Matrix Plume: 10 how-to guides (heatmap, share, tabular…)

These recipes start from a Matrix Plume that is already set up. If it isn't, start with the getting started guide: the examples use its data. Features marked ★ are premium: they work without a license, with a watermark.

How do I show the subtotal below each group, like in an accounting report?

Many readers expect a "Total" row that closes each group.

1. Subtotals card: check that Row subtotals is on.
2. Set Position to "Total" row below the group.
3. Type "Subtotal" in Total label if you prefer that word.
4. Choose a subtle Totals background (empty = automatic).

Result: each expanded region ends with its total row; the grand total stays at the bottom.

How do I show one column per level, like an Excel table?

The tabular layout makes reading easier when you want to see the region and the city on the same row.

1. Row headers card: set Layout to Tabular (one column per level).
2. Set Maximum width (% of the visual) to 50 if the labels are cut off.
3. Expand and collapse card: set Levels expanded at start to 1 to show everything.

Result: a Region column and a City column side by side, followed by the values.

How do I automatically expand the cities when a slicer keeps only one region?

Collapsed, the matrix is easy to read; but if the reader picks a region in a slicer, they want to see its cities right away.

1. Create the measure:

   -- 1 (cities expanded) if a single region is filtered, 0 otherwise
   Open Levels = IF ( HASONEVALUE ( Sales[Region] ), 1, 0 )
   

2. Drag it into the Dynamic format well.

3. Right-click the measure in the well › Rename for this visual: type expand.startLevel.

Result: with no filter, only the regions are shown; with a single region selected, its cities appear expanded.

How do I color the cells like a heatmap? ★

A heatmap makes the strongest cities and years stand out at a glance.

1. Column formatting card: choose Revenue in the list at the top of the card.
2. Set Conditional formatting to Background color scale ★.
3. Set Scale colors to Custom, then choose a Low color and a High color.
4. Leave Margin Rate without formatting, or give it Text color scale ★ for a more subtle read.

Result: the Revenue cells are shaded from lightest (low) to darkest (high); only the Revenue measure is colored.

How do I flag weak margins with a dot, subtotals included?

Regional managers want to spot at a glance the cities and regions whose margin falls behind. The free Cell elements card reproduces the icons of native conditional formatting (Power BI doesn't give the fx button to matrix-type visuals).

1. In Format › Cell elements, choose Margin Rate in Apply settings to.
2. Set Icons to Rules, leave Icon set on Green / amber / red dots and type in Icon rules, one rule per line:

>= 0.45 : high
>= 0.35 : mid
else : low

3. Turn on Apply to totals and subtotals so that region subtotals and the grand total get their dot too.

Result: each margin rate, for cities, regions and totals, is preceded by a green, amber or red dot. The first matching rule wins. For the color to come from a measure (Margin Color returning "#C0392B" or "#2E7D4F"), drop it into Cell elements fields, then choose Field value and that field in Based on field.

How do I show a flag or a logo in the row headers?

Each region has its logo, stored in the model as an image in text form (data:image/svg+xml;base64,…): a certified visual never loads a web address.

1. Add to your table a Region Logo column that holds the image as text (prepared in Power Query, one value per region).
2. Drag Region Logo into Rows, in place of Region.
3. Check that Format › Images › Images in row and column headers is on (it is by default), then set Height (px) to your liking.

Result: each region is shown as its logo, and still expands to its cities. Screen readers keep reading the value's text. The same idea works for the Columns field and, with Column formatting › Images, for value cells.

How do I show each city's share of its region?

Raw revenue doesn't tell you whether a city carries a lot of weight in its region.

1. Create the Share of Region measure from "The data you need", with the Percentage format.
2. Drag it into Values, after Revenue.
3. In Column formatting, choose Share of Region and set Conditional formatting to Data bars ★ (or leave None to stay free).

Result: Bordeaux accounts for about 59% of Nouvelle-Aquitaine in 2025; each region row shows 100%.

How do I keep the total visible when there are many columns? ★

With 24 months in columns, the grand total column disappears off to the right as soon as you scroll.

1. Subtotals card: check that Column subtotals and Grand total column are on.
2. Set Grand total column position to Left (after the row headers, frozen) ★.
3. If the total still scrolls, lower Row headers › Maximum width (% of the visual): labels and total must fit within 75% of the visual's width to stay frozen.

Result: each row's total stays visible right after the labels, whichever column is displayed.

How do I collapse years to see only their total? ★

With Year and then Month in Columns, the matrix gets very wide; collapsing a year sums it up in a single column.

1. Drag Year, then a month column from your data, into Columns.
2. Subtotals card: check that Column subtotals is on.
3. Column groups card: turn on Collapsible groups ★.
4. To start collapsed, turn on Groups collapsed at start.

Result: each year has a + / − button; when collapsed, it only shows its subtotal, calculated by Power BI.

How do I see each row's trend? ★

A small line in each row saves you from adding a chart next to the matrix.

1. Check that a field is in Columns (with the sample, Year only gives two points; months give a real line).
2. Sparklines ★ card: turn on Show.
3. Set Type to Line and Position to After the row headers.
4. Turn on Minimum and maximum points.

Result: a "Trend" column for each measure draws the evolution of each city and each region; hovering shows the values, and a click selects the row.

Learn more

• Getting started with Matrix Plume: the data to prepare and a first visual, step by step.
• 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.