Power BI - Shape Map Visualization Question

[jerryr125]

Hi - 

Question about the Shape Map:

* I created a map of a building layout/floor plan - different rooms so to speak - using Adobe Illustrator.  I saved the file as a "SVG" file.

I noticed in the shape map visualization that if you use a 'custom map' it needs to be a .json file.  

Is there anyway to convert the .svg file (again a floor plan of a building) into a .json file that inturn, can be used by the shape map visualization ? 

Any thoughts would be appreciated - Thanks - Jerry

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[v-dineshya]

Hi @jerryr125 ,

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Community Forum.

Hi @Jai-Rathinavel , @Royel , @Ilgar_Zarbali , Thank you for your prompt responses.

Hi @jerryr125 , Could you please try the proposed solutions shared by @Jai-Rathinavel , @Royel  and @Ilgar_Zarbali .  Please do let us know if you have any further queries.

Regards,

Dinesh

[v-dineshya]

Hi @jerryr125 ,

We haven’t heard from you on the last response and was just checking back to see if you have a resolution yet. And, if you have any further query do let us know.

Regards,

Dinesh

[Ilgar_Zarbali]

Great question, Jerry! Short answer: Shape Map needs TopoJSON (or GeoJSON converted to TopoJSON). An SVG floor plan can’t be used directly—it must be turned into polygons with a name/key for each room.

I kindly invite you to read my newsletter article about Shape Map:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/developing-azerbaijan-shape-map-azepowerbicommunity-538te/?trackingId...

Fastest path (recommended)

Use Synoptic Panel (custom visual by OKViz) — it’s made for floor plans and works directly with SVG. Give each room a unique ID in Illustrator, export SVG, then bind measures by room ID. No JSON conversion needed.

If you must use Shape Map

Pipeline to convert your SVG → TopoJSON:

• Prep in Illustrator

- Make each room a closed polygon (no strokes-only).

- Give every room a unique Name/ID (e.g., “Room101”).

• Export to DXF

- File → Export → DXF (rooms as filled polygons).

• Bring into QGIS (free)

- Add the DXF as a vector layer.

- If needed, run Polygonize to convert lines to polygons.

- Add an attribute name (matching Room IDs).

• Export GeoJSON

- Right-click layer → Export → GeoJSON.

• Convert to TopoJSON

- Use mapshaper (GUI or CLI):

mapshaper rooms.geojson -clean -simplify 5% keep-shapes -o format=topojson rooms.json

- Ensure each feature has a "name" property.

• Power BI Shape Map

- Visual → Shape map → Custom map → import rooms.json.

- Bind your data’s Location column to the name property.

I hope it wil help

[Royel]

Hi @jerryr125 

There are pleanty of online tools available to convert your SVG into TopoJson. You can try these 

1. https://mygeodata.cloud/converter/ 
2. https://gdal.org/programs/ogr2ogr.html 
3. https://www.arcgis.com/ 
4. https://www.freefileconvert.com/ 

Find this helpful? ✔ Give a Kudo • Mark as Solution – help others too! 

[Jai-Rathinavel]

Hi @jerryr125  Please check if this SVGtoTopoJson repo https://github.com/PBIZeroZ/SVGtoTopoJson

and see if it helps.

Thanks,

Jai