the bookmark
3. Using Bookmarks with Buttons: - Insert a button from the Insert tab - Configure the button's Action property - Set Action type to 'Bookmark' - Select the target bookmark
4. Bookmark Groups: - Organize related bookmarks into groups - Right-click in Bookmarks pane to create groups - Useful for managing complex navigation scenarios
Common Use Cases
- Toggle Visibility: Show/hide visuals or panels - Custom Navigation: Create menu systems and page navigation - Storytelling: Guide users through a data narrative - Reset Filters: Return to a default view - Compare Views: Switch between different analytical perspectives
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Configure Bookmarks
1. Understand Bookmark Data vs Display Properties: Exam questions often test whether you know the difference. Data captures filter states; Display captures visual visibility and formatting.
2. Know the Selection Pane Connection: The Selection pane works closely with bookmarks for controlling object visibility. Questions may ask about using both together.
3. Remember Button Actions: When questions mention interactive navigation or switching views, think about bookmarks combined with buttons.
4. Bookmark Navigator Visual: Be aware that Power BI has a Bookmark Navigator visual that can automatically create buttons for bookmark groups.
5. Personal vs Report Bookmarks: Personal bookmarks are created by report viewers and saved to their account. Report bookmarks are created by authors and available to all users.
6. Scenario Recognition: If an exam question describes needing to save a specific view state, reset filters, create navigation, or toggle element visibility - bookmarks are likely the answer.
7. Update Bookmark Feature: Remember you can right-click a bookmark and select 'Update' to modify its saved state rather than creating a new one.
8. Spotlight vs Bookmarks: Spotlight highlights a single visual temporarily; bookmarks can capture spotlight state permanently.
Key Terms to Remember
- Bookmarks Pane - Selection Pane - Button Actions - Personal Bookmarks - Report Bookmarks - Bookmark Groups - Data and Display properties