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Fields and settingsAdvanced11 min read· Published on October 21, 2026

Sunburst Plume: every field and Format pane setting

Complete reference for Sunburst Plume: the seven fields and each setting of the Data colors, Layout, Sectors and levels, Labels, Center, Breadcrumb, Comparison and Playback (play axis) cards.

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This page describes each field and each setting specific to Sunburst Plume, with its exact labels and its default value (in bold). The cards shared by all Plume visuals (Plume Studio License, Style, Tooltips, Title, Source note, Frame, Language and numbers) are explained in Getting started with Plume visuals.

The visual's fields

FieldRequired?How manyWhat goes inWhat it doesExample
Groups (center to edge)Yes1 to 8Columns (text, number, date)One ring per field, in orderRegion, City, Category
SizeNo1A measureThe size of each sector (without it: rows are counted)Revenue
Play axis ★No1A column (year, date, ordered text)One value at a time, with a play bar: the rings change from one frame to the nextYear
Color (measure) ★No1A measureSector color on the gradient paletteMargin rate
Target ★No1A measureColor by variance to targetPlanned budget
Comparison ★No1A measureVariance band and ▲▼ (e.g. previous year)Revenue LY
TooltipsNo5MeasuresExtra lines in the tooltipQuantity
Dynamic formatNoseveralMeasures named card.settingDrive a setting with DAXlayout.mode

Groups. The first field is the center ring, the last one the outer ring. A blank value stops the branch (adjustable in Sectors and levels › Blank values of a level). Two values written the same way are one sector.

Size. Only positive values count: a negative row is left out with a warning icon, a blank row is ignored. The visual adds up the rows of each sector: use an additive measure (sum, count), not a percentage.

Play axis ★. Each value of the column is a frame: the visual shows only the rows of that value. Dates and numbers are in ascending order, texts in Power BI's order (“Sort by column” included), blanks last. Branch colors are computed over every frame, so they do not change during playback; the opened sector and the selection stay in place. With a single value, no bar appears. Free.

Color, Target, Comparison. For a parent, the color is the size-weighted average of its rows; target and comparison are added up. With the Automatic coloring, the Color field wins, then the Target field.

Tooltips and Dynamic format: see the shared page and Dynamic formatting (DAX).

The Format pane settings

The cards shared by every Plume visual (Plume Studio License, Style, Tooltips, Title, Source note, Frame, Language and numbers) and the two basic settings of the Interactions card are described in the common basics. Here are the cards specific to Sunburst Plume, in the order of the pane. Color and text settings have the fx button: a measure or a rule can drive them.

Layout

Mode, shape and proportions.

SettingWhat it doesOptions (default in bold)
ModeWhat a click does and what is shownExplore: a click opens the level beneath · All levels always shown
Levels shown at onceRings shown from the opened sector (shown when Mode = Explore: a click opens the level beneath)2 (1 to 8)
ShapeDrawing of the hierarchySunburst (circle) · Half circle ★ · Rectangular partition (icicle) ★
Center hole (% of radius)Size of the center (not in icicle)30 (0 to 80)
Ring thicknessSplit of the radius (not in icicle)Equal · Comparable areas (outer rings thinner) ★ · First ring thicker ★
Space between rings (px)Gap between two rings1.5 (0 to 10)
Space between sectors (px)Gap between two neighboring sectors1 (0 to 6)
Sector corner radius (px)Rounded corners3 (0 to 16)
Start angle (°)Where the first sector starts (shown when Shape = Sunburst (circle))0 (-180 to 180)

Data colors

How sectors are colored.

SettingWhat it doesOptions (default in bold)
ColoringColor ruleAutomatic (by branch; by the Color or Target field when filled) · By branch (first-level color, lighter outward) · One color per level ★ · Single color · Gradient by the Color field (or the size) ★ · Variance to target (favorable / unfavorable) ★
ColorColor of Single color (shown with Single color)color; empty
One line per first-level sectorColor of each branch (shown with By branch)color; empty = style palette
Lighten at each level (%)Shade step from one ring to the next (shown with By branch or Single color)22 (0 to 60)

Sectors and levels

Order, grouping and hidden levels.

SettingWhat it doesOptions (default in bold)
Sector orderOrder within each parentLargest first · Smallest first · Alphabetical · Data order (Sort by column)
Sectors per parent at most (0 = all)Beyond it, the smallest go to the grouping12 (0 to 200)
Group below (% of parent) ★Sectors smaller than this % are grouped0 (0 to 25)
Grouping labelName of the grouped sectortext; empty
Blank values of a levelRagged hierarchiesStop the branch (ragged hierarchy) · Show « (Blank) »
Hidden levels cueThin line on the edge of sectors that openon
Summarize hidden levels (thin rings) ★Levels beyond "Levels shown at once" as 4 px ringsoff

Data labels

Text inside the sectors. A label that does not fit is shortened (…) or hidden; a number is never shortened.

