Developing Custom Visuals: Old API vs New API

[viviana]

In developing custom visuals, there exists a deprecated PowerBI Custom Visuals API: https://github.com/Microsoft/PowerBI-visuals-core

The PowerBI team has removed the online developer tools as of last week, and the team no longer supports open issues on this API.

There exists a new PowerBI Visuals API: https://github.com/Microsoft/PowerBI-visuals

However, this API's functionality is severely limited in contrast to the functionality available from the deprecated API.

What's the plan looking like for expanding the new PowerBI custom visuals API? How fast are changes being rolled out, and is there a calendar for these new changes? I find myself blocked in the process of creating several custom visuals because the API is not at parity with the deprecated API. As one example, there is no functionality in the new API that is at parity with IInteractiveBehavior or IInteractivityService.

[v-chuncz-msft]

@viviana,

Based on my research, you may take a look at https://github.com/Microsoft/PowerBI-visuals/blob/master/Visual/Selection.md. As for the upcoming features, see Roadmap.

[viviana]

Hi Sam,

Thanks for the links! I've been working with the SelectionManager in the new API, but it's not yet at parity with the functionality of IInteractiveBehavior or IInteractivityService.

I'm working on creating a custom slicer. I've looked at the source code for the slicer visual itself (this source code uses the old API), and it makes extensive use of both classes (IInteractiveBehavior or IInteractivityService), in particular, a function called persistFilter(...). 

I'm also curious to know more details about the features outlined in the RoadMap - there aren't any dates or scheudles as to when we can expect new features to roll out, apart from the ones that are now code complete. The documentation seems incomplete. 

[Mcburn]

Hey @viviana,

the Documentation of the API is incomplete. They are working on that.

I hope we get more Information in the next Weeks.

Nice Regards

Mcburn

[viviana]

Hi Mcburn,

Thanks for your reply. Likewise, I hope we get more information in the upcoming weeks.

Best,

Vivian