topic Re: Need help with Power BI: custom colors and shapes on maps in DAX Commands and Tips

Need help with Power BI: custom colors and shapes on maps

vtec35 — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 15:33:19 GMT

Hello everyone,

I'm trying to display a list of geolocated addresses on a Power BI map (I know how to do that), but I'm stuck on the point customization part.

👉 Context:

Main table with addresses, each with:

Column A → an attribute type (e.g., main category)

Column B → a second attribute (e.g., subtype or status)

In another file, I define:

a color for each value in column A

a shape for each value in column B

🎯 Objective:
Display each address on the map with a shape and color corresponding to these definitions, like pins of different colors and shapes on a paper map.

🚧 Problem encountered:
I can display my points on the map, but:

I can't apply the colors according to the definition table,

I can't find how to manage the different shapes (circle, triangle, square, etc.).

💡 Question:
Is there a way (via DAX, a custom field, or a third-party visualization) to link these attributes to the color and shape of a point on a Power BI map?
I'd like it to be dynamic: if the files are updated, the colors and shapes update automatically.

⚠️ Note: I'm French, so I may have to translate your answers.

Thanks in advance for your advice! 🙏

Re: Need help with Power BI: custom colors and shapes on maps

djurecic — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 16:13:37 GMT

Hi vtec35 ,

For colors, you can do something like the attached- look at the Colors setting under Bubble Layer on the Visuals tab. I don't think there is a way to do custom shapes the same way.

Re: Need help with Power BI: custom colors and shapes on maps

v-aatheeque — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 10:41:04 GMT

Hi vtec35

Just checking in to see if the previous response helped resolve your issue. If not, feel free to share your questions and we’ll be glad to assist.

Re: Need help with Power BI: custom colors and shapes on maps

vtec35 — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 15:09:47 GMT

i can share my exemple file with linked csv file

https://we.tl/t-5YtXjpJ7ax

Re: Need help with Power BI: custom colors and shapes on maps

vtec35 — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 15:10:47 GMT

i can share my test file with you

https://we.tl/t-5YtXjpJ7ax

Re: Need help with Power BI: custom colors and shapes on maps

v-aatheeque — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 06:07:26 GMT

Hi vtec35

Thanks for sharing the PBIX file. I noticed that the dataset and report content appear to be in a different language. To help us better understand and reproduce the scenario accurately, could you please share the same file or a sample version of it in English ?

Re: Need help with Power BI: custom colors and shapes on maps

theov — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 14:00:47 GMT

On the map, I'm not sure if it works but for KPIs, this works well: https://youtu.be/vv1RUpgodoE?si=PxzC7kO1Pvi7jyOO

Re: Need help with Power BI: custom colors and shapes on maps

v-aatheeque — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 15:37:16 GMT

Hi vtec35

To better reproduce and troubleshoot your scenario, we kindly request a small sample dataset/file. Please share it at your convenience, as this will help us provide a more accurate and tailored solution.

Re: Need help with Power BI: custom colors and shapes on maps

v-aatheeque — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 12:10:30 GMT

Hi vtec35

Have you had a chance to look through the responses shared earlier?
looking forward for your response ?

Re: Need help with Power BI: custom colors and shapes on maps

vtec35 — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 15:07:36 GMT

Hello everyone, I'm sorry I've been a bit busy with various issues to resolve. I'm back now, so I'm going to send you my file in English.

Re: Need help with Power BI: custom colors and shapes on maps

vtec35 — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 17:12:32 GMT

ok i will resend you my excel file only for translate, i have use formula =translate, and it work perfectly

i have write with chat gpt what i want explain

I would like to create a Power BI report based on an Excel file structured as follows:

1. Data Sources

Lists tab: values used for dropdown menus (statuses, types, etc.).
Prescribers tab: prospects considered as prescribers (address, status, notes, contact…).
Potential distributors tab: prospects considered as potential points of sale.
Status–color mapping tab: a table linking each status to a specific color.

2. Objective

Build 3 maps in Power BI:

Prescribers Map
- Shows prescribers only
- Shape: square
- Color: depends on status (from mapping table)
Potential Distributors Map
- Shows points of sale only
- Shape: circle
- Color: depends on status
Combined Map
- Shows both categories
- Uses the appropriate shapes (square/circle) and colors

3. Expected Behavior

Each point must be positioned according to its address.
Tooltips should display:
- Contact name (or company name)
- “Notes” field
Filters should use values from the “lists” tab.

