Finding a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) in Excel depends on whether you've already created one or need to create one. If you're looking to view or modify an existing KPI, follow these steps within the Power Pivot environment in Excel:
Accessing Existing KPIs in Power Pivot:
- Open Power Pivot: If you haven't already, open the Power Pivot window. You can usually find this under the "Power Pivot" tab in Excel (you may need to enable the Power Pivot add-in).
- Navigate to Data View: Ensure you're in the Data View of the Power Pivot window. This view displays your tables and data.
- Select the Relevant Table: Click on the table containing the base measure associated with the KPI you want to find.
- Locate the KPI Icon: In the Data View, look for a cell containing the base measure (the value used to calculate the KPI). KPIs are typically visually indicated by an icon next to the measure's name. This icon helps you quickly identify KPIs within your data model.
- Inspect the KPI Properties: Right-click on the cell containing the base measure (identified by the KPI icon) and select "Edit KPI Settings" (or similar, depending on your Excel version). This opens the KPI editor, allowing you to view its components (base value, target value, status, and trend).
Creating a KPI (If you don't already have one):
The reference link you provided suggests using the Calculation Area in Power Pivot to create a KPI. Here's a breakdown of how to do this:
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Open Power Pivot: As before, open the Power Pivot window in Excel.
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Navigate to Data View: Make sure you're in the Data View within Power Pivot.
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Select the Relevant Table: Choose the table that holds the measure you want to use as the "base value" for your KPI.
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Ensure the Calculation Area is Visible: The Calculation Area is usually located below the data table in Power Pivot. If it's not visible, go to the "View" tab in the Power Pivot ribbon and ensure "Calculation Area" is checked.
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Create a Base Measure (if you don't have one yet): If you don't have a measure to use as the base value for your KPI, you'll need to create one in the Calculation Area. This involves writing a DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) formula. For example, you might create a measure to calculate "Total Sales." This measure would then be used as the base value for your KPI.
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Create the KPI: Right-click on the calculated field in the Calculation Area that you want to use as the base measure and select "Create KPI."
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Configure the KPI: This will open a dialog box where you can define the following:
- Target Value: Specify how you want to determine the target value. This could be a fixed value, another measure, or a value based on a field.
- Status Thresholds: Define the thresholds that determine the status of the KPI (e.g., Good, Neutral, Bad). These thresholds are usually based on percentages relative to the target value.
- Icon Set: Choose the icons that will visually represent the KPI's status.
Example:
Let's say you have a table called "SalesData" with columns for "Product" and "Revenue." You want to create a KPI that tracks "Total Revenue" against a target.
- You would first create a measure in the Calculation Area called "Total Revenue" using the DAX formula:
SUM(SalesData[Revenue]). - Then, you would right-click on "Total Revenue" in the Calculation Area and choose "Create KPI."
- You would set your Target Value (either a specific number, like $1,000,000, or based on another calculation).
- You would define the status thresholds (e.g., if Revenue is >= 90% of the target, it's "Good;" between 70% and 90%, it's "Neutral;" and below 70%, it's "Bad").
- You would choose the appropriate icons to represent the status.
Now, the "Total Revenue" measure would display with the KPI icon, visually indicating its performance against the defined target.
