Using relative date filters in Power BI to automate recurring PowerPoint/Word reports

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Written by Julien Villemonteix | Updated

What is a fixed date filter?

A fixed date filter is not based on today's date. It can be a specific day, week, month or year. It does not vary depending on today's date. Example of fixed date filter:
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What is a relative date filter?

A relative date filter allows you to apply time-based filters to any date column in your data model. For example, you can use the relative date filter to show only sales data that's happened within the last 30 days (or month, calendar months, and so on). When you refresh the data, the relative time period automatically applies the appropriate relative date constraint. Examples of relative date filters: Last calendar month, Last 30 days, Last month and more. 

For more details on relative date filters visit Microsoft article about Power BI relative date filters

 calendar_week_4.PNG last_year_4.PNGcalendar_month_4.PNG

Important
Recently Microsoft introduced relative time filters (i.e. last hour). When exporting a visual to PowerPoint/Word with UpSlide these filters will not appear in the filter panel.

Why use relative date filters for your recurring PowerPoint and Word reports? 

In this example, we need to prepare a report displaying the previous month's sales at the beginning of each month.

Without relative date filter

Using a fixed date filter August 1st to August 30th to produce the August sales report in early September: 

  1. When updating the PowerPoint presentation or Word document in October (one month later) with the September results, the filter will still have the dates originally selected: August 1st to August 30th
  2. You would need to import all your visuals all over again each month. This is time-consuming.

With relative date filter

Using a relative date filter last calendar month to produce the August sales report in early September: 

  1. When updating the PowerPoint presentation or Word document in October (one month later) with the September results, the filter will be for the last calendar month, which is now September 1st to September 30th
  2. You do not need to import the visuals again. Instead, you can copy the PowerPoint/Word file and, within PowerPoint/Word choose to update all the visuals in a click from the Update Links panel 

With relative date filters and UpSlide's Power BI to PowerPoint/Word Link your can automate your weekly or monthly PowerPoint/Word reporting!