Dumbbell Plume: every field and setting explained

This page describes everything Dumbbell Plume offers: the field wells, then each card of the Format pane, in the order they appear. The default value of each setting is in bold, premium features carry a ★. For a guided first visual, see the getting started guide. This page describes version 1.1 (reorganized Format pane: new Gridlines card, drill-down on the category).

The visual's fields

Field	Required?	How many	What you drop	What it does	Example
Category (one dumbbell each)	No (without it: a single dumbbell)	1 to 4 (hierarchy)	A column	One dumbbell per value; several fields form a hierarchy you can drill into	Stores[Store]
Start (first point)	At least one point measure	1	A measure	Starting value	Sales 2024
End (last point)	At least one point measure	1	A measure	Ending value; gap = End − Start	Sales 2025
Values (more points)	No	Up to 8	Measures	With a Legend: the points' measure; without: one point per measure	Sales
Legend (one point each)	No	1	A column	One point per value (year, scenario)	History[Year]
Group (parent category) ★	No	1	A column	Group header and average dumbbell	Stores[Region]
Target ★	No	1	A measure	A tick per dumbbell, ✓ / ✗	Target 2025
Range minimum ★, Range maximum ★	No	1 each	Measures	Band behind the dumbbell	Market low
Category image ★	No	1	A text measure	Logo, flag, photo next to the name	Logo
Point image ★	No	1	A text measure	Image inside the points	Photo
Highlight ★	No	1	A measure	Not blank and not 0: the dumbbell stands out, the others turn gray	Tracked store
Play axis ★	No	1	A column (year, date)	Animation from one value to the next	Salaries[Year]
Small multiples ★	No	1	A column	One small chart per value, same scale	Salaries[Sector]
Tooltips	No	Several	Measures	Added to the tooltip	Floor area

Start, End and Values. Without a Legend, each measure is a point, in the order Start, Values, End; the first and the last give the gap. With a Legend, a single measure is used (Values, else End, else Start) and each legend value becomes a point, in the order of the field (years and dates sorted). More than two points: ★.

Images. Embedded images only: data:image/png;base64,… (or jpeg, gif, webp, bmp, svg+xml), or raw base64 recognized by its signature. A web address is never loaded (Microsoft certification rule): it is skipped and a message says so in edit mode. Without a Legend, the point image goes on the last point, the first one or both (Format › Images ★ › Point images › Without Legend: image on).

Drill-down. Drag up to 4 fields into Category, for example Region then City. At first, one dumbbell per region; the drill buttons in the visual header go down one level (the cities of a clicked region), back up, or expand everything: each dumbbell then has a combined name ("Southwest Bordeaux"), as in the native visuals.

Play axis. Numbers and dates are sorted; text keeps the Power BI order. A dumbbell is the same from one frame to the next (same category): its selection is kept while playing.

Tooltips and Dynamic format: see the common basics.

The Format pane settings

The cards are described in the order of the Format pane, followed by those of the Analytics pane.

The cards shared by all Plume visuals (Plume Studio License, Style, Interactions, Tooltips, Title, Source note, Frame, Language and numbers) are described once in the shared basics: they are not repeated here. The background and rounded corners are set in the Frame card, and the fx button (conditional formatting from a measure) is available on every color and every text.

Data colors

Chooses how points are colored; in One color per point (series) mode, one color per series is set right below.

Setting	What it does	Possible values (default in bold)
Coloring	Color of the points	One color per point (series) · By direction of the gap · Single color
Color (single color)	Color of every point, in Single color	empty (main style color)
Color (one row per series)	Color of each series, in One color per point (series); fx button for a rule	empty (style palette; a gradient for an ordered legend, such as years)
Lighter first point	With one color for all points, the first one is lighter (shown outside One color per point)	On / Off

Dumbbells

The main card: row layout, point shape and the connector between the two points.

