How to set default value in Power BI Slicer

In this Power BI Tutorial, we will learn about the default value in Power BI Slicer. Also, we will discuss:

  • Power BI Slicer default value
  • Power BI Slicer default value current year
  • Power BI Slicer default value current date and time
  • Power BI Slicer default value current month
  • Power BI Slicer default max value

Power BI Slicer default value

A default value will show the filtered data automatically on the Power BI Report page. We can set a default value on Power BI Slicer by following these steps:

Step-1:

Create a slicer on the Power BI Report page. Click on select the type of slicer (downward arrow). Then select Dropdown.

Power BI Slicer default value
Power BI Slicer default value

Step-2:

Then go to Format pane (paint roller icon) > Selection controls > turn on single select.

Power BI Slicer default value
Power BI Slicer default value

Step-3:

Now select an item from the dropdown of the slicer. It will appear as a default value on that visual like below:

Power BI Slicer default value
Power BI Slicer default value

This is how we can set a default date on the dropdown of Power BI Slicer.

Read Power bi slicer filter another slicer

Power BI Slicer default value current year

Now we will see how to set a current year as the default value in the Power BI slicer. To implement this, we have to follow these steps:

Step-1:

Go to Home tab > Transform Data.

Power BI Slicer default value current year
Power BI Slicer default value current year

Step-2:

Now it will redirect to the Power query editor page.

Go to add column tab > Custom column. A custom column page will appear, here we have to put the formula like this:

= Date.Year( DateTime.LocalNow() )
Power BI Slicer default value current year
Power BI Slicer default value current year

Step-3:

Now Click on OK. We can see a new column (Current year) in the data model having the current year (i.e. 2021) is being created. Then click on Close & Apply.

Power BI Slicer default value current year
Power BI Slicer default value current year

Step-4:

Move to the Report page. Create a slicer to take this new column(Current year) as a data field.

Power BI Slicer default value current year
Power BI Slicer default value current year

Step-5:

To make this value as default, go to Format pane > selection controls > turn on the single selection.

Power BI Slicer default value current year
Power BI Slicer default value current year

This is how to do the current year as the default value in Power BI Slicer.

Read Power bi slicer panel

Power BI Slicer default value Current Date & time

Now we will see how to set current date and time as the default value on Power BI Slicer.

For this, we have to follow these below steps:

Step-1:

On the report page, go to the Home tab > Transform Data

Then it will redirect to the Power query editor page, go to Add column > Custom column.

A custom column page will appear, here we have to put the formula like this:

DateTime.LocalNow()
Set default value Current Date & time in Power BI slicer
Power BI Slicer default value Current Date & time

After clicking on OK, we will show a new column(i.e. current date & time) that appears on the data model.

Step-2:

Click on Home tab > select Close & Apply. It will return to the Report page with updating data.

Here Create a slicer having the current date & time as a data field.

Power BI Slicer default value Current Date & time
Power BI Slicer default value Current Date & time

Step-3:

Now we will make it as default in Power BI Slicer. For this,

Go to Format pane > Selection Controls

Power BI Slicer default value Current Date time
Power BI Slicer default value Current Date time

On the above slicer, it is showing the current date and time as the default value.

This is how we can do Power BI Slicer default value Current Date time.

Read Power BI Slicer Dropdown

Power BI Slicer default value current month

Here we will see how to show a current month as a default value in Power BI Slicer.

For this, we have to follow these below steps:

Step-1:

On the report page, go to the Home tab > Transform Data

Then it will redirect to the Power query editor page, go to Add column > Custom column.

A custom column page will appear, here we have to put the formula like this:

Date.MonthName( DateTime.LocalNow() )   
Power BI Slicer default value current month
Power BI Slicer default value current month

After clicking on OK, we will show a new column(i.e. current month) that appears on the data model.

Step-2:

Click on Home tab > select Close & Apply. It will return to the Report page with updating data.

Now, Create a slicer visual having the current month as a data field. To make it default value, go to format pane > Selection controls. Here, turn on the single selection toggle.

Power BI Slicer default value current month
Power BI Slicer default value current month

This is how we can set the current month as the default value in a Power BI Slicer.

Read Power bi treemap – How to use

Power BI Slicer default max value

In slicer, we can show the max value as default in 2 ways.

Way-1:

Step-1:

Create a slicer, having a numerical column like below:

Power BI Slicer default max value
Power BI Slicer default max value

Step-2:

From these values select the Max value(i.e. 12). Then save it or report page.

Power BI Slicer default max value
Power BI Slicer default max value

When we will open this particular Power BI report, we can see the max value of the slicer is by default selected.

This is a simple way to set a number as the default max number in a Power BI Slicer.

Way-2:

Here, we will take a Product’s profit column as a numerical column for this example. Tou can use any numerical column to implement the max value.

Step-1:

Create a calculated column on the data model, which shows the max value and put this below formula:

Max value = CALCULATE(MAX(financials[Profit]), ALL(financials))
Power BI Slicer default max value
Power BI Slicer default max value

Step-2:

Click on the Enter key. We can see a new calculated column(i.e Max Value) appears on the data model.

Now create a slicer visual and use this calculate column as a data field.

Power BI Slicer default max value
Power BI Slicer default max value

The above chart shows that the max value is being selected as a default on Power BI Slicer.

This is another way to set the max value as default on Power BI Slicer.

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Conclusion

From this above Power BI Slicer tutorial, we learned all about:

  • How to set a default value in Power BI Slicer?
  • How to set current year as default in Power BI Slicer?
  • How to set current date and time as default value in Power BI Slicer?
  • How to set current month as default in Power BI Slicer using formula?
  • How to show the max value as default value in Power BI Slicer?
  • Soo, that’s all great. But what happens when the underlying data changes on next refresh, and the selected default value is no longer a valid option? It stills shows that as the default, with visuals making no sense.

  • great article, but is it also possible to set a default value were the user is also able to choose other dates

  • This still doesn’t answer my question. What good does a slicer do that is set to one value? I want to have a date slicer with YEARS of data, default to just today as the default max date, then x months ago as the default min date. I still can’t do this.

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