Power BI Report Page Tooltips – Detailed Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

Power BI Report Page Tooltips enhance interactivity by displaying detailed information when users hover over a visual. Unlike standard tooltips that show only basic details, report page tooltips allow you to design a full Power BI report page and use it as a tooltip, providing rich contextual insights in a structured format.

In this guide, we will go through each step in detail to help you understand, create, and optimize Power BI report page tooltips.

Step 1: Understanding Report Page Tooltips

What are Report Page Tooltips?

These are custom tooltips created as a separate report page.
They contain charts, visuals, and additional insights instead of just text.
They dynamically appear when users hover over a visual, providing an enhanced user experience.

Why Use Report Page Tooltips?

✅ Provide detailed insights without cluttering the main report.
✅ Improve user experience by offering contextual data.
✅ Allow for interactive filtering within the tooltip.
✅ Enhance data storytelling with customized views.

Step 2: Creating a Report Page Tooltip in Power BI

1. Add a New Tooltip Page

Open Power BI Desktop and go to your Power BI report.
Click on the “New Page” button at the bottom to add a new page.
Rename the page to something meaningful (e.g., “Tooltip_Page”).
Go to the “Format pane” (paint roller icon) on the right.
Expand the “Page Information” section.
Toggle Tooltip to “On“. This designates the page as a tooltip.

2. Set Page Size for the Tooltip

In the Format pane, expand Canvas settings.
Set the Type to Tooltip.
Power BI automatically sets the size to a smaller layout suitable for tooltips (320 x 240 px), but you can customize it.

Step 3: Designing the Tooltip Page

Now that the tooltip page is set up, let’s add visuals to it.

1. Add Visuals to the Tooltip Page

Insert cards, tables, charts, KPIs, or images to display relevant information.
Example: If you are creating a tooltip for a Sales Report, you might add:
- A line chart showing sales trends.
- A KPI card displaying total sales.
- A bar chart comparing sales by product.

2. Set Filters for Dynamic Interaction

When the tooltip is displayed, it should dynamically show information relevant to the data point being hovered over.
Use filters to make it dynamic:
1. Select a visual.
2. Drag a field (e.g., Product Name) into the “Tooltip Fields” well in the Visualizations pane.
3. This ensures that the tooltip filters automatically when hovering over a specific data point.

3. Adjust Formatting

Keep it simple – avoid excessive visuals.
Use a consistent color scheme that matches the main report.
Use readable fonts to enhance clarity.
Remove gridlines and unnecessary labels for a cleaner look.

Step 4: Applying the Tooltip to a Visual

1. Select a Visual in the Main Report

Go to your main report page and click on the visual (e.g., a bar chart) where you want to apply the tooltip.

2. Assign the Report Page Tooltip

In the Format pane, expand the Tooltip section.
Set Type to “Report Page”.
Choose the tooltip page you created (e.g., “Tooltip_Page”).
The tooltip will now appear when you hover over the visual.

3. Test the Tooltip

Hover over different data points to see the tooltip in action.
Ensure that it updates dynamically based on the hovered value.

Step 5: Enhancing the Tooltip with Advanced Features

1. Use Measures for Custom Tooltips

You can create a measure to control the tooltip content dynamically.
Example: TooltipMeasure = VAR SalesValue = SELECTEDVALUE(Sales[TotalSales]) RETURN "Total Sales: " & FORMAT(SalesValue, "$#,##0")
Place this measure inside a Card Visual on your tooltip page.

2. Add an Image or Icon

Insert an image or icon (e.g., a company logo or info icon).
Resize it to fit within the tooltip.

3. Enable Cross-Report Tooltips (Optional)

If using multiple reports, you can enable cross-report tooltips by:
- Going to Page Information and toggling “Allow Use as Cross-report Tooltip” to “On.”

Step 6: Optimizing for Performance

1. Keep the Tooltip Lightweight

Avoid too many visuals that may slow down rendering.
Use aggregated data instead of raw data tables.

2. Adjust Tooltip Duration

By default, the tooltip disappears when you move the cursor.
You can adjust tooltip settings in Power BI Service to improve usability.

3. Test on Different Devices

Ensure the tooltip is readable on both desktop and mobile views.
Adjust the font size if necessary for smaller screens.

Step 7: Publishing and Sharing

Click “Publish” to upload your report to Power BI Service.
Share with stakeholders and validate usability.
Gather feedback and refine the tooltip for better insights.

Conclusion

Power BI Report Page Tooltips provide dynamic insights without cluttering the main report. By following this detailed step-by-step guide, you can create interactive, informative, and visually appealing tooltips that enhance your Power BI reports.

Quick Summary of Steps

1️⃣ Create a new page and enable Tooltip mode.
2️⃣ Set page size to Tooltip format.
3️⃣ Add relevant visuals (charts, KPIs, cards).
4️⃣ Filter data dynamically for contextual insights.
5️⃣ Apply the tooltip to a visual in the main report.
6️⃣ Enhance with DAX measures, icons, and images.
7️⃣ Optimize performance and publish your report.

Power BI Report Page Tooltips