Layout group

Setting	What it does	Possible values (default in bold)
Orientation	Categories as rows or columns	Horizontal (categories as rows) · Vertical (categories as columns)
Minimum row height before scrolling (px)	Below that, the chart scrolls	10 to 80, 22
Maximum row height (px)	With few categories, the chart stays compact	16 to 200, 48
Initial scroll position	Initial scroll position when the chart scrolls	At the start · At the end

Points group

Setting	What it does	Possible values (default in bold)
Shape	Shape of the points	Circle · Square · Diamond · Triangle · Tick · One shape per series
Size (px)	Size of the points	4 to 40, 12
Hollow first point	The first point is a ring	On / Off
Outline	Outline of the points	On / Off
Outline color (empty = background) (appears if Outline is on)	(shown with Outline)	empty

Connector group

Setting	What it does	Possible values (default in bold)
Show	Bar between the points	On / Off
Width (px)	Width of the bar	0.5 to 24, 3
Line style	Look of the connector	Solid · Dashed · Dotted
Color	Color of the bar	Neutral · By direction of the gap · Color of the last point · Gradient from first to last point ★
Neutral color (empty = automatic) (appears if Color = Neutral)	(shown with Neutral)	empty
Opacity (%)	Transparency of the connector	10 to 100, 100
Arrow	Arrow from the first point to the last	None · At the last point ★ · In the middle ★ · Instead of the last point ★

Gap direction

Decides what is favorable and what is stable; used by the colors, the Gap column, the target and the legend.

Setting	What it does	Possible values (default in bold)
A decrease is favorable	Costs, delays, churn	On / Off
Favorable	Color	#2E7D4F (or the style's)
Unfavorable	Color	#C0392B (or the style's)
Stable (empty = secondary text)	Color of stable gaps	empty
Stability threshold ★	Up to this threshold, the gap is "● stable"	0
Threshold unit	Unit of the stability threshold: in % of the first value, or in the measure's unit	% of the first value · Value (measure unit)

Gap

This card writes the gap between the first and last point of each dumbbell, in a column or next to the dumbbell. It is turned on by the toggle in its header.

Gap group

Setting	What it does	Possible values (default in bold)
Show	Writes the gap	On / Off
Content	What is written: the difference, the percentage, both, percentage points (for % measures), or the ratio	Value (end − start) · Percentage · Value and percentage · Percentage points (% measures) · Ratio (× end ÷ start) ★
Position	Where the gap is written	Column on the right (or on top) · After the last point · Above the connector
▲▼ arrows	▲ increase, ▼ decrease, ● stable	On / Off
Column title (appears if Position = Column on the right (or on top))	(shown with Column)	empty
Size	Text size	6 to 24, 10
Bold	Bold gap	On / Off
Color	Color of the direction (favorable or unfavorable), or text color	By direction · Text

Numbers group

Setting	What it does	Possible values (default in bold)
Display units	Shortens large numbers	Auto · None · Thousands · Millions · Billions
Decimals (-1 = auto)	Number of digits after the decimal point	-1 to 6, -1
Prefix	Text before the number	empty
Suffix (e.g. €)	Text after the number	empty
Percentage decimals (-1 = auto)	Automatic: one decimal under 10%	-1 to 4, -1

For a measure with a percentage format (margin rate, market share), the gap as a value is written in percentage points ("+3.2 pp").

Data labels

This card writes the values next to the points. It is turned on by the toggle in its header.

