Filled Map

[Paulx99]

Hi all

I'm using Power BI Desktop and I'm trying to use the 'Filled Map' option in Visualisations. When I click on the 'Filled Map' icon in the visualisations pane, I get an image with strange grey and white objects in it (I would have thought it should be an empty map visualisation). As a result, if I then check 'Country' (the field in my file that contains various country names from around the world), I don't get a map of the world - the strange grey and white objects disappear and I then get an empty map visualisation, with a title of 'Country' and nothing else - no map of teh world. Is anyone aware of an issue with this feature ? Or, am i missing something here ?

Any thoughts or suggestions would be much appreciated.

Paul

[Sean]

Hi Paul, I agree with you about the differences in PBI Desktop and Service.

That said unfortunately the days of standalone desktop applications are over!

All software companies now want the predictability of monthly subscriptions - granted they were pushed there by their investors who want to see predictable cash flow so they can in theory at least value the companies better.

If you stop your monthly subscription to Office the functionality of all programs gets diminished so you can basically only open your files. I'm sure with the wide adoption of PBI the same will be true for PBI Desktop. It's the classic bait and switch. We are in the new age of Software as service at monthly subscription - you only have access to the fully functional software as long as you pay your monthly fee, Unfortunately it's the same with Adobe now.

Anyway, I didn't like it at first either but I'm getting used to it - hence I jokingly say we need to be plugged in all the time

[Paulx99]

Hi Sean

As I just mentioned in my post to Imke, it would be really nice to have an MS feature by feature comparison of PBI Desktop vs PBI.com - that would clear up a lot of questions for me. I've also since realised that PBI Desktop is effectively a downloadable production environment, so I'm wondering why it is called PBI Desktop ??!! Desktop imples standalone right ?!! Confusing ? You bet ! I reckon MS should call it PBI Studio instead !!

Totally agree with you on the subscription thing - every software company is doing it and it's all about the guaranteed monthly cash flow that it generates. I'll never like it, but I'll just have to live with if I'm going to continue to use these products.

Paul

[Sean]

@Paulx99 I just responded to a post about Maps in the Service Forum you may find interesting

http://community.powerbi.com/t5/Service/Filled-Map-visualization-not-working-in-web-app/m-p/25139#U2...

[Paulx99]

Thanks Sean. How ironic that someone should be having a problem with maps not working in PBI.com, which you definately have to be connected to the internet to use !  Hope you wer eable to help them. Paul.

[ImkeF]

Hi Paul,

the target group that MS had in mind for PBI Desktop are the designers of the reports: Power Users who are able to work with M and DAX to create reports that are going to be consumed by other people and be regularly refreshed.

PBI.com is designed to be the report-consumers platform. In order to give them some more capabilities once their appetite for the data grows, the Quick Insight feature is offered where new reports are generated without the need to use M or DAX.

Agree that Quick Insight would also help developers on the PBI Desktop platform to create some useful reports more quickly.

[Paulx99]

Hi Imke

Thanks for your thoughts on these issues. I'm very quickly learining that PBI Desktop is not really a standalone or desktop product, even though it is called that. Rather, it would appear to be a downloadable production environment for Power BI (pretty much what you have described below). Pehaps MS should have called PBI Desktop PBI Studio instead !

To be honest, until your quite clear explanation of the target groups that MS has in mind for both PBI Desktop and PBI.com, I have found the messaging around these two products to be confusing to say the least. A detailed MS feature by feature comparison of PBI Desktop vs PBI.com would be most useful.

I truly believe adding Quick Insights to PBI Desktop would a fantastic addition to that product from a developers point of view and for that reason, do not believe that it should only be available in the reporting and consumer platfrom of PBI.com.

I have not however, as yet been able to convince the Power BI Team at MS reagrding this. As such, if someone has not already put a 'Quick Insights in PBI Desktop' issue on the Power BI suggestions page, I will add it. If the issue is already there, I will vote for it !

Paul

[Sean]

I can't even imagine not being connected at all times - regardless of device and location!

[Paulx99]

Hi Sean

Well, at least I finally figured it out ! Seems obvious looking back now that the reason for the 'blank' map was because I was not connected to the interenet ! I don't want to be connected at all times when using Power BI Desktop. If I wanted to do that (and use maps) I'd use PowerBi.com instead ! 

Paul

[Paulx99]

Agreed, as this is the same file I used when the filled map last worked. I actually didn't notice that typo !

Fair enough if you're all out of ideas ! You've certainly done everything you can to help me - appreciate it.

I think I'll have to refer this one to the Power BI Dev team. It's weird - it's as if something is preventing the map and filled map icons from working - all the other icons work just fine. What that is, is the $64 question.