Parameters — interactivity without code

Parameters are the bridge between a static visualisation and an interactive analysis. A user-facing dropdown that says 'show me by Revenue / Profit / Orders' is a parameter bound to a calculated field that switches measure. The mechanism is mechanical; the user experience is night-and-day from a fixed chart.

Creating and binding a parameter

• Right-click in the Data pane → Create Parameter. Choose data type (string, integer, float, date) and value type (list, range, all).
• Bind to a calculation: write a calc that references [Parameters].[YourParam] and uses IF/CASE to switch behaviour.
• Show parameter control: right-click parameter → Show Parameter Control. The dropdown / slider / text input now appears on the dashboard.

Worked example: pick-your-metric chart

// 1. Parameter: 'Metric to display' (String, list of values)
//    Values: 'Revenue', 'Profit', 'Orders', 'Margin %'

// 2. Calculated field: 'Selected metric value'
CASE [Metric to display]
  WHEN 'Revenue' THEN SUM([Sales])
  WHEN 'Profit' THEN SUM([Profit])
  WHEN 'Orders' THEN COUNTD([Order ID])
  WHEN 'Margin %' THEN SUM([Profit]) / SUM([Sales])
END

// 3. Drag 'Selected metric value' onto Rows. Drag the Parameter Control
//    onto the dashboard. User picks; the chart updates.

When to use parameters vs filters

• Filter: shows or hides marks in the existing view. Affects the data being aggregated.
• Parameter: changes WHICH calculation runs. Affects the chart structure, not just the data.
• If the user wants 'show only 2024' — filter. If the user wants 'switch between revenue and profit views' — parameter.