Labels group

Setting	What it does	Possible values (default in bold)
Show	Values next to the points	On / Off
Content	What is written	Value · Series and value · Series
Position	Where the label sits relative to the point	At the ends (outside) · Above the points · Below the points
Labeled points	Which points get a label. Points with a text in the “Label (text)” field are always labeled with that text	First and last · All · The last one
Name the points on the first row	Series names above the first dumbbell (no legend needed)	On / Off
Size	Label size	6 to 24, 10
Color (empty = automatic)	Text color; automatic = readable on the background	empty
Bold	Bold labels	On / Off
Text halo	Thin outline that separates the text from the points	On / Off
Hide overlapping labels	Removes labels that overlap	On / Off

Numbers group

Setting	What it does	Possible values (default in bold)
Display units	Shortens large numbers	Auto · None · Thousands · Millions · Billions
Decimals (-1 = auto)	Digits after the decimal point	-1 to 6, -1
Prefix	Text before the number	empty
Suffix (e.g. €)	Text after the number	empty

Category axis

This card sets the category names. It is turned on by the toggle in its header.

Values group

Setting	What it does	Possible values (default in bold)
Show	Category names	On / Off
Size	Size of the names	6 to 24, 9
Color (empty = text)	Color of the names	empty
Bold	Bold names	On / Off
Maximum room (% of the visual)	Maximum room reserved for the names	10 to 60, 30
Long names on two lines	Wraps names that are too long onto two lines	On / Off

Axis title group

Setting	What it does	Possible values (default in bold)
Show	Category names	On / Off
Text (appears if Axis title › Show is on)	Title text; empty = field name	empty

Value axis

This card sets the axis graduated in numbers. It is turned on by the toggle in its header.

Values group

Setting	What it does	Possible values (default in bold)
Show	Shows the ticks	On / Off
Position	Axis location	Bottom · Top
Size	Size of the ticks	6 to 24, 9
Color (empty = secondary text)	Color of the ticks	empty
Display units	Shortens large numbers	Auto · None · Thousands · Millions · Billions
Decimals (-1 = auto)	Digits after the decimal point (auto: based on the tick interval)	-1 to 6, -1
Prefix	Text before the number	empty
Suffix (e.g. €)	Text after the number	empty
Axis line	Draws the axis line	On / Off

Range group

Setting	What it does	Possible values (default in bold)
Scale	How the ticks are spread	Linear · Logarithmic ★
Minimum	Start of the axis; empty = automatic	empty
Maximum	End of the axis; empty = automatic	empty
Always include zero (appears if Scale = Linear)	(linear scale)	On / Off
Number of ticks (approx.)	Reduced automatically when room is short	2 to 20, 5
Invert axis	The bars go the other way	On / Off

Axis title group

Setting	What it does	Possible values (default in bold)
Show	Shows an axis title	On / Off
Text (appears if Axis title › Show is on)	Title text; empty = measure name	empty

Gridlines

This card groups the guide lines (they used to be in the Value axis and Category axis cards), like the gridlines of the native visuals: Values follows the ticks, Categories (guide lines) draws a thin line from the name to the dumbbell and can shade every other row.

Values group

Setting	What it does	Possible values (default in bold)
Show	Vertical guide lines, at the X axis ticks	On / Off
Color (empty = style grid)	Line color	empty
Width	Line width (px)	0.5 to 6, 1
Line style	Look of the lines	Solid · Dashed · Dotted
Zero line	Stronger line at zero	On / Off

Categories (guide lines) group

Setting	What it does	Possible values (default in bold)
Show	Thin line from the name to the dumbbell	On / Off
Color (empty = softened grid)	Line color	empty
Width	Line width (px)	0.5 to 6, 1
Line style	Look of the lines	Solid · Dashed · Dotted
Banded rows	Shades every other row	On / Off

Legend

This card sets the legend (one entry per series, and the gap direction when colors follow it). It is turned on by the toggle in its header.

Setting	What it does	Possible values (default in bold)
Show	Shows the legend	On / Off
Position	Location	Top · Bottom · Right · Left
Alignment (appears if Position = Top or Bottom)	Horizontal alignment	Start · Center · End
Legend title	Shows a title before the legend	On / Off
Title text (appears if Legend title is on)	Title text	empty
Size	Size of the series names	6 to 24, 9
Color (empty = secondary text)	Text color	empty
Click = select the series	Clicking a legend name selects the whole series and filters the report	On / Off

Sort

This card orders the dumbbells.

