A matrix with correct subtotals

At a glance

• What the visual does. Matrix Plume replaces the native Power BI matrix. Think of an Excel PivotTable: regions in rows, with each region expanding into its cities; years in columns; and in each cell, the revenue for that city in that year. Each group has its subtotal, and the matrix ends with a grand total. Groups expand and collapse in place (+ / − button), without losing your position.
• When to use it:
  • read a number at two levels at once (region and city, category and product);
  • cross two axes (city × year, product × month);
  • show correct subtotals, including for rates and averages;
  • spot strong and weak cells with a heatmap ★.
• When to pick something else: for a flat list (one row per product, with no levels or cross-tab columns), Table Plume is simpler. For a single highlighted number, KPI Plume.
• By the end, you will know how to:
  • split your fields between Rows, Columns, and Values;
  • understand and set up subtotals and grand totals;
  • expand and collapse groups, and choose which level is expanded at start;
  • set up each measure separately (units, decimals, heatmap ★);
  • choose between the stepped layout and the tabular layout.
• What you need: Power BI Desktop, the Matrix Plume visual installed (see the common basics), a table with at least two nested columns (region › city), and a measure.

The data you need

The expected shape. A matrix has three wells, and each one expects a specific kind of field:

• Rows: columns from your table that form a hierarchy (see the glossary), meaning nested levels: a Region contains City values. The first field is the highest level.
• Columns (optional): columns whose values are spread across (Year, Month).
• Values: measures (DAX calculations; see the glossary), evaluated at each row × column intersection.

Why measures? Because Power BI recalculates the measure for each cell, each subtotal, and the grand total. A margin rate written as a measure stays correct on the region row; written as a calculated column, it would be summed.

Sample dataset: the Sales table, one row per city and per year (made-up data from a home furnishings store).

Region	City	Year	Amount	Margin
Nouvelle-Aquitaine	Bordeaux	2024	301,200	135,500
Nouvelle-Aquitaine	Bordeaux	2025	322,900	141,800
Nouvelle-Aquitaine	Périgueux	2024	118,400	49,700
Nouvelle-Aquitaine	Périgueux	2025	126,300	51,800
Nouvelle-Aquitaine	Limoges	2024	92,400	40,700
Nouvelle-Aquitaine	Limoges	2025	99,100	41,600
Brittany	Rennes	2024	214,600	92,300
Brittany	Rennes	2025	205,300	86,200
Brittany	Brest	2024	87,900	36,000
Brittany	Brest	2025	94,800	39,800
Occitanie	Toulouse	2024	256,700	105,200
Occitanie	Toulouse	2025	281,500	118,200

The same dataset, ready to paste. In Power BI Desktop, on the Modeling › New table tab, paste:

Sales =
DATATABLE (
    "Region", STRING,
    "City", STRING,
    "Year", INTEGER,
    "Amount", DOUBLE,
    "Margin", DOUBLE,
    {
        { "Nouvelle-Aquitaine", "Bordeaux", 2024, 301200, 135500 },
        { "Nouvelle-Aquitaine", "Bordeaux", 2025, 322900, 141800 },
        { "Nouvelle-Aquitaine", "Périgueux", 2024, 118400, 49700 },
        { "Nouvelle-Aquitaine", "Périgueux", 2025, 126300, 51800 },
        { "Nouvelle-Aquitaine", "Limoges", 2024, 92400, 40700 },
        { "Nouvelle-Aquitaine", "Limoges", 2025, 99100, 41600 },
        { "Brittany", "Rennes", 2024, 214600, 92300 },
        { "Brittany", "Rennes", 2025, 205300, 86200 },
        { "Brittany", "Brest", 2024, 87900, 36000 },
        { "Brittany", "Brest", 2025, 94800, 39800 },
        { "Occitanie", "Toulouse", 2024, 256700, 105200 },
        { "Occitanie", "Toulouse", 2025, 281500, 118200 }
    }
)

The measures to create (Modeling › New measure, once per measure):

-- Revenue: adds up the Amount column for the visible rows
Revenue = SUM ( Sales[Amount] )

-- Margin in euros
Gross Margin = SUM ( Sales[Margin] )

-- Margin rate: margin divided by revenue.
-- Recalculated by Power BI for each cell, each subtotal, and the total: always correct.
Margin Rate = DIVIDE ( [Gross Margin], [Revenue] )

-- Each city's share of its region
Share of Region =
DIVIDE (
    [Revenue],                                               -- the cell's revenue
    CALCULATE ( [Revenue], ALLSELECTED ( Sales[City] ) )     -- the revenue of all cities in the region
)

Give Margin Rate and Share of Region the Percentage format (select the measure, then Measure tools › Format › Percentage).

