How can I locate Places on map using PostalCode

[hassanwasef]

Hello, We have started using PowerBi for data visualization, We needed to view locations on power bi map, but all i have is postal codes of these locations.
the places are all located in Saudi Arabia, but the map locate their postal code in the USA. I guess this is because Postal codes are not unique across countries. but longitude and alatitude are not available  to use unfortunately, all i have is the name of the country and the postal code.. 
I have tried the combinations "PostalCode"+", CountryName" and it's inversoin. 
My question is how to combine these available data together to get the map locate the cities correctly? Thank you

[Juliän]

This Topic is not solved! In Germany we have similar problems.

German postcode 99734 -> Nordhausen in Thüringen, is from Bing Maps located in Alaska, that's makes no sense. And we have much more examples.

I categorized the data. I created hierachies, with country. I concatenated it with Country infront of postcode, nothing works.

Please fix that Bugs!

[Anonymous]

I'd like to suggest you to use a calculated column who contains detail address information to help map visual to accurate the location.

For example:

Place = [Postal Code]&","&[Country] 

 It worked in my case.

[jessical_7]

Hi there,

I just tried the solution above and wondered if this calculated column needs to assign a data category. Thanks in advance.

Kind Regards,

[jessical_7]

An answer to the question above: it doesn't require me to assign a certain data category for it, and making sure of the comma is between post code & country, then drag calculated column to 'Location' field on your map. Problem solved!
Many thanks,

[hassanwasef]

Thank you @parry2k , @MattAllington , I will try this as a proof of concept. although, I have solved the issue using the cities names with the country name, separated by a comma . Even when the names are in Arabic. they were located correctly, I didn't expect it to  be working at first. 
Thank you.

[parry2k · Accepted solution]

I had the similar issue and this is how it was resolved:

1. make sure your Data category your fields is correct, you can set category in modeeling tab, select category "Country/Region
for your country field and set category "Postal code" for your postal code field.

2. on Map visual, drop Country and Postal field as shown below

3. You will see drill down icon on your map visual, like below.

4, Click Hierarchary drill down button and you will see your data in correct country/postal area

[Anonymous]

one question here is, could I set the postcode colunm at begining as a 'Decilmal number' or 'Text?'

[Anonymous]

I have the similar issue and tried with you sugesstion but it isn't working for me.

Here is my sample data:

  Total Consumer  Postal code    Country

   53                     0901              Norway

I followed step 1 and 2 as suggested but when I drill down it shows location of Mozambique insted of Norway.

Any help is appreciated.

[MattAllington]

I agree with @parry2k however in my experience you don't need to put country into your visual.  You do need it in your table but not in the visual.

[parry2k]

@MattAllington you need Country and Postal code in case you don't have lat/long otherwise if you have only postal code, map doesn't render the data correctly since postal code are not unique across the globe. I solved the problem by dropping country and postal code and then do hierarchary drill down.

Although lat/long is they way to go.

Cheers,

P

[MattAllington]

I agree you need country.  I just don't think it needs to be in the visual. I have tested this with country in the table (along with post code) and both fields correctly stamped as the correct data type.  You definitely need it in the table,  I just don't think you need it in the visual (well that is my experience anyway).

[parry2k]

Thanks @MattAllington, I never tried without having country on the visual, will try. Thanks a lot.