Setting	What it does	Possible values (default in bold)
Sort by	Order of the bars	Model order (as in Power BI) · Category name · First point · Last point · Gap (end − start) · Absolute gap · Gap in % · Largest value · Gap to target
Order	Sort direction	Largest first (names A to Z) · Smallest first (names Z to A)
Show the first N (0 = all)	Top N	0 to 5000, 0
Sort the groups too	Groups follow the average of their dumbbells (shown with a Group)	On / Off

Images ★

Shown with an Image field.

Category image group

Setting	What it does	Possible values (default in bold)
Position	Category image	Next to the name · Instead of the name · After the last point
Size (px)	Size of the image next to the name	8 to 120, 22
Shape	Crop of the image	Round · Rounded corners · Square · Whole image (no crop)
Border	Draws a border around the image	On / Off

Point images group

Setting	What it does	Possible values (default in bold)
Size of a point with an image (px)	Point images	8 to 120, 24
Without Legend: image on	Without a Legend field: the point that carries the image	The last point · The first point · Both points
Border in the point color	Surrounds the image with the point color	On / Off

Target ★

Shown with the Target field.

Setting	What it does	Possible values (default in bold)
Marker	Shape of the target marker	Tick · Diamond · Triangle
Color (empty = text)	Marker color	empty
Width	Line width	0.5 to 8, 2
Mark the target as reached (✓) or missed (✗)	In the Gap column	On / Off
Last point colored by the target	Favorable if reached, unfavorable otherwise	On / Off

Range ★

This card appears with a field in Range or a play axis: a band behind each dumbbell, from the expected minimum to the maximum.

Setting	What it does	Possible values (default in bold)
Color (empty = secondary text)	Band color	empty
Opacity (%)	Band transparency	3 to 80, 16
Thickness (% of the row)	Band thickness, as a share of the row height	10 to 100, 70
Historical range (play axis) ★	From the lowest to the highest value of the dumbbell over all frames	On / Off

Groups ★

This card appears with the Group field: dumbbells are arranged by group, under a header.

Setting	What it does	Possible values (default in bold)
Group header size	Size of the group headers	6 to 24, 10
Header color (empty = text)	Color of the group headers	empty
Line between groups	Line above each group	On / Off
Space before a group (px)	Blank space before each group	0 to 40, 6
Group average dumbbell	Adds a dumbbell with the average of each point under the header	On / Off

Highlight ★

This card makes named categories stand out; the other dumbbells turn gray.

Setting	What it does	Possible values (default in bold)
Highlighted categories ★	Names of the Category field, one per line or separated by ;	empty
Other dumbbells in gray	The other points turn gray	On / Off
Other dumbbells opacity (%)	The other points fade	5 to 100, 45
Bold name	Writes the names of highlighted categories in bold	On / Off

Small multiples ★

This card appears with the Small multiples ★ field: one small chart per value.

Setting	What it does	Possible values (default in bold)
Columns (0 = automatic)	Number of panels per row	0 to 12, 0
Minimum chart width (px)	Below this, charts use fewer columns	80 to 800, 200
Spacing (px)	Space between panels	0 to 60, 14
Title size	Title size	6 to 24, 10
Frame around each chart	Draws a border around each panel	On / Off

Playback ★

This card appears with the Play axis ★ field (premium since 10/22/2026: watermark as soon as the field has data). It is the shared Plume player.

