Power BI Data Visualization API

[binhcao]

Can we open up Power BI to allow other creative thinkers out there to create new visualizations that can be posted on Power BI dashboard? As long as they have certain parameters (Name, chart types (visualization types), input data, scale, whatever, etc.) they can call API that can draw that visual to be displayed in Power BI. This opens up creative ways to display data and allows Power BI to be extensive and flexible.

[nishalit]

Just dropping everyone a note here to make sure you've aware of our Best Visual contest http://aka.ms/powerbiviscontest. There's still time to enter (October 1st is the deadline). Lots of great entries so far, Even an Aquarium! We're making steady progress on this. Don't wait to learn how to build custom visuals that work in Power BI, your learning will pay dividends. If you've not seen it yet, we have open sourced the Power BI visuals, you can get them at www.github.com/Microsoft/PowerBI-visuals. We've announced that we will enable developers to build custom visuals for Power BI. You can see some more information here: powerbi.Microsoft.com/custom-visuals

[Tony20]

There are a few options here: Using a similar model to Office Apps, allow custom charts apps and let the community do the development work (and allow devs to make money). Such as databurst / sunburst, Gantt, Waterfall, Infographic style charts Allow something similar to custom Excel charts where you can create custom combinations & use report templates Look at integrating with javascript libraries such as d3.js

[redgumbusinesss]

I would also like to see a few more visualisations added out-of-the box, especially bullet charts, box plots, dynamic sparklines (12 months rolling) and gantt charts. I have been using the excellent Sparklines for Excel add-in (http://sparklines-excel.blogspot.com.au/) but of course being Excel VBA they don't work with Excel Services. As a former student of Stephen Few I want to be able to create dashboards like those shown on the cover of his book (http://perceptualedge.com/library.php#Books) effortlessly.

[john_fitzpatri2]

In my mind, the single biggest disadvantage the Microsoft Power BI suite has is sticking users with basic excel charting capabilities. There are alternatives to excel for digging through information, but nothing that compares with the ease of use and power it provides to the standard users. However on the charting front, excel has been left behind. All you have to do is look at the examples of different visualizations on the d3.js website to see the capabilities of modern visualization tools. If we were able to use external charting libraries available through github or other sources for publishing to dashboards it would provide users with the best of both worlds.

[bsef09m016]

i also need something like this

[mark_jones3]

Being able to load in custom d3.js, or other custom libraries for visualizations would really take Power BI to the next level as a BI platform

[tomhawley]

A lot more visualisations would be a start, but to put the power in the hands of developers would be huge. Something not unlike data bound controls in many other MS/non-MS products, almost certainly harnessing the flexibilty of JS/HTML5 for the display element. I'd like a fairly simple grid structure to present multiple metrics with some RAG elements for performance movement and performance against targets. My exact requirements would probably be too specific to ever make the vertical strip of inbuilt visualisations, but if I could build one myself and feed it from a data set, that would be very powerful!

[binhcao]

ha, this is great, my claim to fame with this idea 🙂 finally, my rambling has been heard by somebody I am proud

[msnorig]

Are you really wearing google glasses?