Power BI Bookmarks and Buttons
Bookmarks save a snapshot of a report page, and buttons trigger actions on click. Combined, they turn a static report into an app-like experience with menus, view switches, and guided stories.
The Photo Album Analogy
A bookmark works like a photograph of the report at one moment. The photo records which filters were active, which visuals were visible, and how the page looked. Opening the bookmark restores that exact scene. A button acts like a finger that flips to the chosen photo.
Report Page | +--[Snapshot 1: Sales view] <-- Button "Sales" | +--[Snapshot 2: Profit view] <-- Button "Profit"
What a Bookmark Remembers
- Filters and slicer selections.
- Sort order and drill location.
- Visibility of visuals, controlled by the Selection pane.
- Focus mode and spotlight settings.
- The current page, when the option is enabled.
The bookmark options menu lets you switch each of these items on or off. Disable Data when a bookmark should change visuals only and leave slicers alone.
Creating a Bookmark
- Open View and select Bookmarks to show the pane.
- Arrange the page the way you want it, with filters and visibility set.
- Click Add in the Bookmarks pane.
- Rename the bookmark with a clear label, such as Sales View.
Selection Pane
The Selection pane lists every object on a page. Click the eye icon to hide or show an item. A bookmark records those visibility states, which enables view switching.
Buttons
Open Insert and choose Buttons. A gallery offers arrows, back buttons, bookmark buttons, and blank shapes. Each button carries an action:
| Action Type | Result |
|---|---|
| Back | Returns to the previous page |
| Bookmark | Applies a saved bookmark |
| Page navigation | Jumps to a chosen page |
| Q&A | Opens the natural language question box |
| Web URL | Opens a website in a new tab |
Select the button, open Format, expand Action, switch it on, and choose the type. A tooltip text box tells readers what the button does.
Example: A Chart Switcher
A page needs a toggle between a bar chart and a table showing the same data. Place both visuals on top of each other in the same area.
- Hide the table in the Selection pane and save a bookmark named Chart View.
- Show the table, hide the bar chart, and save a bookmark named Table View.
- Insert two buttons labeled Chart and Table.
- Assign the matching bookmark to each button action.
[ Chart ] [ Table ] +---------------------------+ | Bar chart OR Table | | (only one visible) | +---------------------------+
Worked Example: A Menu Page
A finance report holds five pages. The author builds a home page with four large buttons: Revenue, Costs, Profit, and Forecast. Each button navigates to its page. Every other page carries a small Home button that returns to the menu. Readers move through the report like an app and never touch the page tabs, which the author hides.
Good Practices
- Name bookmarks clearly, since the list grows quickly.
- Group related bookmarks into folders inside the pane.
- Test every button in Reading view before publishing.
- Use consistent button style and placement on every page.
Key Points
- Bookmarks capture filters, visibility, and page state.
- Buttons trigger actions such as navigation, bookmarks, and web links.
- The Selection pane controls which objects a bookmark shows.
- A pair of bookmarks with buttons builds a view switcher.
- Menu pages make multi-page reports easy to navigate.