Playback group

Setting	What it does	Possible values (default in bold)
Frame shown on opening	Frame shown when the report opens	The last one (most recent) · The first one
Duration of a frame (ms)	At speed ×1; the speed button of the play bar multiplies it (×0.5 to ×4)	100 to 10000, 1000
Loop	Starts over after the last frame	On / Off
Play automatically on opening	Once, from the first frame; never when animations are reduced nor on a dashboard tile	On / Off
Animated transitions	Dumbbells slide to their new values and their new rank	On / Off

Play bar group

Setting	What it does	Possible values (default in bold)
Play bar	⏮ ▶ ⏭ buttons, slider with ticks, current frame, speed	On / Off
Bar position (appears if Play bar is on)	Location of the play bar	Bottom · Top
Tick marks (appears if Play bar is on)	Slider tick marks	Automatic · Every frame · None
Tick labels (appears if Play bar is on)	Values written under the slider tick marks	On / Off
Start and end buttons (appears if Play bar is on)	"Go to start" and "go to end" buttons	On / Off
Speed button (appears if Play bar is on)	×0.5 / ×1 / ×2 / ×4 button (for the session)	On / Off

Large value group

Setting	What it does	Possible values (default in bold)
Current value in large type	The current frame (year) written large in the plot area	On / Off
Large value size (appears if Current value in large type is on)	Size of the large value	12 to 160, 44
Large value position (appears if Current value in large type is on)	Corner where the large value is written	Bottom right · Top right · Top left · Bottom left · Center

More settings group

Setting	What it does	Possible values (default in bold)
Re-sort on every frame	Rows slide to their new rank; off: the order of the opening frame is kept	On / Off

Keyboard, when the play bar has focus: Space or Enter to play or pause, arrows for the previous or next frame, Page Up / Page Down for a tenth, Home and End.

Reference lines ★

Analytics pane: three lines (constant, average, median, minimum, maximum, percentile, target average) and one band. The Line 1, Line 2 and Line 3 groups have the same settings; only the default for Value changes.

Setting	What it does	Possible values (default in bold)
Show	Draws the line	On / Off
Value	How the line is computed, on the values of the chosen axis	Constant · Average · Median · Minimum · Maximum · Percentile · Average of the target; default: Average (line 1), Constant (line 2), Median (line 3)
Constant value (appears if Value = Constant)	Line value, in the unit of the measure	0
Percentile (appears if Value = Percentile)	Wanted percentile (90 = 90% of points below)	1 to 99, 90
Label	Text written on the line	empty
Show the value	Adds the value to the label	On / Off
Color (empty = accent)	Line color	empty
Line style	How the line is drawn	Solid · Dashed · Dotted
Width	Width	0.5 to 6, 1.5
Label position	Label location	End · Start · None

Reference band group

Setting	What it does	Possible values (default in bold)
Show	Draws a colored band between two values (target zone)	On / Off
From	Low value of the band	0
To	High value of the band	0
Label	Band text	empty
Color (empty = accent)	Color	empty
Opacity (%)	Transparency	2 to 60, 12

Averages ★

Analytics pane: a line at the average of each point (series), in its color. The card is turned on by the toggle in its header.

Setting	What it does	Possible values (default in bold)
Show ★	Draws a line at the average of each series	On / Off
Line style	Look of the lines	Solid · Dashed · Dotted
Width	Width	0.5 to 6, 1.5
Show the value	Writes the average at the end of the line	On / Off

Premium features ★

Feature	Where to set it
More than two points	Values or Legend fields
Gradient bar, arrows	Format › Dumbbells › Connector
Category and point images	Category image ★, Point image ★ fields; Format › Images ★
Target ✓ / ✗	Target ★ field; Format › Target ★
Min–max range, historical range	Range ★ fields; Format › Range ★
Groups and average dumbbell	Group ★ field; Format › Groups ★
Small multiples	Small multiples ★ field
Highlight	Highlight ★ field; Format › Highlight ★
Reference lines, averages of each series	Analytics pane
Play axis (animation, re-sort, historical range)	Play axis ★ field; Format › Playback ★
Stability threshold, ratio gap (×)	Format › Gap direction; Format › Gap › Content
Logarithmic scale	Format › Value axis › Scale
17 styles, advanced palettes, JSON theme	Format › Style