Access Properties with empty DataView

[cmholden]

I am reposting this question here as I think I posted on an incorrect forum - apologies.

I am developing a custom visual that on some occasions does not need any input data from the Fields and hence the DataView is empty. Using the following in capabilities.json:

"supportsEmptyDataView": true,

This works fine. 

The problems arises with the property settings in the update function. I have a popup dialog that allows a user to set a hidden property and then stores the result in the  visual class with:

this.visualHost.persistProperties(objects);

When I access the properties in update() with; 

this.visualSettings = VisualSettings.parse<VisualSettings>(dataView);

This again works fine if there is data in the DataView. However, with no data, only the default values are returned. I also notice that if I manually set a property as a user, the missing property then becomes available in the update method - so the data are actually there but not processed unless a data field is added or a property updated. 

I imagine that there is a call made somewhere the does this in the background i.e forces the properties to be enumerated. Is it possible to fire this programatically so that I don't have to force the user to add a dummy data field - or is there some other way of making the property available?

[dm-p · Accepted solution]

Hi @cmholden,

This is currently a known issue with persistProperties and as per that thread it's something the team are aware of, but there's currently no ETA for a fix (I need this fix for one of my visuals too).

There's also an issue in the powerbi-visuals-tools repository here for it, which may be updated as and when things move along.

If you need an update or direct comment from the tean, your best bet is to email them at pbicvsupport@microsoft.com, as they don't frequent these forums.

Regards,

Daniel

[cmholden]

Thanks for the response Daniel.

I guess that we have to live with this until there is a fix.