Visual interactions in Power BI allow you to control how different visualizations on a report page affect each other when users select data points. By default, when you click on a data element in one visual, other visuals on the same page respond by filtering or highlighting related data. However, …Visual interactions in Power BI allow you to control how different visualizations on a report page affect each other when users select data points. By default, when you click on a data element in one visual, other visuals on the same page respond by filtering or highlighting related data. However, you can customize these behaviors to create more meaningful and controlled user experiences.
To edit visual interactions, first select the visual you want to use as the source of interaction. Then navigate to the Format menu in the ribbon and click on 'Edit Interactions.' This activates interaction icons above each of the other visuals on your page.
You will see three interaction options appear: Filter, Highlight, and None. The Filter option causes the target visual to show only data related to your selection in the source visual. The Highlight option keeps all data visible but emphasizes the related data while dimming unrelated portions. The None option prevents any interaction between the source and target visuals.
Configuring interactions is essential for creating intuitive dashboards. For example, if you have a bar chart showing sales by region and a line chart showing sales trends over time, you might want selecting a region to filter the line chart to show only that region's trend. Alternatively, you might prefer highlighting to maintain context while emphasizing the selected data.
Some visuals like slicers only offer Filter or None options since highlighting does not apply to their functionality. Tables and matrices also have limited interaction options based on their nature.
Best practices include testing interactions thoroughly from the end-user perspective, ensuring logical relationships between visuals, and avoiding overly complex interaction patterns that might confuse users. Strategic use of the None option can prevent unnecessary visual updates and maintain focus on specific analytical paths within your report.
Edit and Configure Visual Interactions in Power BI
Why Visual Interactions Matter
Visual interactions are fundamental to creating effective Power BI reports. They determine how visuals on a report page respond when users select data points in other visuals. Properly configured interactions ensure users can explore data intuitively while preventing confusing or misleading cross-filtering behavior.
What Are Visual Interactions?
Visual interactions define the relationship between visuals on a report page. When a user clicks on a data point in one visual, other visuals on the same page can respond in three ways:
1. Filter: Shows only data related to the selected item 2. Highlight: Dims unrelated data while keeping all data visible 3. None: The visual remains unchanged regardless of selections
How to Configure Visual Interactions
To edit visual interactions in Power BI Desktop:
1. Select the visual you want to control (the source visual) 2. Go to the Format tab in the ribbon 3. Click Edit interactions 4. Icons appear on all other visuals showing current interaction settings 5. Click the appropriate icon on each target visual to set the desired behavior: - Filter icon (funnel) for filtering - Highlight icon (bar chart) for highlighting - None icon (prohibited symbol) for no interaction
Default Behavior
By default, Power BI sets interactions based on visual types: - Most visuals default to cross-filter other visuals - Tables and matrices default to filter behavior - Slicers always filter other visuals by default
Best Practices
- Disable interactions for visuals showing totals or KPIs that should remain static - Use highlighting when you want context of the whole dataset preserved - Use filtering when you want focused analysis on selected data - Consider user experience and the story your report tells
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Edit and Configure Visual Interactions
Key concepts to remember:
1. Location matters: The Edit interactions button is found on the Format tab, not the View or Home tab
2. Source vs Target: You must first select the SOURCE visual (the one users will click) before configuring how TARGET visuals respond
3. Three options only: Filter, Highlight, or None - know when each is appropriate
4. Slicer behavior: Slicers can only filter or have no effect - they cannot highlight
5. Scope: Visual interactions are configured per page, not across the entire report
6. Scenario-based questions: If a question describes keeping totals unchanged when selections occur, the answer involves setting interaction to None
7. When highlighting is correct: Choose highlight when the question mentions maintaining visibility of all data while emphasizing selected portions
8. When filtering is correct: Choose filter when the question requires showing only related data in connected visuals
Common exam traps: - Confusing which visual to select first (always the source) - Forgetting that interactions are page-specific - Assuming all visuals behave the same way by default