Take your Power BI Tables to the Next Level
Gary Carpenter
Sr. Data Analyst / Tech Lead / Power BI I Developer | Course Creator - Helping Data Professionals master Microsoft Power BI UX / UI Report Design and more - @ nextlevelreports.com
Transform your Power BI Tables from Dull to Engaging!
If you're a Power BI Report developer, you know how important tables are for certain audiences. But let’s face it—default table visuals can feel boring and dull. They don’t have to be though! ??
With a few design tweaks, you can turn those bland Power BI tables into sleek, app-like visuals that enhance the user experience.
TIP 1: Create the page background in PowerPoint using shapes and layering.
Creating depth and groups through modern background design will not only give the user a more pleasing user experience visually, but will also help your users spot groupings more easily.
TIP 2: Make your Power BI Report page header the same color as the header shape in your background. Then zoom into 400% and position your table onto the background precisely.
We are able to achieve an app-like look within our header using this trick. This makes our table feel a little more modern to the user.
TIP 3: Use Uppercase, Segoe UI Bold, 10px, #333333 for the Column Headers. Use Segoe UI 10px, #333333 for the Values to match the below screenshots.
Having the header font type bold and uppercase establishes clear hierarchy from the values within the table.
TIP 4: Use the color white for both the background and alternate background colors.
Doing this keeps a clean / minimalist look and feel. Alternating background colors isn't needed since we used a row border.
TIP 5: Try to keep your Header Titles and Values fields on one row (on same line) if possible. Use Abbreviated Titles to help - as long as all users understand them.
Having your column titles and values on one row keeps your table looking clean and allows it to be more easily readable for your users.
TIP 6: Avoid horizontal scroll bars when able to. Use short-text versions of value fields to help keep values on one row while avoiding horizontal scroll lines. (IE: Abbreviated Countries)
Ensuring your users don't need to scroll enhances their user experience as they are able to see all of the relevant content quickly with no extra effort on their end.
TIP 7: Use a 1px width / #E6E6E6 (light gray) for the horizontal lines to match the screenshot below
Having 1px light grid-lines creates row separation in a very subtle, visually pleasing way.
TIP 8: Increase your row padding (IE: to 10 or 11).
Giving our data room to breathe by providing white space reduces clutter and increases user clarity.
TIP 9: Add icons though image URL fields. One trick is to delete the Title of the Image URL, press space-bar once and then press Enter. Next, adjust your Icon size. (The below example shows an icon size of 22).
Adding icons can help add context while giving you table a more engaging look and feel.
TIP 10: Add conditional formatting to important values that you want to stand out. Use less saturated colors for data bars and background colors.
Help key insights stand out more easily with conditional formatting, such as using data bars.
TIP 11: Add conditional formatting Icons for additional / important context.
Provide more context to key insights with conditional formatted icons.
TIP 12: Have your table sorted by the most logical field in the proper order. Below we are sorted in descending order by order date. Format your values. IE: Is it best to show 1 decimal point or 0 decimal points? It all depends on your user needs.
These little details enhance the user experience, so it’s important to be aware of them and perform these little steps.
TIP 13: Utilize Layer Grouping, Bookmarking, and Buttons to show more table views to your users, while giving them an app-like experience.
Incorporating Bookmarked Views helps make you reports more intuitive, modern, cleaner, familiar, easier to interact with, and engaging.
TIP 14: Take your report page to another level by using a hidden slicer pane, utilizing layer grouping, bookmarking, and buttons. TIP - When using a slicer pane, don’t use the built-in filter pane at the same time. Choose either or, but typically not both.
A hidden slicer-pane via a filter button gives your page a more familiar / app like feel to you users.
TIP 15: Add high-level cards using the Power BI’s “new” card to provide overall values / context quickly.
Providing high level totals & insight via cards on your table page helps the user understand the overall totals and insights quickly.
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5 个月Wow Gary this is one detailed post and great pointers on UI/UX which makes the report have a clean, uncluttered layout with clear navigation and easy-to-understand controls.