4. Requirements

The report must read data directly from the Excel file.
Easy refresh when the Excel file is updated.
Clear and readable visual layout.

https://we.tl/t-TIbT03nkeU

Re: Need help with Power BI: custom colors and shapes on maps

v-aatheeque — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 05:59:30 GMT

Hi vtec35

Thank you for sharing the details. To better understand your scenario and help you more effectively, could you please provide a small sample dataset that clearly represents your real structure?
This will allow us to reproduce the issue accurately.

How to provide sample data in the Power BI Forum - Microsoft Fabric Community

Re: Need help with Power BI: custom colors and shapes on maps

vtec35 — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 11:08:54 GMT

Hello, I just opened the example file, but I don't have the accompanying Excel or CSV file to test the statuses and see if the response is as expected.

I'll try to create a very simple Excel file for you to test in English.

Re: Need help with Power BI: custom colors and shapes on maps

djurecic — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 14:58:25 GMT

This feature is on the roadmap for Q1 2026https://roadmap.fabric.microsoft.com/?product=powerbi

Azure map visual markers

Customize markers in Azure map visual. Use new icons or your own images with more formatting options to make your map ready for reports.

Release Date:

Q1 2026

vtec35

Re: Need help with Power BI: custom colors and shapes on maps

v-aatheeque — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 07:31:56 GMT

Hi vtec35

Thanks for checking the example file! Sure a simple sample Excel file will be perfect.

Could you please include:
• A few rows that show the different statuses you are expecting.
• An example of the expected output so I can validate the logic accurately.

Once I have that, I’ll test the behavior and share the corrected solution.

looking forward for your response !

Re: Need help with Power BI: custom colors and shapes on maps

vtec35 — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 11:32:40 GMT

Could you make a very simple example that I can easily use as inspiration?
Please create a Power BI file connected to external data in CSV format.
In this CSV, keep it very simple with 4–5 rows, using different addresses wherever you want.
In the CSV, include a name, an address, and a color (or color code).
The result in Power BI should display, on the map, a colored point at the correct address, matching the color requested in the CSV, and if possible, a tooltip showing the name.
If this works, just show me how you configured it. I will look at it by translating on my side. Thank you.

Re: Need help with Power BI: custom colors and shapes on maps

v-aatheeque — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 08:00:10 GMT

Hi vtec35
Based on your original requirement, I prepared a simple sample CSV dataset and reproduced the scenario in Power BI.

The sample file has been used to generate a map visual with correctly geocoded locations, color-coded markers, and name tooltips.

I am sharing both the sample data and the output visual so you can refer to them as an example for your implementation.

Expected Output :

Attached the Sample file as below..

Hope this helps !!

Thank You.

Re: Need help with Power BI: custom colors and shapes on maps

vtec35 — Sat, 13 Dec 2025 15:11:30 GMT

hi we do that

https://we.tl/t-kpu1cR3Xss

that work perfectly for colour, about form chat gpt suggest something but i understand nothing

Power BI – How to assign shape + color per point from Excel (Recommended approach)

Power BI native map visuals (Map / Azure Maps) do not support assigning different shapes per data row.
They only allow fixed symbols or category-based legends.

👉 Recommended solution: use the Deneb custom visual (Vega-Lite).

Why Deneb

Supports data-driven shapes and colors
Reads hex colors directly from a text column (#RRGGBB)
No manual rules, no SWITCH / IF
Fully scalable and maintainable
Excel columns example
latitude | longitude | hex_color | shape | tooltip

Supported shapes
circle, square, triangle, diamond, cross, star
How it works
Install Deneb from AppSource
Use Vega-Lite
Bind:
color → hex color field (scale = null)
shape → shape field
This is currently the only native Power BI solution that allows per-row symbol shapes + colors driven directly by data.

Re: Need help with Power BI: custom colors and shapes on maps

v-aatheeque — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 14:59:29 GMT

Hi vtec35

Thanks for the detailed explanation!

So your recommendation is that Power BI’s normal maps can’t set different shapes for each point, so using Deneb visual is the best way because it control both the color and shape directly from the Excel data.

Re: Need help with Power BI: custom colors and shapes on maps

vtec35 — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 07:43:37 GMT

can you help me with dened? because i m really not familiar with it