Why the subtotals are correct: a worked example. In 2025, the three cities in Nouvelle-Aquitaine have a margin rate of 43.9% (Bordeaux), 41.0% (Périgueux), and 42.0% (Limoges). The simple average of these three rates would be 42.3%. But the region sold €548,300 for €235,200 of margin, which is 42.9%. Matrix Plume shows 42.9% on the "Nouvelle-Aquitaine" row, because this subtotal is calculated by Power BI with the measure, not summed or averaged by the visual.

Preparation pitfalls:

• A ratio in a calculated column: it gets summed in the subtotals. Write it as a measure.
• The order of the levels: in Rows, the first field is the parent (Region), the next one the child (City). Reversing the order reverses the hierarchy.
• Dates in columns: if you drag a Date column into Columns, Power BI may offer its automatic Date Hierarchy (Year, Quarter, Month, Day). Keep the levels you need or pick the column you want directly.
• Volume: the matrix receives 30,000 rows per batch and loads the rest automatically.

Step by step: your first Plume matrix in 12 minutes

We start from the data and measures in "The data you need".

1. Click an empty area of the page, then the Matrix Plume icon in the Visualizations pane. An empty frame appears, with a welcome page.

2. Drag Region, then City, into the Rows well. The matrix shows the regions, each with a + / − button, and the cities indented below.

3. Drag Year into the Columns well. The years are spread across the columns.

4. Drag Revenue, then Margin Rate, into the Values well. The headers stack on two levels: the year, then the name of each measure.

5. In the Format pane, Expand and collapse card: set Levels expanded at start to 0. Only the three regions remain, with their subtotals.

6. Click the + next to "Nouvelle-Aquitaine". Its three cities appear below; the region row shows a 42.9% margin rate for 2025.

7. Subtotals card: set Position to "Total" row below the group. The subtotal leaves the region row and appears on a "Total" row below its cities.

8. Column formatting card: in the list at the top of the card, choose Revenue, then set Display units to Thousands. Revenue is shown in thousands for every year; Margin Rate doesn't change.

9. In the same list, choose Margin Rate, then set Decimals (-1 = field format) to 1.

10. Toolbar card: turn on Search in rows. A search box joins the Expand all / Collapse all buttons.

11. Try it: type "brest" in the search box, then click the 2025 Revenue header to sort.

Expected result: a matrix of 3 regions × 2 years, expanded on Nouvelle-Aquitaine, with revenue in thousands, the rate with one decimal, subtotals on "Total" rows, and a search that shows Brest with its parent region.

Troubleshooting

What you see	Likely cause	Fix
No fx button on the Format pane colors	Power BI doesn't offer conditional formatting to table- or matrix-type visuals.	Use the free Cell elements card (background, font, icons, links by rules or by measure), or a measure in Dynamic format.
The matrix doesn't open at the level you set	Save the state in the report (edit mode) kept the groups you expanded or collapsed by hand.	Change Levels expanded at start or turn off saving the state.
No grand total row	Grand total row only works if Row subtotals is on.	Turn on Row subtotals.
A rate is summed in the subtotals	It's a calculated column.	Replace it with a DIVIDE measure.
The heatmap applies to every measure, or to the wrong one	The list at the top of Column formatting was set to All columns or to another measure.	Choose the right measure, then change the setting.
Grand total column position is missing from the pane	No field in Columns, or column subtotals or the grand total column are off.	Add a field to Columns and turn on both settings.
The total column on the left scrolls instead of staying frozen	Row labels and the total take up more than 75% of the visual's width.	Lower Maximum width (% of the visual) or make the visual wider.
A collapsed year becomes an empty narrow column	Column subtotals is off.	Turn it on.
The search box doesn't appear	Search in rows is off by default.	Turn it on in Toolbar.
No trend is drawn	No field in Columns.	Add a date or a month to Columns.
The "Premium preview" watermark appears	A ★ feature is used without a key.	Paste your key or switch back to a free option (see the common basics).

Key takeaways

• Rows = nested levels (parent, then child), Columns = values spread across, Values = measures.
• Subtotals and totals are calculated by Power BI: write your ratios as measures and they will stay correct.
• Subtotal Position: on the group row, or on a "Total" row below the group.
• Levels expanded at start sets what is open; saving the state in edit mode can override it.
• Column formatting is set measure by measure: check which item is selected in the list at the top of the card.

Learn more

• Matrix Plume: 10 how-to guides (heatmap, share, tabular…): recipes for common needs.
• Matrix Plume: every field and setting explained: each field well and each setting.
• Getting started with Plume visuals: installation, license, styles, and settings shared by all the visuals.
• The visual's page: Matrix Plume. A question? Support.