Create list parameters

A list parameter allows end-users to select values from a pre-defined or dynamic list of options such as product categories, business units, regions, or specific months. They can be sourced directly from a semantic model or hard-coded as custom options, enabling users to dynamically apply formatting or feed categorical inputs into planning models without modifying the underlying report layout.

Apply conditional formatting based on selected values#

Combining list parameters with conditional formatting highlights data points on a visual based on the user's categorical selections. Rather than filtering out non-selected items entirely, parameter-driven conditional formatting evaluates the current parameter value against target rules such as highlighting sales performance bars, threshold alerts, or profit margins only for the user-selected products or months.

1. Create a new parameter and set the type to List.
2. Set the source to Data set to fetch the dropdown values from your semantic model.
3. Select the dimension from your semantic model.

4. Create a second parameter to select the product category.
5. In this example, radio buttons control the product category parameter, and a multi-select dropdown lets users select multiple months.

6. Select the visual, then select Conditional Formatting > New Rule.
7. Configure the rule as shown in the following image. In this example, you create a rule to highlight the profit margin bars when the COGS falls below the threshold entered in the number parameter and for the months selected in the list parameter.

8. Repeat step #7 to create parameter-driven conditional formatting rules for other visuals in your dashboard.
9. Planning applies conditional formatting based on the thresholds and values set in the parameters.

Best practices for selecting the UI control #

• Use Radio buttons for high-visibility choices requiring immediate comparison without opening a menu. Ideal for 2 to 5 options.
• Use Tiles for touch-friendly, modern layouts (e.g., Categories, Years). Ideal for 2 to 6 options.
• Use Single-select dropdowns when users must select exactly one option from a large or dynamic list (e.g., choosing a specific Store ID, Employee).
• Use Multi-select dropdowns for complex filtering across multiple categories simultaneously.