Bookmarks in Microsoft Power BI are a powerful feature that allows users to capture the current state of a report page, including filters, slicers, and visibility. Bookmarked report pages can then be used to create an interactive story within the report, or to return to a specific view of the data at a later time. In this post, we will guide you through the process of configuring bookmarks in Power BI for the PL-300 Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst exam.
Creating Bookmarks
Bookmarks can be created from any report page. Here’s how:
- Navigate to the report page you want to bookmark.
- Set up the page as you want it to appear when the bookmark is selected.
- Click on the Bookmarks pane in the Power BI service ribbon, and select ‘Add’.
This will create a new bookmark that captures the current state of the report page, including any filtering or slicing that you’ve applied. The bookmark will appear in the Bookmarks pane, and can be renamed by double-clicking on it.
Applying Bookmarks
To apply a bookmark, simply select it from the Bookmarks pane. This will reset the report page to the state captured by the bookmark, including any filters, slicers, or visibility settings.
Updating and Deleting Bookmarks
If you need to change the state captured by a bookmark, simply set up the report page as desired, select the bookmark from the Bookmarks pane, and choose ‘Update’. This will overwrite the previous state of the bookmark with the current state of the report page.
To delete a bookmark, select it in the Bookmarks pane and choose ‘Delete’.
Organizing Bookmarks
Bookmarks can be organized into groups, making it easier to navigate complex reports. To create a group, select the bookmarks you want to include in the Bookmarks pane, then choose ‘Group’. You can rename the group by double-clicking on it.
Using Bookmarks in Buttons
Bookmarks can be linked to buttons to create interactive reports. For example, you could create a button that resets the report to a default view, or one that switches between different views of the data.
To link a bookmark to a button, select the button and open the Format pane. Under Action, enable the button and set the Type to ‘Bookmark’. Then select the bookmark you want to link to from the dropdown menu.
Conclusion
By mastering the configuration and use of bookmarks, Power BI users can take their reports to the next level of interactivity and flexibility. As you continue to study for the PL-300 Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst exam, keep these features in mind as they are useful tools for data analysis and reporting. Remember, practice makes perfect, so don’t hesitate to explore these features in the Power BI service.
Remember that the proper application and configuration of bookmarks will allow you to create interactive, flexible reports that can adapt to the needs of any user. By properly utilizing this tool, you’re another step closer to being a certified Power BI Data Analyst. Best of luck with your exam preparation!
Practice Test
True or False: You can personalize Power BI bookmarks with your own customizations.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Bookmarks in Power BI can be customized based on user preferences, including filters, sorts, and other data view changes.
When is it appropriate to use bookmarks in Power BI?
- A. To save and share insights
- B. To maintain the current state of a report
- C. To provide offline access to Power BI data
- D. Both A and B
Answer: D. Both A and B
Explanation: Bookmarks are used to retain the state of a report page, including filters, sorts, and drill locations, allowing you to share these states with others, but they do not provide offline access to Power BI data.
True or False: You cannot apply a bookmark to a specific visual in Power BI.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: You can apply a bookmark to a specific visual. This is useful when you want to create a narrative or guide around specific visuals in a report.
True or False: Bookmarks in Power BI can be updated after saving.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: After saving a bookmark in Power BI, you can return and update it if your needs change.
Which of the following are components of a bookmark in Power BI?
- A. Query Data
- B. Selected Visual
- C. Filter Pane
- D. Navigation Pane
- E. Data Pane
Answer: B. Selected Visual and C. Filter Pane
Explanation: A bookmark in Power BI is a saved version of the current state of a report page. The state includes data, filters, and the selected visual state.
True or False: A bookmark in Power BI can be used to apply a theme to your report.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: A bookmark in Power BI is a saved version of a particular view or state of a report page, and does not include design aspects like themes.
In Power BI, which feature can be used to create a narrative or storytelling with data?
- A. Visual
- B. Filter
- C. Bookmark
- D. Query
Answer: C. Bookmark
Explanation: In Power BI, a bookmark can be used to highlight different aspects of a report, add navigation elements, or even create a story with data.
True or False: You can create a collection of bookmarks in Power BI.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: In Power BI, you can create a collection of bookmarks, which form a navigable sequence and tell a compelling story regarding your data.
True or False, You can apply bookmarks at the report-level only, not to individual pages within reports.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Bookmarks in Power BI can be applied to a specific report-page level. You can save the state of a specific page in your report as a bookmark.
In Power BI, what happens when you apply a bookmark?
- A. The current state of your report overwrites an existing bookmark
- B. The current state of the report is saved as a bookmark
- C. All filters are removed from your report
- D. The currently selected visual changes
Answer: B. The current state of the report is saved as a bookmark
Explanation: When you apply a bookmark, it saves the current state of the report, including filters, sorts and drill locations.
Interview Questions
What is the purpose of bookmarks in Power BI?
Bookmarks in Power BI are used to capture the currently configured view of a report page, including filtering and the state of visuals. They can be used to create a guided experience for report users.
Can you add a personal bookmark in a Power BI report that you don’t own?
Yes, you can add personal bookmarks to any report you can view. However, other viewers of the report won’t be able to see your personal bookmarks.
How can you use bookmarks to create a guided storytelling tour for reports in Power BI?
You can create a set of bookmarks which each capture different views of your report page, then use the bookmark navigation controls to guide users through the views in a specific sequence, effectively creating a storytelling tour.
Can you use a combination of bookmarks and buttons to create interactive experiences in Power BI?
Yes, you can use buttons with actions set to bookmarks, which when clicked, will transition the report view to the state saved in the bookmark. This can make your reports more interactive and intuitive.
Where can you find the personal and global bookmarks in Power BI?
Personal bookmarks can be found in the Bookmarks pane of Power BI, under ‘My bookmarks’. Global bookmarks created by the report author are listed under ‘Other bookmarks’.
Can bookmarks capture the state of Q&A visual in Power BI?
Yes, the bookmarks can capture the state of Q&A visual along with its natural language query.
How do you update a bookmark in Power BI?
You can update a Bookmark by navigating to the desired state of your report, clicking the ellipses (…) next to the bookmark in the bookmarks pane, and selecting ‘Update’.
Can you edit the bookmarks created by other people in the Power BI service?
No, you are not able to edit the bookmarks created by others. Only the owner of a bookmark has the permissions to edit it.
Can you rearrange the sequence of bookmarks in Power BI?
Yes, you can simply drag and drop bookmarks in the bookmarks pane to rearrange their order.
What is the functionality of the ‘Clear all’ option in the bookmarks pane of Power BI?
The ‘Clear all’ option is used to clear the filtering and other changes made since the last bookmark was applied.
Is it possible to create a bookmark that only persists specific changes, not all changes?
Yes, by using the option ‘Selected visuals’ in the bookmark pane, you can choose to have the bookmark only persist changes related to specific visuals.
Can you share a bookmark with others in Power BI?
Yes, you can use the share bookmark option to get a URL that you can distribute to others. When they open the URL they’ll see the same view of the report as when you created the bookmark.
How does Power BI handle bookmark settings in case of conflicting settings?
When a bookmark is created for a specific state of a report page, it will override any other settings such as slicer and visual interactions to return the state to how it was saved in the bookmark.
What does the ‘Update’ option in the bookmarks pane do in Power BI?
The ‘Update’ option allows you to update a bookmark you own to the current report view.
Is it possible to delete a bookmark in Power BI?
Yes, you can delete a bookmark by choosing the ‘Delete’ option from the ellipses (…) next to the bookmark name in the bookmarks pane.
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