Mobile layout view in Power BI - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is the purpose of the Mobile layout view in Power BI?

The Mobile layout view lets you design a special version of your report optimized for small screens like phones. It helps users see important info clearly on mobile devices.

beginner

How do you access the Mobile layout view in Power BI Desktop?

You click on the 'View' tab in the ribbon, then select 'Mobile layout'. This opens a canvas where you can arrange visuals for mobile screens.

beginner

True or False: Visuals placed in the Mobile layout view automatically appear in the same position on the desktop report.

False. The Mobile layout view is separate and only affects how visuals appear on mobile devices, not on desktop reports.

intermediate

What is a best practice when designing a Mobile layout view?

Focus on showing only the most important visuals and keep the layout simple. This avoids clutter and makes it easy to read on small screens.

intermediate

Can you add new visuals directly in the Mobile layout view?

No. You can only rearrange or resize existing report visuals. To add new visuals, you must do it in the main report view.

Where do you find the Mobile layout option in Power BI Desktop?

A Under the View tab

B Under the Home tab

C Under the Modeling tab

D Under the Data tab

The Mobile layout option is located under the View tab in Power BI Desktop.

What happens if you don't create a Mobile layout view?

A The report will not open on mobile devices

B The report will crash on mobile

C Power BI automatically shows the desktop layout on mobile

D Mobile users see a blank screen

If no Mobile layout is created, Power BI shows the desktop report layout on mobile devices, which may not be optimized.

Can you resize visuals in the Mobile layout view?

A Yes, you can resize and move visuals

B No, visuals are fixed size

C You can only move visuals, not resize

D You can only resize, not move

In Mobile layout view, you can both move and resize visuals to fit the mobile screen better.

Which is a good practice for Mobile layout design?

A Use complex visuals with many details

B Use many small visuals to fit more info

C Include all visuals from desktop report

D Show only key visuals and keep layout simple

Showing only key visuals and keeping the layout simple improves readability on small mobile screens.

Does the Mobile layout view affect the desktop report layout?

A Yes, it changes desktop layout too

B No, it only affects mobile view

C Yes, but only for some visuals

D No, it affects neither desktop nor mobile

Mobile layout view changes only how the report looks on mobile devices, not on desktop.

Explain how to create and customize a Mobile layout view in Power BI.

Think about the steps from opening the mobile layout to adjusting visuals.

Describe why it is important to design a Mobile layout view separately from the desktop report.

Consider how mobile screens differ from desktop screens.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of the Mobile layout view in Power BI?

easy

A. To customize how reports look on mobile phones

B. To create new data models for mobile devices

C. To write DAX formulas optimized for mobile

D. To export reports only in mobile-friendly formats

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Mobile Layout View Function

   The Mobile layout view is designed to let users change how visuals appear on phones, separate from desktop views.

2. Step 2: Compare Options

   Options B, C, and D describe unrelated tasks like data modeling, DAX writing, or exporting, which are not the main purpose of Mobile layout view.

3. Final Answer:

   To customize how reports look on mobile phones -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Mobile layout view = Customize phone report view [OK]

Hint: Mobile layout = change report look on phones [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing mobile layout with data modeling
• Thinking it changes DAX formulas
• Assuming it only exports reports

2. Which action is NOT possible in the Power BI Mobile layout view?

easy

A. Drag and drop visuals to rearrange them

B. Resize visuals to fit the phone screen

C. Hide visuals from the mobile view

D. Add new visuals that do not exist in desktop layout

Solution

1. Step 1: Review Mobile Layout Capabilities

   Mobile layout lets you rearrange, resize, and hide existing visuals from the desktop report for better phone display.

2. Step 2: Identify Unsupported Action

   Adding new visuals that are not in the desktop layout is not allowed; mobile layout only rearranges existing visuals.

3. Final Answer:

   Add new visuals that do not exist in desktop layout -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Mobile layout cannot add new visuals [OK]

Hint: Mobile layout rearranges existing visuals only [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking you can create new visuals in mobile layout
• Confusing resizing with adding visuals
• Assuming hiding is not possible

3. Given a report with three visuals arranged horizontally on desktop, what will happen if you drag them vertically in Mobile layout view?

medium

A. The visuals will appear stacked vertically on the phone screen

B. The visuals will remain horizontal on the phone screen

C. The visuals will disappear from the mobile report

D. The visuals will resize to fill the entire phone screen width

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Mobile Layout Rearrangement

   Dragging visuals vertically in Mobile layout view changes their order to stack vertically on phones for easier reading.

2. Step 2: Evaluate Other Options

   Options B and C are incorrect because rearranging changes layout and does not hide visuals. The visuals will resize to fill the entire phone screen width is incorrect because resizing to fill width is manual, not automatic by dragging vertically.

3. Final Answer:

   The visuals will appear stacked vertically on the phone screen -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Drag vertical = stack visuals vertically [OK]

Hint: Vertical drag stacks visuals vertically on phone [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming visuals stay horizontal after drag
• Thinking visuals disappear after rearrangement
• Believing resizing happens automatically

4. You notice that after customizing the Mobile layout view, some visuals do not appear on your phone. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. The visuals were deleted from the desktop report

B. The visuals were hidden in the Mobile layout view

C. The phone app does not support those visual types

D. The report was not saved after editing Mobile layout

Solution

1. Step 1: Check Mobile Layout Visual Visibility

   In Mobile layout view, you can hide visuals so they do not show on phones without deleting them from desktop.

2. Step 2: Rule Out Other Causes

   Visuals deleted from desktop would not appear anywhere. Phone app support is usually broad. Not saving would prevent any changes, but the question implies customization was done.

3. Final Answer:

   The visuals were hidden in the Mobile layout view -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Hidden visuals = missing on phone [OK]

Hint: Hidden visuals in mobile layout won't show on phone [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming visuals deleted from desktop cause missing mobile visuals
• Blaming phone app compatibility first
• Forgetting to save report changes

5. You want to optimize a complex report for mobile users by showing only key visuals and arranging them vertically. Which steps should you take in Power BI Mobile layout view?

hard

A. Use desktop layout only; mobile layout cannot hide visuals

B. Delete non-key visuals from desktop, drag key visuals horizontally

C. Hide non-key visuals, drag key visuals vertically, resize to fit screen

D. Create a new report with only key visuals, no rearrangement needed

Solution

1. Step 1: Hide Non-Key Visuals in Mobile Layout

   Mobile layout allows hiding visuals so only important ones show on phones.

2. Step 2: Arrange Key Visuals Vertically and Resize

   Drag key visuals vertically to stack them and resize to fit phone screen for easy reading.

3. Step 3: Confirm Mobile Layout Use

   Deleting visuals from desktop affects all views; creating new report is unnecessary; mobile layout supports hiding visuals.

4. Final Answer:

   Hide non-key visuals, drag key visuals vertically, resize to fit screen -> Option C

5. Quick Check:

   Hide + vertical drag + resize = optimized mobile report [OK]

Hint: Hide extras, stack key visuals vertically, resize for mobile [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Deleting visuals from desktop instead of hiding in mobile layout
• Arranging visuals horizontally for mobile
• Ignoring mobile layout capabilities