Funnel charts in Power BI - Cell-by-Cell Formula Trace

Sample Data

This data shows the number of leads at each stage of a sales funnel, from website visits down to sales.

Cell	Value
A1	Stage
B1	Leads
A2	Website Visits
B2	1000
A3	Signups
B3	600
A4	Qualified Leads
B4	300
A5	Proposals Sent
B5	150
A6	Sales
B6	75

Formula Trace

SUM('Leads'[Count])

Step 1: SUM({1000, 600, 300, 150, 75})

Cell Reference Map

   A               B
1  Stage          Leads
2  Website Visits  1000  <-- included in sum
3  Signups         600  <-- included in sum
4  Qualified Leads 300  <-- included in sum
5  Proposals Sent  150  <-- included in sum
6  Sales           75  <-- included in sum

The formula sums all values in column B (Leads) from rows 2 to 6 representing each funnel stage.

Result

   A               B       C
1  Stage          Leads   Funnel
2  Website Visits  1000   ██████████
3  Signups         600   ██████
4  Qualified Leads 300   ███
5  Proposals Sent  150   ██
6  Sales           75    █

The funnel chart visually shows the decreasing number of leads at each stage. The bars in column C represent relative size, largest at top, smallest at bottom.

Sheet Trace Quiz - 3 Questions

What does the formula SUM('Leads'[Count]) calculate in this funnel chart?

A Number of leads at the last stage only

B Total number of leads across all stages

C Average leads per stage

D Difference between first and last stage leads

Key Result

SUM aggregates all numeric values in a column to get a total.

Practice

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

easy

A. To show the relationship between two numeric variables

B. To display geographic data on a map

C. To compare sales across different regions using bars

D. To show how many items move through ordered steps in a process

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the funnel chart concept

   A funnel chart visualizes stages in a process and how many items pass through each stage.

2. Step 2: Match the purpose with options

   Only To show how many items move through ordered steps in a process describes showing items moving through ordered steps, which is the funnel chart's purpose.

3. Final Answer:

   To show how many items move through ordered steps in a process -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Funnel chart = ordered steps count [OK]

Hint: Funnel charts track step-by-step drop-offs [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing funnel charts with bar or map charts
• Thinking funnel charts show relationships between variables
• Assuming funnel charts display geographic data

2. Which of the following is the correct way to set up a funnel chart in Power BI?

easy

A. Use a numeric field for steps and a category field for counts

B. Use a category field for steps and a numeric field for counts

C. Use two numeric fields, one for steps and one for counts

D. Use two category fields, one for steps and one for counts

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the data roles in funnel charts

   Funnel charts require a category field to define the ordered steps and a numeric field to show counts or amounts.

2. Step 2: Match the correct data setup

   Use a category field for steps and a numeric field for counts correctly assigns category for steps and numeric for counts, which is the required setup.

3. Final Answer:

   Use a category field for steps and a numeric field for counts -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Category = steps, Numeric = counts [OK]

Hint: Steps = category, counts = numeric [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Swapping numeric and category fields
• Using two numeric fields instead of category + numeric
• Using two category fields which cannot show counts

3. Given the following data for a funnel chart:
Step: [Visited Website, Added to Cart, Purchased]
Count: [1000, 300, 150]
What will the funnel chart show at the 'Added to Cart' step?

medium

A. 300

B. 450

C. 150

D. 1000

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the count for the 'Added to Cart' step

   The count given for 'Added to Cart' is 300.

2. Step 2: Understand funnel chart display

   The funnel chart shows the count value for each step, so at 'Added to Cart' it will show 300.

3. Final Answer:

   300 -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Count at 'Added to Cart' = 300 [OK]

Hint: Match step name to count value [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Choosing the first step's count instead of the current step
• Adding counts instead of reading the step's count
• Confusing 'Purchased' count with 'Added to Cart'

4. You created a funnel chart but it shows all steps with the same size bars. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. You used a measure that returns the same value for all steps

B. You used a category field for counts instead of a numeric field

C. You did not sort the steps in the correct order

D. You used a numeric field for steps instead of a category field

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze why all bars are the same size

   If all bars have the same size, the numeric values used for counts are likely identical for every step.

2. Step 2: Identify the cause in data or measure

   A measure returning the same value for all steps causes this issue, as the funnel chart uses those values for bar sizes.

3. Final Answer:

   You used a measure that returns the same value for all steps -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Same value measure = equal bar sizes [OK]

Hint: Check measure values differ per step [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming sorting affects bar size
• Confusing category and numeric fields causing this issue
• Ignoring measure logic that returns constant values

5. You want to create a funnel chart showing customer drop-off through 4 steps: Visited, Signed Up, Subscribed, Renewed. Your data has counts for each step but the funnel chart shows steps in alphabetical order instead of the process order. How can you fix this?

hard

A. Use a pie chart instead of a funnel chart

B. Change the numeric counts to text values

C. Sort the category field by a numeric column that defines the step order

D. Remove the numeric field and use only the category field

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the sorting issue in funnel charts

   By default, Power BI sorts category fields alphabetically, which can misorder process steps.

2. Step 2: Apply sorting by numeric order column

   Adding a numeric column that defines the correct step order and sorting the category field by it fixes the order in the funnel chart.

3. Final Answer:

   Sort the category field by a numeric column that defines the step order -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Sort steps by numeric order column [OK]

Hint: Sort steps by numeric order column [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to fix order by changing counts to text
• Switching chart type instead of fixing order
• Removing numeric field which breaks funnel chart