Where is the Format Pane in Power BI?
If you've recently opened Power BI and asked, "Where did the Format pane go?", you are definitely not alone. A recent update shook things up by shifting how you format visuals, removing the familiar static pane you've likely relied on. This article will show you exactly where to find the new formatting options, how to use them, and even how to get the old layout back if you prefer it.
The Big Change: From a Static Pane to On-Object Interaction
The "disappearing" format pane is due to a new feature called On-object interaction. The goal was to streamline the report-building process by bringing formatting controls directly to the visual you're working on, reducing the need to move your mouse back and forth across the screen and hunt through a long, static menu.
Instead of having a persistent format pane that changes based on what you select, the most common formatting options now appear in small pop-up menus right next to the chart or table. This in-context menu system is designed to feel more intuitive once you're used to it. The initial change has caught many longtime users off guard.
But what if you prefer the old way? The good news is, you're not stuck with the new system if you don't like it. Let's dive into mastering the newest version and how to switch if desired.
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Mastering the New On-Object Interface
At first glance, the new interface can seem confusing. The format button hasn't just moved, it has transformed into a responsive, on-object element. Let's walk through exactly how it works with a practical example.
Step 1: Create a Basic Visual
First, let's create a simple bar chart to work with. Select a bar or column chart from the Visualizations pane, then drag some fields into it. For this example, let's use a "Product Category" field on the x-axis and a "Total Sales" field on the y-axis.
Step 2: Find the New On-Object Menus
Now, click on the bar chart you created on your report canvas. You'll notice two small icons next to the visual's border:
- The first icon has chart images to suggest creating your visual: This menu, often topped by "add suggested visuals," is where you build out your charts - selecting chart types or adding fields. In other words, it replaces the visualization's pane.
- The second brush icon is your new Format button: Clicking this brings up an in-canvas menu with the different settings and elements you can change or customize for this particular chart to bring your data narrative into focus with design changes to visuals.
These menus and modals are smart too. By clicking into different and specific elements in a visual, you can bring up modal windows. For example, double-clicking the title will isolate the formatting options for titles, making edits and quick changes seamless.
Step 3: Bringing Back a Familiar Pane
If contextual pop-up menus aren't for everyone, or if you're overwhelmed using these on-object controls, you may feel most at home with a more permanent 'sidecar' pane.
Getting it back is simple. With the format menu tool open, click on the dropdown at the top. Click "Open new pane" to dock it to the side of the window, just like you had before.
You can also control this behavior more permanently using the Pane Switcher at the top right corner of the visualizations pane. Go to the right rail of the PBI page and add the new Format pane, which is always available, similar to the legacy PBI interface experience.
Step 4: Personalizing Your Workspace with the Pane Switcher
The Pane Switcher enables you to customize your Power BI work experience to best address your needs.
- Go to the View ribbon.
- Click the checkbox which enables 'Pane Switcher.'
- Select the "plus" to add panels available to you based on your needs. Simply check this box, and the Format pane will appear in view.
Now the Format pane lives where you want it, providing a traditional layout, giving you both the flexibility of new contextual menus and the familiar user-interface of a docked pane.
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How to Revert to the Old, Classic BI Format View
If you're still not a huge fan, there's always the option to switch back to the old user experience. This will completely disable any on-object interaction and bring back the classic static right-side layout format pane you were previously used to.
Follow these steps to revert to the traditional, classic UI experience of PBI:
- Click on File in the top corner.
- Click Options and settings. A dropdown will appear. Then, pick Options.
- In the Global settings, find Report Settings.
- In the Report Settings section, find the checkbox for On-Object interaction and uncheck it.
- Click OK to save all settings. You'll need to restart Power BI so that changes take effect, and you return to your legacy Power BI experience.
After restarting Power BI, your format pane will return just as before, in its familiar home.
Common Tasks: New UI
Now that you understand how to navigate your workspace, let's delve into common formatting tasks you can expect for your daily data needs.
Titles & Labels
To Edit a Chart Title:
- Double-click on the title in your chart to bring up the pop-up editor for titles.
- Once open, the editor tool provides additional options, including a sidecar editor pane if you want to access more.
- Change the title text, adjust the font size, or customize with bold, italics, and underline.
Adding Labels
- Click on the chart to bring up menu options for editing.
- To edit labels, find the brush icon in your on-object panel and toggle a tab called 'Labels'.
Colors and Legends
To change the color of bars: Select a bar and then select "Fill" to edit color choices within your side panel options.
If your chart has a legend you want to customize, the pop-up options allow you to change the text font or alignment.
Final Thoughts
The change from Power BI's static format to on-object interaction is meant to streamline processes and make it faster. It might take some time to get used to, but mastering this new approach will allow you to customize Power BI with workflows that enhance your user experience.
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