Display Multiple Rows in Matrix Without Hierarchy in Power BI

Recently, a client asked me to create a Power BI report where the Matrix visual should display multiple rows without using a hierarchical format. Instead of nested rows, they wanted a flat, tabular look where all row fields appear independently, side by side.

To achieve this, we need to remove the hierarchy in the Matrix visual, allowing it to display multiple matrix rows in a tabular format in Power BI.

This tutorial will guide you on how to show a matrix in multiple rows without hierarchy in Power BI.

Show Matrix Multiple Rows Without Hierarchy Power BI

Let me show you how to get multiple rows in a matrix without hierarchy in Power BI Desktop.

Suppose you have created a Matrix visual for your Power BI report, as shown in the image below. The matrix below displays multiple rows: Category, Product, and Store Type, with columns labeled ‘Year‘ and values representing ‘Sales Quantity.’

When you create the Matrix visual with multiple fields in a row section, it will be displayed in a hierarchy format with a stepped layout automatically.

Now, I wanted to show multiple matrix rows without hierarchy, which means that row fields appear side by side without indentation. Have a look at the image below.

To achieve this, we need to turn off the stepped layout option.

Note:

On the latest version of Power BI Desktop, Microsoft has updated the formatting options. Now, ‘Stepped Layout‘ is similar to ‘Compact Layout‘ present under Layout and style presets of Format pane.

Here are the steps to do this:

1. On the Power BI report canvas, select the matrix visual.
2. Go to the Visualization pane and click on the ‘Format your visual‘ icon.
3. Expand the ‘Layout and style presets‘ option.
4. Under Layout, select ‘Tabular‘ from the compact option.

Then, you can view the Matrix rows in a tabular format, displayed side by side without hierarchy in Power BI.

This tutorial explains how to display multiple rows in the Power BI Matrix visual without a hierarchy. In either case, we can also refer to it as “Disable stepped layout in Power BI Matrix”.

You can leave your queries and suggestions in the comment section below.

Also Read Other Power BI Tutorials:

• How to Turn Off Grand Totals in Power BI Matrix
• Create a Hierarchy in Power BI
• Create a Measure Table in Power BI
• Display Power BI Matrix Visual in Tabular Format
• Display Average Instead of Total in Power BI Matrix Visual

Bijay Kumar

After working for more than 18 years in Microsoft technologies like SharePoint, Microsoft 365, and Power Platform (Power Apps, Power Automate, and Power BI), I thought will share my SharePoint expertise knowledge with the world. Our audiences are from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, etc. For my expertise knowledge and SharePoint tutorials, Microsoft has been awarded a Microsoft SharePoint MVP (12 times). I have also worked in companies like HP, TCS, KPIT, etc.