19. Bookmarks, Selection Pane, Buttons and Navigation
19.7 Navigators and Buttons
Quick answer: the short, self-contained version of this lesson is the guide Power BI Bookmarks and Buttons.
Start with a problem
The report has four pages. Raja wants navigation buttons that update automatically when pages are added.
Explain simply
Navigators (Insert › Buttons › Navigator) create a set of buttons automatically: a Page navigator (one per visible page) or a Bookmark navigator (one per bookmark in a group).
Show the data
| Page | Hidden? | In navigator? |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | No | Yes |
| Delivery | No | Yes |
| Customers | No | Yes |
| Store detail (drill-through) | Yes | No |
About this data: This table uses columns: Page, Hidden?, In navigator?. This table uses columns: Navigator buttons, Overview, Delivery, Customers (Store detail hidden). This table uses columns: Action type, What it does, Example. This table uses columns: Wrong result, Reason, Correction. Values shown are the lesson examples already on this page (not a new dataset).
Fictional sample data. Practice file: visuals_orders_apr_may_2026.csv (source: src/practice/).
Demonstrate
- Insert › Buttons › Navigator › Page navigator.
- Format › Visual › Grid layout › Orientation horizontal.
- Format › Pages › untick Show hidden pages (default).
- Ctrl + click Delivery to test.
Show the result
Your result should look like this (fictional sample):
| Navigator buttons | Overview, Delivery, Customers (Store detail hidden) |
|---|---|
Explain what happened
The navigator reads the page list; hidden pages are excluded unless you choose to show them.
Explore further
- Bookmark navigator: choose the bookmark group (e.g., Delivery toggle).
Detailed reference for this lesson:
Insert › Buttons offers: Left arrow, Right arrow, Reset, Back, Information, Help, Q&A, Bookmark, Blank, Pay attention and Navigator › Page navigator / Bookmark navigator (names vary slightly by version).
Button actions (Format button › Action › Type):
| Action type | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Back | Returns to the previous page | On the Dark Store Details page |
| Bookmark | Applies a bookmark | Chart/Table toggle, Reset |
| Drill through | Opens a drill-through page for the selected item | "Store details" button (Module 17.4) |
| Page navigation | Goes to a chosen page | Side menu buttons |
| Q&A | Opens the Q&A window | "Ask a question" button |
| Web URL | Opens a website | Link to the trainer's LinkedIn or a company SOP page |
| Apply all slicers / Clear all slicers | Applies pending slicer selections / clears them | With slicers that use an Apply button |
Button formatting: Style with states (Default, On hover, On press, Selected, Disabled): Text, Icon, Fill, Border, Shadow and Glow per state. Also Action (Type, Destination with fx for dynamic navigation) and Tooltip (Action tooltip, Disabled tooltip).
Page navigator: Insert › Buttons › Navigator › Page navigator creates one button per page automatically. Format navigator › Pages: Show hidden pages Off, Show tooltip pages Off; Grid layout: Orientation Vertical for a side menu; Style › Selected state colour (highlight the current page).
Bookmark navigator: Insert › Buttons › Navigator › Bookmark navigator creates one button per bookmark in a bookmark group. Choose the group in Format navigator › Bookmarks › Bookmark group. Great for tabs such as Blinkit | Amazon Now | Both.
Ravindra Bagale's Tip
Friends, many students use one button per page and forget to update the navigation when pages are added. Consider the Page navigator or Bookmark navigator, which update automatically, and remember that buttons need Ctrl+click in Desktop but a normal click in the Service. Try it once more, then move on.
Ravindra Bagale's Tip – मराठी
मित्रांनो, बरेच students प्रत्येक page साठी एक button वापरतात आणि pages जोडल्यावर navigation update करायला विसरतात. आपोआप update होणारे Page navigator किंवा Bookmark navigator वापरून बघा, आणि लक्षात ठेवा की Desktop मध्ये buttons ना Ctrl+click लागतं पण Service मध्ये साधा click. पुन्हा एकदा करून बघा, मग पुढे जा.
Ravindra Bagale's Tip – हिंदी
दोस्तों, बहुत से students हर page के लिए एक button इस्तेमाल करते हैं और pages जोड़ने पर navigation update करना भूल जाते हैं. अपने आप update होने वाले Page navigator या Bookmark navigator पर विचार करो, और याद रखो कि Desktop में buttons को Ctrl+click चाहिए पर Service में सामान्य click. एक बार फिर करके देखो, फिर आगे बढ़ो.
Fix common mistakes
| Wrong result | Reason | Correction |
|---|---|---|
| Drill-through page appears in navigation | Page not hidden | Hide it |
| New page missing in navigator | Navigator copied from an old report | Use a page navigator, not separate buttons |
| Selected page not highlighted | Format state not set | Format › Style › Apply settings to Selected |
Practise independently
Practice task
Add a fifth page Targets. How many buttons does the navigator show?
Hints
- Store detail is hidden.
Solution
Four: Overview, Delivery, Customers, Targets.
Think like a professional
Navigators cut maintenance: no button edits when pages change.
Revision card