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jpf5046's avatar
jpf5046
Helper I
9 years ago

Are there more examples for visual.ts, capabilities.json and R script for custom R Visuals?

I'm trying to develop a custom R powered visual. I'm using the few examples on githib from the Microsoft team as a template. 

 

(I'm using this repo a lot: https://github.com/Microsoft/PowerBI-visuals-clustering-kmeans) 

 

The problem I am running into is the lack of simplicity making the visuals. The examples on Microsoft's github are very complex. I would like to see a custom R visual with a simple line chart, similar to the bar chart walkthrough on Microsoft's github--but for custom R visuals. 

 

I understand the three key files are visual.ts, capabilities.json, and the r script 

 

Is there a simple custom R visual such as a line chart where I can see the visual.ts, capabilities.json, and r script? This would be tremendously helpful. The K means and other examples on Microsoft's github are not helpful because there is a lot of detail in the visual tied to the clustering algorithm, not so much associated with making the visual. 

 

I am native R programmer, I am running into problems at the visual.ts file. Namely finding the interaction bewteen powerbi.extensibility.visual, enumerateObjectInstances, and the R script. 

 

If it is not possible, can Microsoft consider de-encrypting the current R visuals, so we can open up the zip file to see more examples of a working custom R visual? 

 

 

Any direction would be appreciated. 

 

Thank you!

 

5 Replies

  • v-viig's avatar
    v-viig
    Community Champion
    9 years ago

    Hello jpf5046

     

    You might use these templates as an example to develop a custom R-powered visual:

    These templates don't contain a lot of code line. They represent the basic structure of the R-powered visual.

     

    Please let us know if you have any questions.

     

    Ignat Vilesov,

    Software Engineer

     

    Microsoft Power BI Custom Visuals

    [email protected]

    • jpf5046's avatar
      jpf5046
      Helper I
      9 years ago

      v-viig thank you for the help. 

       

      I'm still having trouble finding the interaction between Power BI fields added and the Rscript. 

       

      I was wondering if you could point me in the right direction. 

       

      Here is the plot I was to make with my custom visual: 

       

      p = plot_ly(mtcars, x = ~wt, y = ~hp, z = ~qsec, color = ~am, colors = c('#BF382A', '#0C4B8E')) %>%
  add_markers() %>%
  layout(scene = list(xaxis = list(title = 'wt'),
                     yaxis = list(title = 'hp'),
                     zaxis = list(title = 'qsec')));

      So to do this I did the following:

       

      In capabilities.json I changed to this: 

      {
  "dataRoles": [
    {
      "displayName": "CAR TYPE",
      "kind": "GroupingOrMeasure",
      "name": "Values"
    },
    {
      "displayName": "wt",
      "kind": "GroupingOrMeasure",
      "name": "Values"
    },
    {
      "displayName": "hp",
      "kind": "GroupingOrMeasure",
      "name": "Values"
    },
    {
      "displayName": "qsec",
      "kind": "GroupingOrMeasure",
      "name": "Values"
    }
  ],
  "dataViewMappings": [
    {
      
      "scriptResult": {
        "dataInput": {
          "table": {
            "rows": {
              "select": [
                {
                  "for": {
                    "in": "Values"
                  }
                }
              ],
              "dataReductionAlgorithm": {
                "top": {}
              }
            }
          }
        },
        "script": {
          "scriptProviderDefault": "R",
          "scriptOutputType": "html",
          "source": {
            "objectName": "rcv_script",
            "propertyName": "source"
          },
          "provider": {
            "objectName": "rcv_script",
            "propertyName": "provider"
          }
        }
      }
    }
  ],
  "objects": {
    "rcv_script": {
      "properties": {
        "provider": {
          "type": {
            "text": true
          }
        },
        "source": {
          "type": {
            "scripting": {
              "source": true
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
  },
  "suppressDefaultTitle": true
}

       

      And then I'm pretty sure I have to change visual.ts but I am unsure of what to change. 

       

      Just making the changes above creates a bunch of errors in cmd line as you could guess. 

       

      What step did I skip? 

       

      Thank you

       

       

      • v-viig's avatar
        v-viig
        Community Champion
        9 years ago

        jpf5046,

         

        Could you please collect all data and issues that you have and send it to Power BI Custom Visuals Support <[email protected]>?

        We'll contact our R-developer in order to assist you.

         

        Ignat Vilesov,

        Software Engineer

         

        Microsoft Power BI Custom Visuals

        [email protected]