Create a matrix visual in Power BI

• Always make sure you have the latest version of Power BI Desktop installed before proceeding.

• For the purposes of this guide, in Power BI Desktop's Global options, under the Preview features section, the On-object interaction feature is not enabled.

In the following guide, we're using the Retail Analysis Sample PBIX file. After downloading the file, let's get started:

1. Launch Power BI Desktop.

2. On the left-side navigation pane, select Open, otherwise on the top-left of the window, select File > Open.

3. Locate and select your copy of the Retail Analysis Sample PBIX file. The file will open in report view, ready for you to begin.

   

4. Select the + icon at the bottom of the window to add a new page to the report.

In the following guide we’re using the Retail Analysis Sample PBIX in the Power BI service. Let’s get started:

1. Sign in to the Power BI service.

2. Select Learn in the left navigation.

3. On the Learning center page, under Sample reports, scroll to the right to locate and select the Retail Analysis Sample. The file will open in report view.

   

4. At the top of the window, select Edit to open the report editor.

5. Select the + icon at the bottom of the window to add a new page to the report.

Before we begin, review the Prerequisites section at the beginning of this article, and follow the steps under the tab for Power BI Desktop.

In this quick and easy three-step guide, let’s create a matrix visual starting from the Visualizations pane in Power BI Desktop.

1. From the Visualizations pane, first select the Build visual icon, then select the Matrix visual icon, and a visual placeholder is immediately added to the report canvas.

   

2. To add data to the visual in this example, let’s use the Data pane. Adding data can be done by selecting fields and measures, or dragging fields and measures to the field wells on the Visualizations pane, or dragging fields and measures directly to the visual placeholder in the report canvas. Expand the Sales group, to add TotalSales and then TotalSalesLY to the Values field well. Expand the Item subgroup, to add Category to the Columns field well. And finally, expand the Store subgroup to add Territory and then City to the Rows field well.

   

3. To customize your matrix visual, select the Format visual icon in the Visualizations pane, granting you access to all available settings, allowing you to tailor the matrix visual's appearance and functionality to your specific requirements.

   

Before we begin, review the Prerequisites section at the beginning of this article, and follow the steps under the tab for the Power BI service.

In this quick and easy three-step guide, let’s create a matrix visual starting from the Visualizations pane in the Power BI service.

1. From the Visualizations pane, first select the Build visual icon, then select the Matrix visual icon, and a visual placeholder is immediately added to the report canvas.

   

2. To add data to the visual in this example, let’s use the Data pane. Adding data can be done by selecting fields and measures, or dragging fields and measures to the field wells on the Visualizations pane, or dragging fields and measures directly to the visual placeholder in the report canvas. Expand the Sales group, to add TotalSales and then TotalSalesLY to the Values field well. Expand the Item subgroup, to add Category to the Columns field well. And finally, expand the Store subgroup to add Territory and then City to the Rows field well.

   

3. To customize your matrix visual, select the Format visual icon in the Visualizations pane, granting you access to all available settings, allowing you to tailor the matrix visual's appearance and functionality to your specific requirements.