Conditional Formatting in Microsoft Fabric Real-Time Dashboards

Real-time dashboards in Microsoft Fabric are perfect for monitoring data and enabling quick reactions when something needs attention. But how do you ensure users instantly spot what’s critical when they open the dashboard?

In Microsoft Real-time dashboards, you can use conditional formatting to highlight data points in tables and card visuals. By implementing conditional formatting, you can make sure that the most important information stands out so users can focus on what really matters and take action right away.

Where can I implement conditional formatting in a Real-time dashboard?

Conditional formatting in Microsoft Fabric dashboards can be used on:

Tables: Format entire rows or specific columns. You can choose to color the background, the text, the entire row, or just the column.
Stats (Card visuals): Adjust the background or text color.
Multi-stats (Card visuals with multiple cards): Like stats, you can format the background or text color.

How to add conditional formatting?

To add conditional formatting, you need “edit” rights.

Open the dashboard and click “Edit” in the top right.
Select the visual where you want to apply conditional formatting, such as a table or a (multi)stat visual.
On the right side, you will see the conditional formatting option; toggle the button to “Show.”
Add a rule and click the pencil icon (opening a pop-up).

Table conditional formatting options in Fabric

In a real-time dashboard table visual, you have two options for conditional formatting. You can color by value or color by condition.

Color by condition: you can enter a condition; for example, color the column when a value is < 400. You have several options:

Color style: Bold or Light. Bold means you color the entire background, and Light means you color the text.
Apply options: Apply to cells or rows.
Color: you can choose four colors: red, blue, green, and yellow.
Icon: You can add icons to the columns (like an alarm sign of a smiley), but this only works when you apply conditional formatting to the column, not the row.
Hide text: Instead of showing the formatted background and the number, you can choose to show only the color and hide the text.

Color by value: We see different options when we choose color by value.

Theme: You can choose a theme to apply to a column.
You can add a max and min value, which is very handy when you want the conditional formatting to apply only to specific values (for example, everything below 1000).
Apply options: Apply to the cells or the entire row.

(Multi)stat conditional formatting options in Fabric

In a (multi)-stat visual, you only have one option.

Color by condition: you can enter a condition; for example, color the card when a value is < 400.

Color style: Bold or Light. Bold means you color the entire background, and Light means you color the text.
Color: you can choose four colors: red, blue, green, and yellow.
Icon: You can add icons.

Conclusion

Conditional formatting is a powerful way to make real-time dashboards in Fabric more effective. Highlighting crucial information ensures users can quickly identify critical issues.

Here’s a before-and-after example: The dashboard might have a lot of data but lacks clarity on what needs attention. After applying conditional formatting, key metrics will stand out, clarifying where action is required.
If you want to learn more about the topic, also make sure to read the official documentation.

Video - Conditional Formatting in Real-Time Dashboards

If you prefer watching over reading, I recorded a video showing how to implement conditional formatting in a Fabric real-time dashboard, in a table, and in a multi-card visual. You can find the video on my YouTube channel.