This document discusses a solution to filter slicers in Power BI to only show relevant time periods that have data in the fact table. Specifically, it recommends: 1) Adding a calculated column to the date table that references the date field in the fact table. 2) Adding this calculated column as a filter at the report level. 3) Removing any blank/null values from the filter, which correspond to dates without data. This approach ensures the slicer only shows dates for which there is actual data in the fact table, improving the user experience by avoiding selection of irrelevant periods.

1. Power-Ups
Filtering a slicer

2. Problem
● If slicing a report using a dimension table, the slicer will
contain all items in the dimension table even though there
may not be any data in the fact table
● This is problematic for the user since they may select
dates for which there is no data, or have trouble finding
the date they want to use as a report filter
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3. Solution
● This is not a definitive solution, this just works for me as a work
around. I am yet to find a DAX solution that works in all cases
● The example I am using is for a date table as the dimension.
● Overview::
○ A calculated column in the date table that reference the
fact tables date
○ Add the measure as a calculated column to the Page or
Report level filters
○ Remove any blank items from the filter
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4. 4
Date Table
The date table starts on 1 Jan 2012.
Fact Table
The fact table starts in 2015

5. 5
Slicer not filtered
The slicer (YearNumber) contains all the years in the date table from 2002
– 2019.
For the energy supply (Fact Table) there is only data from 2005 – 2016.

6. User Experience
Although this issue seems small it can impact the
user experience, for example:
● Not all the dates are shown in the drop down list
of the slicer.
● The user can see 2002 as a selection but 2016 is
not on the list.
● 2002 has no data and should be shown for
selection
● 2016 does have data but is not on the list
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7. 7
Add Calculated Column Date
Table
● Add a calculated column in the date table that refers to the datekey in the fact
table
● In the example above I used MAX() of the dates field in the fact table
● I named the column YearFact

8. 8
Add to Page /
Report Filter
● Add the calculated column (YearFact) to
the Report Level Filters section
● You will notice that there are some field
that are blank, these are dates that
appear in the date table but not in the
fact table

9. 9
Remove (Blank)
● Remove the (blank) fields by
deselecting the field
● This removes all the years in the slicer
for which there is no corresponding
year in the fact table

10. 10
Ta-dah!
The year’s displayed in the
slicer now matched the years
for which the is data in the
fact table

11. Thanks!
I am Johann Krugell
A practical guide to “Power-Up” your analysis
You can find me at @JohannKrugell@linkedin
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12. Credits
Special thanks to all the people who made and
released these awesome resources for free:
● Presentation template by SlidesCarnival
● Photographs by Unsplash
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