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Better data label customization

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Daniel on 25 May 2016 04:06:06

When data labels are enabled on visualization types where data overlaps (such as clustered bar charts and line charts), there are occasions where data labels do not display, or it is difficult to tell which label corresponds to which bar/line. There should be better customization options for Data Labels, which would ease comprehension of various visualizations. In particular, for the varied types of bar charts:

- Label location: start of bar, middle of bar, end of bar, end of chart
- Label/Background colour matching: change the label's text or background to match the bar to which it corresponds
- Label Stacking? If a label would overlap with another, display both of them slightly offset, instead of only displaying one label.

Comments (53)
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823eb679 c750-4841-91a0-efc2ec946f7c on 05 Jul 2020 23:24:13

RE: Better data label customization

Some time users want to see value along with % in total .

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fbfd007f f68d-4731-ac7c-4b5a8f9f4922 on 05 Jul 2020 23:24:13

RE: Better data label customization

With chart type of "Line and Stacked Chart" the data labels often collide. I often want to see data labels for only the bar or the line but not both, but there's no way to turn the display of a single data label.

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c5291d5d 8152-4f9e-97cf-3e48b73b1028 on 05 Jul 2020 23:23:15

RE: Better data label customization

Also, it would be great, if you could display the values of a different column (typically text) instead of the numerical value, as you can in a standard Excel chart.

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9435d72a 1ff8-4e10-bc48-5e8b51ea5763 on 05 Jul 2020 23:22:40

RE: Better data label customization

Add a feature to this. When you drill down the hierarchy you can chose to view it or not.

If I for example have a date table I can put month number on top of the hierarchy and month name at the bottom, drill down the hierarchy so I get lables that say "1 January" "2 February" etc. If I could get a simple switch to turn off some of the lables so I just get the January part.

Another case is showing the latest 18 months, for that I need monthkey, Month Name, and year in my X axis, giving me labels like this:
201701
January
2017

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5055ecf3 0ed2-4cf2-a729-4206e185fc35 on 05 Jul 2020 23:21:05

RE: Better data label customization

This is a great ideia, we need more freedon to change label.

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5c5f3439 67dc-4ec8-ac57-7f262345cecb on 05 Jul 2020 23:19:28

RE: Better data label customization

It would be great if we could edit labels on all charts, not limited to only bar charts. Many times I would like to show one label for a pie chart, but have to show all or create a work around. The ability to move and format labels similar to how we can in Excel.

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5bfbce48 39d3-4a2d-b830-a0a64167f6fd on 05 Jul 2020 23:18:21

RE: Better data label customization

They have done this on line chart before. I just can't understand why its not available on column, bar and other charts as well.

https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/more-power-bi-feature-updates-power-bi-desktop-december-update-and-new-power-bi-service-features/#formatlabels

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194ac17a 086f-44f1-9c81-9b858bf00b4a on 05 Jul 2020 23:10:59

RE: Better data label customization

This has been an absolute headache for me. The lack of control of displaying how and when a data label is shown seems like basic functionality. The algorithm is not smart enough. It's constantly overlapping or you can't tell which value belongs with a line or bar. It would be great to specify intervals (i.e., every other point). Let's make this one happen.

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af63e415 533c-481a-bf90-053ac0fb4a79 on 05 Jul 2020 23:10:41

RE: Better data label customization

Good idea. And it would be also good to be able to chose on which data we want data labels. Today if you select Data Label it is displayed on all measures (bar, lines, etc.)

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de3b5914 fe49-4991-a44d-ef3c78b74909 on 05 Jul 2020 23:05:51

RE: Better data label customization

This is a great idea. It would be great to be able to turn off labels on line part of bar+line chart.