Pie and donut charts in Power BI - Real Business Scenario

Scenario Mode

👤 Your Role: You are a sales analyst at a retail company.

📋 Request: Your manager wants a visual report showing the sales distribution by product category for the last quarter. They want to see which categories contribute most to total sales.

📊 Data: You have sales data with columns: Product Category, Sales Amount, and Date of Sale.

🎯 Deliverable: Create a Power BI report page with a pie chart and a donut chart showing sales distribution by product category for the last quarter.

Sample Data

Product Category	Sales Amount	Date of Sale
Electronics	12000	2024-03-05
Clothing	8000	2024-03-15
Home & Garden	6000	2024-04-10
Electronics	15000	2024-04-20
Clothing	7000	2024-05-05
Home & Garden	9000	2024-05-15
Sports	4000	2024-03-25
Sports	5000	2024-04-30
Electronics	13000	2024-05-20
Clothing	6000	2024-05-25

1

Step 1: Import the sales data into Power BI Desktop.

Use 'Get Data' > 'Excel/CSV' or paste data directly.

Expected Result

Sales data table loaded with columns: Product Category, Sales Amount, Date of Sale.

2

Step 2: Create a new calculated column to extract the quarter from the Date of Sale.

Quarter = "Q" & FORMAT('Sales'[Date of Sale], "Q")

Expected Result

A new column 'Quarter' with values like Q1, Q2, etc.

3

Step 3: Filter the data to include only sales from the last quarter (Q1 2024).

Use the filter pane to select Quarter = "Q1" and Year = 2024 if needed.

Expected Result

Data filtered to only show sales from January to March 2024.

4

Step 4: Create a measure to calculate total sales amount.

Total Sales = SUM('Sales'[Sales Amount])

Expected Result

Measure 'Total Sales' sums sales amounts correctly.

5

Step 5: Add a pie chart visual to the report canvas.

Drag 'Product Category' to Legend, and 'Total Sales' measure to Values.

Expected Result

Pie chart shows sales distribution by product category for Q1 2024.

6

Step 6: Add a donut chart visual to the report canvas.

Drag 'Product Category' to Legend, and 'Total Sales' measure to Values. Change visual type to Donut chart.

Expected Result

Donut chart shows the same sales distribution by product category for Q1 2024.

7

Step 7: Format both charts for clarity: add data labels showing percentage, use distinct colors, and add chart titles.

Enable data labels with percentage, set title to 'Sales by Product Category - Q1 2024'.

Expected Result

Charts clearly show category shares with percentages and descriptive titles.

Final Result

Electronics

↓

Clothing

↓

Sports

✓Electronics is the largest sales category in Q1 2024, contributing 50% of total sales.

✓Clothing contributes approximately 33% and Sports 17% of total sales.

✓Home & Garden sales are not present in Q1 2024 data.

Bonus Challenge

Create a slicer to allow the user to select different quarters and see the pie and donut charts update dynamically.

Show Hint

Add a slicer visual with the 'Quarter' column and connect it to the charts.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of a pie chart in Power BI?

easy

A. To list data in rows and columns

B. To show parts of a whole as slices of a circle

C. To compare two numerical values side by side

D. To display trends over time with lines

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand pie chart basics

   A pie chart divides a circle into slices representing parts of a whole.

2. Step 2: Compare with other chart types

   Line charts show trends, bar charts compare values, tables list data. Only pie charts show parts of a whole as slices.

3. Final Answer:

   To show parts of a whole as slices of a circle -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Pie chart = parts of whole [OK]

Hint: Pie charts always show parts of a whole circle [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing pie charts with line charts
• Thinking pie charts show trends over time
• Using pie charts for detailed data tables

2. Which of the following is the correct way to add a donut chart in Power BI?

easy

A. Select the donut chart icon from the Visualizations pane

B. Write a DAX formula to create a donut chart

C. Use the Data view to draw a donut chart manually

D. Insert a pie chart and then change its color to white

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify how to add visuals in Power BI

   Power BI provides a Visualizations pane with icons for different charts.

2. Step 2: Find the donut chart icon

   The donut chart icon is available to select directly; no DAX or manual drawing is needed.

3. Final Answer:

   Select the donut chart icon from the Visualizations pane -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Donut chart = Visualizations pane icon [OK]

Hint: Use the Visualizations pane icons to add charts [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to create charts with DAX formulas
• Using Data view to draw charts manually
• Changing colors to fake chart types

3. Given a dataset with categories and sales, what will a donut chart show if you drag 'Category' to Legend and 'Sales' to Values?

medium

A. A bar chart comparing sales amounts

B. A line showing sales trend over categories

C. A table listing sales by category

D. Slices representing sales share of each category

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand donut chart data fields

   Legend defines slices (categories), Values define slice sizes (sales amounts).

2. Step 2: Interpret the visual output

   The donut chart will show slices sized by sales share per category, not trends or tables.

3. Final Answer:

   Slices representing sales share of each category -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Legend + Values = slices sized by values [OK]

Hint: Legend = slices, Values = slice size in pie/donut charts [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Expecting a line or bar chart from a donut chart
• Confusing legend with axis in charts
• Thinking donut charts show raw numbers, not shares

4. You created a donut chart but it shows only one slice instead of multiple categories. What is the likely cause?

medium

A. The 'Category' field was not added to the Legend well

B. The 'Sales' field is empty or zero for all categories

C. The donut chart does not support multiple slices

D. The data model has no relationships

Solution

1. Step 1: Check the Legend field in the donut chart

   If 'Category' is missing or not properly added to Legend, the chart shows one slice.

2. Step 2: Verify other options

   Empty sales would show no slices, donut charts support multiple slices, and relationships affect filtering but not basic slices.

3. Final Answer:

   The 'Category' field was not added to the Legend well -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Legend missing = one slice [OK]

Hint: Always add categories to Legend for multiple slices [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming donut charts can't show multiple slices
• Ignoring the Legend field placement
• Blaming data model relationships for slice count

5. You want to show total sales in the center of a donut chart along with category slices. Which feature should you use in Power BI?

hard

A. Use the donut chart's center text option to display total sales

B. Enable the 'Detail labels' and set 'Label style' to 'Data value and percentage'

C. Add a card visual on top of the donut chart manually

D. Create a measure that sums sales and add it to Legend

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand donut chart limitations

   Built-in donut charts do not have a direct center text option for totals with multiple category slices; the center category label works only for single categories.

2. Step 2: Apply best practice workaround

   Create a total sales measure, add a Card visual to display it, and manually position the card in the donut's center hole. Other options fail: no center text (A), labels on slices (C), legend misuse (D).

3. Final Answer:

   Add a card visual on top of the donut chart manually -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Card overlay = donut center total [OK]

Hint: Overlay Card visual in donut center for totals [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Believing donut charts have native center text for totals
• Adding totals to Legend field
• Using detail labels expecting center display