Power BI Update: Office-like Visual Editing Experience

Objective

This document summarizes the key changes and hidden tips for the new Power BI preview feature, "On-Object Interaction", which enhances the visual editing experience to resemble editing charts in Excel.

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Enabling the New Experience

1. Go to File > Options > Preview Features
2. Find "On-Object Interaction" and check the box
3. Click Ok, then restart Power BI
4. New interface appears with changes, including more canvas space and changes to the visualization pane

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Key Changes & Features

Visual Pane & Adding Visuals

• The traditional visualization pane is moved; visual options are now above the canvas
• Add visuals by:
  • Clicking icons at the top
  • Right-clicking the canvas to insert
  • Selecting fields directly and dragging onto the canvas

Default Visuals and Types

• Default visual for numeric fields is now a card
• Chart types are contextual and can be suggested by Power BI (auto-change based on data)
  • "Suggest a Type" can be toggled on/off per visual and globally in Options

Editing and Formatting Visuals

• Two core options appear near visuals:
  • Build in this Visual (edit data/fields)
  • Format this Visual (customize appearance)
• Change visual type with the drop-down in the same menu
• Avoid using the visual type buttons at the top if you only want to change the current chart, otherwise a new chart is created

Field and Data Management

• Easily add fields by dragging or through "Add Data"
• Contextual interface changes chart type depending on the data combination

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Formatting Enhancements

• Simple toggles for chart elements (axis, markers, labels, legend)
• "More Options" opens the Format Pane on the side for deeper customization
  • Analytics features like Trendline, Reference Line now reside in the Format Pane
• Title Formatting:
  • Expand to access subtitles and dividers for clearer chart titles
• Panes (Format, Data, Bookmarks, etc.) can be managed:
  • Access from the View tab if accidentally closed
  • Additional panes (e.g., Bookmarks) can be docked for multi-pane workflows (great for large screens)
  • Use right-click to open panes in a new window

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Right-Click & Format Mode Tips

• Right-click to:
  • Access quick formatting for any chart element
  • Add or manage side panes
• Enter Format Mode:
  • Right-click > Format (shows border around visual)
  • Double-click the chart (shortcut to Format Mode)
• In Format Mode:
  • Select and format individual chart elements
  • Adjust line colors, labels, titles, etc.
  • Prevents standard cross-filtering interaction (good for precise editing)
  • Remove elements (e.g., year labels) by selecting and pressing delete

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Supported Chart Types (On-Object Formatting)

• Bar
• Column
• Line
• Area
• Combo
• Scatter

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Canvas and Drill-Through Options

• Right-click on blank canvas > Format Canvas for canvas and drill-through settings

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Notes & Future Directions

• "On-Object Interaction" is in preview, so more visual types and features are expected in future updates
• The user experience is becoming more streamlined and customizable, especially for those familiar with Excel

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Conclusion

• The update delivers a more intuitive and Office-like experience
• Right-clicking is a powerful tool for workflow efficiency
• User feedback will shape future iterations of the feature

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Share your thoughts about the new Power BI Object experience and whether you find it an improvement!