Анонимизация компаний в Power BI с выбором в слайсере

Calculated columns in Power BI cannot reference slicer selections because they are calculated during data refresh and stored as static values in the data model, unlike measures which recalculate based on the current filter context. Since slicer selections change dynamically during report interaction, they cannot be accessed by calculated columns.

Contents

• Understanding the Limitation
• Recommended Solution: Using Measures
• Step-by-Step Implementation
• Alternative Approaches
• Best Practices
• Troubleshooting Common Issues

Understanding the Limitation

The fundamental issue you’re encountering stems from how Power BI handles calculated columns versus measures. According to Microsoft Fabric Community discussions, “Calculated tables/columns are only calculated on refresh (thus not dynamic) and are not affected by report filters/slicers.”

This means when you try to use SELECTEDVALUE() or ISFILTERED() in a calculated column, these functions only evaluate the data model state during refresh, not the current interactive state of your report. As Reddit users have discovered, “Calculated columns can’t reference slicer selections and only update when the associated table is refreshed.”

Recommended Solution: Using Measures

Instead of trying to create a calculated column, you should create a measure that dynamically displays either the company name or anonymous name based on the current selection. This approach is supported by multiple sources as the proper way to handle dynamic filtering scenarios.

Basic Measure Implementation

Company Display Name = 
VAR SelectedCompany = SELECTEDVALUE('Company Table'[Company Name])
VAR CurrentCompany = MAX('Company Table'[Company Name])

RETURN
IF(
    SelectedCompany = CurrentCompany || ISBLANK(SelectedCompany),
    CurrentCompany,
    MAX('Company Table'[Anonymous Name])
)

Advanced Measure with Multiple Selection Support

If you need to support multiple company selections:

Company Display Name Multi Select = 
VAR SelectedCompanies = VALUES('Company Table'[Company Name])
VAR CurrentCompany = MAX('Company Table'[Company Name])

RETURN
IF(
    CurrentCompany IN SelectedCompanies || ISBLANK(SelectedCompanies),
    CurrentCompany,
    MAX('Company Table'[Anonymous Name])
)

As Stack Overflow experts explain, “Measures can’t be used as slicer values” but they can definitely reference slicer selections and provide dynamic results.

Step-by-Step Implementation

Step 1: Create the Anonymous Name Measure

1. Go to your ‘Company Table’ in Power BI
2. Create a new measure with the following DAX:

Company Display Name = 
VAR SelectedCompany = SELECTEDVALUE('Company Table'[Company Name])
VAR CurrentCompany = MAX('Company Table'[Company Name])

RETURN
IF(
    SelectedCompany = CurrentCompany || ISBLANK(SelectedCompany),
    CurrentCompany,
    MAX('Company Table'[Anonymous Name])
)

Step 2: Use the Measure in Your Visual

1. Create a table visual
2. Add the Company Display Name measure to the visual
3. Add your values measure (like sum of sales) to the visual
4. Create a slicer using the Company Name field from your company table

Step 3: Test the Implementation

When you select “Coca Cola” in the slicer, the table should display:

• Coca Cola (actual name for selected company)
• Company B (anonymous name for other companies)
• Company C (anonymous name for other companies)
• etc.

If nothing is selected in the slicer, all companies will show their actual names, which is often the desired default behavior.

Alternative Approaches

Method 1: Using a Parameter Table Pattern

For more complex scenarios, consider creating a parameter table as suggested in RADACAD’s approach:

1. Create a disconnected parameter table with selections
2. Use measures to reference this parameter table
3. Implement logic based on the parameter selection

Method 2: Using Variables and SWITCH Statements

For multiple display options, you can use SWITCH statements as shown in Stack Overflow solutions:

Dynamic Company Display = 
VAR SlicerValue = SELECTEDVALUE('Parameter Table'[DisplayOption], "Show All")
RETURN
SWITCH(
    TRUE(),
    SlicerValue = "Show All", MAX('Company Table'[Company Name]),
    SlicerValue = "Show Anonymous", MAX('Company Table'[Anonymous Name]),
    MAX('Company Table'[Company Name])
)

Method 3: Creating a Calculated Table (Limited Use Case)

If you absolutely need a column structure (though this won’t be dynamic), you could create a calculated table, but this would only work for static scenarios:

Company Display Table = 
SELECTCOLUMNS(
    'Company Table',
    "Company Name", 'Company Table'[Company Name],
    "Anonymous Name", 'Company Table'[Anonymous Name],
    "Display Name", 'Company Table'[Company Name] // This won't be dynamic
)

Best Practices

1. Use measures for dynamic functionality: As emphasized by Power BI experts, “slicer selections can be captured using SELECTEDVALUES in measures” but not in calculated columns.
2. Handle blank selections: Always consider what should happen when nothing is selected in the slicer. The examples above show actual names when nothing is selected, but you could modify this to show anonymous names if preferred.
3. Performance optimization: For large datasets, consider using variables to avoid repeated calculations and ensure your measures are optimized for performance.
4. Error handling: Add proper error handling for edge cases, such as when there are multiple selections in the slicer.
5. Testing: Test your measures with various scenarios: single selection, multiple selections, no selection, and edge cases.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Issue: ISFILTERED Returns FALSE

As you discovered, ISFILTERED() returns FALSE in calculated columns because calculated columns don’t have filter context. The solution is to use measures instead.

Issue: SELECTEDVALUE Returns Same Value for All Rows

This happens because calculated columns evaluate once per row during refresh, not per interaction.

Issue: Multiple Selections Cause Unexpected Results

If users can select multiple companies, your logic needs to account for this.

Issue: Performance Issues with Large Datasets

Complex measures can slow down report performance.

Sources

1. Power BI Community - How to get the selected value of a slicer into a calculated column
2. Reddit - How to fill calculated column on the base slicer
3. Stack Overflow - Reference Slicer option in Calculated Column
4. P3 Adaptive - Capture Slicer Selections Using SELECTEDVALUES in Power BI
5. RADACAD - Change Column or Measure Value by Slicer Selection
6. Stack Overflow - Power BI dynamically change measure values and names with filters

Conclusion

The key takeaway is that calculated columns cannot reference slicer selections in Power BI because they are static values calculated during data refresh. To achieve dynamic anonymization based on slicer selection, you must use measures instead of calculated columns.

Practical recommendations:

1. Create a measure like Company Display Name that uses SELECTEDVALUE() to detect the current selection
2. Use this measure in your table visual instead of trying to create a calculated column
3. Handle edge cases like blank selections and multiple selections appropriately
4. Test thoroughly with various selection scenarios to ensure your logic works as expected

While it might seem counterintuitive to move from a column-based approach to a measure-based solution, this is the correct and most efficient way to handle dynamic filtering requirements in Power BI. Remember that measures are designed specifically for interactive, context-dependent calculations, which is exactly what your anonymization scenario requires.