Matrix/TableMember-Only

P&L Statement Visualization with Calculation Waterfall and Variance Charts (Non-Cumulative Version)

Vertical waterfall charts (also called bar waterfalls) show you why a value changed between two different points. They are read from top to bottom and consist of three main parts:

Written byIwa Sanjaya

Updated on14 January 2026Read time105 min

Table of contents

Visual Interpretation Guide
Vertical Waterfall Charts
What are Vertical Waterfall Charts?
The Two Main Types
1.Calculation Waterfalls
2.Vertical Variance Waterfalls
Vertical Pin Charts
What are Vertical Pin Charts?
DAX Measures
Documentation
Initial Setup
Breakdown of the DAX
How the DAX works
How the DAX works
Step 1: Displaying the Calculation Waterfall Chart for Current Year (AC)
1.Context & scope — Where am I in the table?
2.Data existence check — Should we draw anything at all?
3.Amount & weight logic — What value does this bar represent?
4.Cumulative logic — Where does this bar start?
5.Max value for scaling — How wide can bars be?
6.Display amount logic — What number do users see?
7.SVG layout & scaling — Convert numbers into pixels
8.Bar positioning — Where does the bar start and end?
9.Styling & text placement — How does it look?
10.SVG assembly — Build the final image
Final return
Step 2: Displaying the Calculation Waterfall Chart for Previous Year (PY)
1.Context & scope — Where are we and which period are we comparing to?
2.Data existence check — Is there PY data to show?
3.Amount & weight logic — What is the PY value of this row?
4.Cumulative logic — Where does the PY bar start?
5.Max value for scaling — Global reference point
6.Display amount logic — What number is shown on the bar?
7.SVG layout & scaling — Turn PY values into pixels
8.Bar positioning — Exact X coordinates
9.Styling & text placement — IBCS-style visuals
10.SVG assembly — Build the image
✅ Final return
Step 3: Displaying the Bar and Vertical Pin Charts for Absolute and Relative Variances (△PY and △PY%)
1.Context & scope — Where are we in the hierarchy and time?
2.Data existence checks — Should a variance bar be shown?
3.Weight & bar type — Is this a total or a normal bar?
4.Current & Previous amounts — What are we comparing?
5.Cumulative logic — Totals vs details
6.Variance calculation — The core business logic
7.Max amount for scaling — Consistent visual scale
8.Display logic — How the number is shown
9.Expense vs Revenue logic — What is favorable?
10.SVG layout & scaling — Zero-centered variance bar
11.Bar positioning — Left vs right of zero
12.Coloring — IBCS-compliant meaning
13.SVG assembly — Draw the variance chart
14.SVG assembly — Draw the variance chart
Final return
1.Context & scope — Where are we in the hierarchy and time?
2.Data existence checks — Should a variance be shown?
3.Weight & type — Normal row or total?
4.Current & Previous amounts — What are we comparing?
5.Cumulative logic — Totals vs detail rows
6.Variance calculation (percentage) — Core business logic
7.Global max percentage — Consistent scaling
8.Display logic — Outliers & labels
9.Expense vs Revenue logic — What is good vs bad?
10.SVG layout & scaling — Symmetrical pin chart
11.Pin, bar & triangle logic
12.SVG assembly — Final rendering
Let’s Practice!
Case Study

Model file

mo011.pbix

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P&L Statement Visualization with Calculation Waterfall and Variance Charts (Non-Cumulative Version)

Visual Interpretation Guide

Vertical Waterfall Charts

What are Vertical Waterfall Charts?

Vertical waterfall charts (also called bar waterfalls) show you why a value changed between two different points. They are read from top to bottom and consist of three main parts:

Base and Total Bars: These represent your starting and ending points (e.g., Sales at the start and Profit at the end).
Contribution Bars: These sit between the totals. They show the individual "steps"—the increases or decreases—that lead from the start to the finish.
The Flow: Each new bar starts where the previous one ended, creating a visual path that shows how individual elements accumulate to reach the final total.

The Two Main Types

1. Calculation Waterfalls

Calculation waterfall (example) — Source: IBCS Standards 1.2

Use these to visualize a formula or a "calculation scheme," such as a Profit and Loss (P&L) statement.

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Visual Interpretation Guide

Vertical Waterfall Charts

What are Vertical Waterfall Charts?

The Two Main Types

1. Calculation Waterfalls

The rest of this walkthrough is for members

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