Power BI Color Coding Based on Response Value

In this guide, we will create a measure in Power BI that allows you to color code the SubmissionID based on the presence of a ResponseValue. The goal is to display the SubmissionID in green if there is a value present in the ResponseValue column.

Step-by-Step Solution

1. Data Model Overview

Assume you have a table named SurveyResponse with the following relevant columns:

• SubmissionID: Unique identifier for each survey submission.
• ResponseValue: Value of the response to the survey question.

2. Create a Measure for Color Coding

We will define a DAX measure that checks the condition and returns a corresponding hex color code.

3. Code Implementation

Here is the DAX code for creating the measure:

ColorCodeSubmissionID = 
/**
 * Returns a color code based on the presence of a value in ResponseValue.
 *
 * This measure checks if the ResponseValue is not blank 
 * and returns a color code for formatting.
 *
 * @return STRING - HEX Color code
 */
VAR ResponseExists = 
    IF(
        COUNTROWS(
            FILTER(
                SurveyResponse, 
                SurveyResponse[ResponseValue] <> BLANK()
            )
        ) > 0, 
        TRUE(), 
        FALSE()
    )
RETURN
    IF(ResponseExists, "#00FF00", "#000000") // Green if ResponseValue exists, Black otherwise

4. Explanation of the Code

• Variable Declaration (VAR): We create a variable ResponseExists to determine if there are any non-blank entries in the ResponseValue column.
• Conditional Logic:
  • We utilize the COUNTROWS and FILTER functions to check for non-blank ResponseValue.
  • If the count of non-blank entries is greater than zero, it sets ResponseExists to TRUE().
• Return Statement:
  • If ResponseExists is TRUE(), return the hex code for green (#00FF00).
  • If not, return black (#000000).

5. Using the Measure in Power BI

1. Add the Measure:

   • Go to the "Modeling" tab in Power BI Desktop.
   • Click on "New Measure" and paste the DAX code above.

2. Apply the Color Coding:

   • In your report view, add the SubmissionID field to a visual (e.g., table or matrix).
   • Select the visual, navigate to the "Format" pane.
   • Under "Conditional Formatting", select "Font Color" and choose "Field Value".
   • Set it to use the ColorCodeSubmissionID measure for the color formatting.

6. Visual Outcome

• Impact: Now, the SubmissionID will be displayed in green when there is a corresponding value in the ResponseValue column and in black when there is none, enhancing the visual representation of your data.

Conclusion

This guide provided a practical approach to color coding the SubmissionID in Power BI based on the existence of values in another column. This technique can enrich your report visuals and enhance data interpretability.

Additional Resources

For more advanced DAX strategies and analytics, consider exploring the resources available on the Enterprise DNA Platform.

By following these steps, you can effectively utilize color coding in your Power BI reports, making your dashboards more intuitive and informative.