How to place images from public URL on canvas

[Udo_S]

Hi everyone,
This is a follow-up to a message where I asked how to get images into Power BI Service. I've learned that this is only possible using images hosted on public URLs. So I created a Blob storage for image hosting, added a table in my lakehouse, inserted the image URL into the table, added the table to the semantic model and formatted the URL as an "Image URL". Now I can add the image to a table, a matrix, or a multi-card row. So far, so good...

But I'm struggling with simply displaying the image. In a table or matrix, I can adjust the image size, but I can't get rid of the row header and scrollbars. In the multi-card row, I can hide the elements, but I can't adjust the image size.

Is it possible to simply display the image without using custom visuals?

Best regards,
Udo

[Udo_S]

Hi @OwenAuger ,
Thank you very much for your help and efforts.

I tried to recreate your showcase in Power BI Service, but unfortunately, it just doesn't work.

I was able to find the custom visual "HTML Content (lite)", but its behavior seems to be different from Power BI Desktop: the image does not appear, and after placing the visual on the canvas, it becomes stuck and cannot be moved. Additionally, I cannot find a visual called "Card (new)" in Power BI Service.
<(＿　＿)>

I really don't understand why Microsoft doesn't simply provide a visual for displaying image URLs...

[v-menakakota · Accepted solution]

Hi @Udo_S ,

Thanks for the update, and I completely understand the challenge. Power BI currently doesn't offer a simple native visual just for displaying images.
As mentioned by @OwenAuger  Use the full "HTML Content" visual, not the Lite version and Card (new) is only available in Power BI Desktop as part of the preview features. It's not yet available when creating reports directly in Power BI Service.
If you're limited to authoring in the Power BI Service, your options are more restricted. If possible, creating the report in Power BI Desktop and then publishing it to the Service i think it works.

Best Regards,
Community Support Team.

[Udo_S]

Hi @v-menakakota and @OwenAuger ,
Thanks for your help  - and your sympathies... : ) 
I'm not restricted to PBI services, I'll give PBI Desktop a try.
Best regards,
Udo

[OwenAuger]

Are you restricted to authoring the report in the Power BI Service and, if so, why? (and my sympathies)

I was assuming the issue was with the behaviour of the visuals in the Service rather than authoring in the Service.

In any case:

• You need to use HTML Content not HTML Content Lite in this case.
  https://appsource.microsoft.com/en-us/product/power-bi-visuals/wa200001930?tab=overview
• Card (new) is in Preview and not available in the Service, so that won't be an option if authoring in the Service.

[OwenAuger]

Hi @Udo_S 

Two methods I've experimented with recently:

• Card (new) core visual
  • Format > Visual > Images > Image > Provide measure returning image URL
• HTML Content custom visual
  • Non-certified custom visual (because it can access external URLs)
  • Need to construct measure returning suitable HTML code

Some experimentation is needed to adjust the image size, and you certainly have more control with HTML Content.

Sample PBIX attached in case it's useful.

Would either of these methods work for you?