Sales Value - PowerBI COUNTS the sales value wit no option to SUM

[BobDylan]

Hi all,

I have a simple request which is - I want a pie chart to show the SUM TOTAL of the column "Sales Value". Instead what is happening is that, PowerBI is providing me a COUNT and I have no idea how to change this.

I got to step 3.4 of this guide, but can't find the "New Measure" button. I feel stuck.

Please help, thanks in advance.

[TomMartens · Accepted solution]

Hey @BobDylan ,

you have to change the data type of the column Sales Value to a numeric data type, after doing that you have to remove the column from the pie chart and add it again.

You can change the data type either by the column tools from inside your semantic model.

1. Mark the column
2. Change the data type

Or from inside Power Query (my recommendation):

Hopefully, this provides what you are looking for.

Regards,

Tom

[PhilipTreacy · Accepted solution]

@BobDylan 

The column of data in Power Query isn't set to number.  Click on the ABC123 in the top left corner of the column and choose Decimal Number.

Note: Why use a pie chart for this?  You'd be better off using a Card visual.

Phil

[BobDylan]

Thanks! Simple fix that hit the nail on the head!

I'm just playing with the visual at this moment time, certainly open to recommendations on how to better present my data.

[TomMartens]

Hey @BobDylan ,

my recommendation for using a pie chart, only use pie charts if it's necessary to identify the cumulative contribution of the single values to the whole.

If this is not the case use a bar chart (horizontal bars) and order the values top down.

I wrote a little artice about replacing pie charts at all: The (better) rectangular pie chart - Mincing Data - Gain Insight from Data (minceddata.info)

Regards,

Tom

[BobDylan]

Just had a quick look at your proposal and it certainly makes sense. I will play with some of these presentation options, thanks! I'm new to this and have a basic idea of what I want to achieve and there's certainly room for improvement.

[TomMartens · Accepted solution]

Hey @BobDylan ,

you have to change the data type of the column Sales Value to a numeric data type, after doing that you have to remove the column from the pie chart and add it again.

You can change the data type either by the column tools from inside your semantic model.

1. Mark the column
2. Change the data type

Or from inside Power Query (my recommendation):

Hopefully, this provides what you are looking for.

Regards,

Tom