Graph positive numbers as negative

[SergioJG]

Dear colleagues,

I have the next challenge; I am ploting depths. Depth (not height) is a positive value. The largest, the deeper.

I can plot that vs. time on a very simple line chart. But the line climbs up.

First I tried was to create the simplest ever "new column": -[DEPTH]

It works, and the graph now goes down. However the legend is also negative, which I dont like.

Spotfire has an option to graph inversely. But I cant find nothing like that in Power BI.

¿Can any one help, or figure out any way to show the legend without the 'minus'?

Thanks in advance!!

Sergio

[v-yuta-msft]

Hi SergioJG,

Could you share some sample data and clarify more details about your requirement?

Regards,

Jimmy Tao

[SergioJG]

Imagin a set of data as follows:

On a standard line graph, that will be line starting on 0,0 going to the right and climbing up:

However, I am trying to plot depth, and a positive depth value should be below cero.

First idea was a 'new meassure' turning DEPTH column into a negative value, so the excel input can still be positive:

DEPTH 2 = -[DEPTH]

But still the legend is negative.

How can I plot my positive value in this second way, or hide the "minus" on the Y axis if I just change the sign with a calculated column?

Thanks!!

[_donev]

Hello SergioJG,
I am a bit confused. Can you elaborate which part of the visual you call a legend? Is that the Y axis?

[SergioJG]

Yes sorry, Y axis. I need those numbers ro be positive, or not showing the "minus". Same as they are on the table. Or else, keep them positive, but plot them below the X axis, as shown on second graph, as those mean "deapth", which is positive going down.
Thanks for any suggestion!!

[MarkLaf · Accepted solution]

I don't think you can do this with the default visuals. Besides finding a custom visual in the store, here is how to do it with R scripting:

1. First, follow this article if you don't have R scripting set up for PBI yet: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/desktop-r-visuals
2. Once set up, you should have R scripting as a visual option, click it and drag in your TIME and DEPTH columns (make sure it's TIME then DEPTH as that affects structure of what you plot with R), like so:
   
3. Then, in R script editor, enter:
   

   plot(dataset , ylim = rev(range(dataset["DEPTH"])) ,lwd=4 , type="l" , bty="n" , col=rgb(0.2,0.4,0.6,0.8) ,xaxt = "n")
   axis(1,at = unlist(dataset["TIME"]))

   (credit to here for getting me started as I'm an R novice: https://www.r-graph-gallery.com/77-turn-y-axis-upside-down/)
4. Hit Run script button and you're all set:
   

[SergioJG]

Thanks MarkLaf,

I will try that in the upcoming days and let you know. On your example looks working exactly as I need!

Thank you very much for your time and support.

Sergio.

[SergioJG]

Solved!

Thank you very much. Working nicely!!

[_donev]

Legend and values are different properties of a visual so generally you can use the positive number column for Legend and the negative for Values. But this is just the answer without knowing your case. Probably if you can share some sample of your case? Like a screenshot of the visual?