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KDS
Helper I
Helper I

maps using shape files

I've been tasked with recreating in Power BI a map my team created in Tableau.  I've never used Power BI for shape maps. 

 

The Tableau version uses a shape files (.shp) from the NOAA website, joins is to a zipcode (.shp) shape file (unclear where they got this) on geometry (full outer join), and then joins the zipcode file to a "fact" table based on the zipcode (full outer join). 

 

I read through some old posts and learned that I needed to convert the .shp file to TopoJSON, which I've done using mapshaper.   Here's the issue I'm running into:

  • I thought I read somewhere that .shp files are only supported in Desktop and not the server.  Is that correct?
  • The TopoJSON file imports as an object but I can't figure out how to expand it so I can get to the data I need for the joins. Expanding the records and lists only results in a bunch of empty rows, none of which look remotely like the preview of the .shp files that I see in Tableau.

Below is a screenshot of what I'm trying to display for reference.  The dots are locations we're trying to display by tier.HurricaneMap.JPG

2 REPLIES 2
SolomonovAnton
Super User
Super User

hello ! 

 

I think you can try to load TopoJSON in to the Shape Map visual  as a custom maps

there you can read about shape map visual 

image.pngThank you, but I tried that.  What I have at the moment is 2 separate shape map visuals (hurricane path on the top, US zipcodes on the bottom).  The View Map Type Key link won't open anything when I select it and I have no way to join the shape files the fact table so I can isolate the area that I want to display.  

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