SettingWhat it doesOptions (default in bold)
ShowLabels visibleon
ContentText of each labelName · Name and value · Name and percentage · Value · Percentage
Percentage ofBase of the percentageThe parent · The total · The opened sector (center)
OrientationText direction (not in icicle)Automatic (along the arc, else radial) · Along the arc (curved) · Radial · Tangential (straight)
Text sizeSize10 (6 to 24)
Color (empty = automatic)Text colorcolor; empty
BoldWeightoff
Display units—Auto · None · Thousands · Millions · Billions
Decimals (-1 = auto)—-1 (-1 to 6)
Prefix—text; empty
Suffix (e.g. €)—text; empty

Center

Text in the center (or in the left column of the icicle).

SettingWhat it doesOptions (default in bold)
ShowText in the centeron
ContentWhat is shownOpened sector, or hovered one · Opened sector only · Always the total
Total labelWord above the totaltext; empty
Value sizeSize of the number (reduced when the center is small)22 (8 to 72)
Label sizeSize of the name11 (6 to 30)
Color (empty = text)Color of the valuecolor; empty
Click the center = go up one levelBack through the center (Explore)on

Path of the opened sector, in Explore mode (the card is hidden in All levels mode).

SettingWhat it doesOptions (default in bold)
Show (explore mode)Breadcrumb visibleon
First item labelName of the starting leveltext; empty
« Click to open » hintShort help next to the pathon
PositionBreadcrumb placeTop · Bottom

Legend

Off by default (labels name the sectors). When on: one entry per first-level sector (By branch) or per level (One color per level); clicking an entry selects.

SettingWhat it doesOptions (default in bold)
ShowShown when the chart has several series.off
Position—Top · Bottom · Right · Left
Alignment(shown when Position = Top or Bottom)Start · Center · End
Legend title—off
Title text(shown when Legend title = on)text; empty
Size—9 (6 to 24)
Color (empty = secondary text)—color; empty
Click = select the series—on

Comparison and target

Shown when the Comparison or Target field is filled.

SettingWhat it doesOptions (default in bold)
Variance band on the sector edge ★Favorable / unfavorable bandon
Band width (px)Width of the band4 (2 to 12)
▲▼ and change in labelsChange written in the labelson
A decrease is favorableFor costs, delays, returnsoff
Neutral zone (± %)Change with no color2 (0 to 50)
Change for the strongest color (%)Change that gives the full color25 (2 to 200)
Comparison nameName in the tooltiptext; empty

Playback ★

Visible when the Play axis ★ field is filled. The same settings as in Scatter Plume.

SettingWhat it doesOptions (default in bold)
Frame shown on openingValue shown when the report opensThe last one (most recent) · The first one
Duration of a frame (ms)Time spent on each value at speed ×1 (the speed button of the play bar multiplies it from ×0.5 to ×4)1000 (100 to 10000)
LoopStarts again after the last frameoff
Play automatically on openingPlays once, from the first frame (never when animations are reduced nor on a dashboard tile)off
Animated transitionsArcs grow and shrink from one frame to the next (off when Style › Animations is off or the system reduces motion)on
Play bar▶, start, end, slider, speedon
Bar position(shown when Play bar = on)Bottom · Top
Tick marksMarks on the slider (shown when Play bar = on)Automatic · Every frame · None
Tick labelsValues under the marks (shown when Play bar = on)on
Start and end buttonsGo to the first or the last frame (shown when Play bar = on)on
Speed button×0.5, ×1, ×2, ×4 (shown when Play bar = on)on
Current value in large typeThe year (or date) in large type, behind the charton
Large value sizeText size (shown when Current value in large type = on)44 (12 to 160)
Large value positionCorner of the chart (shown when Current value in large type = on)Bottom right · Top right · Top left · Bottom left · Center

Keyboard, with the focus on the play bar: Space or Enter to play or stop, arrows for the previous or next frame, Page Up / Page Down for a tenth, Home / End. A sector's tooltip shows the current value of the play axis.

Interactions

The two common settings, then those specific to Sunburst Plume: click effect, path on hover, highlighted sectors.

SettingWhat it doesOptions (default in bold)
Highlight on hoverThe rest steps back on hoveron
Dimmed items opacity (%)Opacity of what steps back25 (5 to 80)
Click on a sector (explore mode)Effect of a clickOpen the sector (Ctrl + click: select) · Open and filter the other visuals · Select only
Trace the path on hoverParents and children of the hovered sector stay brighton
Highlight ★Sector names (any level, separated by ;) that keep their colortext; empty

A sector with no level beneath is always selected on click. Keyboard: arrows to browse, Enter to open or select, Backspace to go up, Esc to clear.

Premium features ★

FeatureWhere to set it
Half circle, rectangular partition (icicle)Layout › Shape
Gradient by a measureColor (measure) field, or Data colors › Coloring
Variance to targetTarget field
Variance band and ▲▼Comparison field, Comparison and target card
Summary rings for hidden levelsSectors and levels › Summarize hidden levels
Highlighted sectorsInteractions › Highlight
Play axis (rings animated from one frame to the next)Play axis field, Playback card
One color per levelData colors › Coloring
Comparable areas, first ring thickerLayout › Ring thickness
Group below a % of the parentSectors and levels › Group below (% of parent)
Paid styles, palettes, JSON themeStyle card (see the shared page)