Online maps with Direct Query - no location bubbles

[tommy_g]

I've been building an application which maps travel locations, using either the standard map or the Esri map.

The datasource is an Azure SQL DB. In standard mode, using latitude, longitude and my measure (days) to control the size of bubbles, everything works just fine. Including online and embedded in an ASP.NET application (also Azure)

I am trying a variation to explore with Direct Query. Fresh PBIX file with new DQ data connection establishe. Maps work fine.

Publish to PB online and the maps show nothing, even after a data refresh, toggle of slicers, etc. I have confirmed by displaying map Legend that data is being accessed correctly, i.e. map contents change due to slicer interaction, just NO plotting of (bubble) points.

I receive no error messages, and am unaware of any DQ limitations in this context.

Bottom line: maps (Microsoft and Esri) work fine on desktop, fail online.

Note that data points are less than 1,000.

[Greg_Deckler · Accepted solution]

If you have a Pro license, I would open a ticket at https://support.powerbi.com. I am not aware of any stated limitation with using the map visuals with DQ.

[tommy_g]

I have a Pro subscription, plus the paid Esri add-on.

I find it odd that both maps are failing in the same way, although it is possible they rely on a common service. Even then, I don't require geo-coding since I already have the lat/long numbers.

I tried other visualizations using the same data and all are working fine, so I've excluded permissions and firewall issues.

Sadly, I agree with your diagnosis: file a trouble ticket.

[Greg_Deckler]

Now that you mention that, I'm wondering if it is indeed trying to geo-code even with the lat/long and that the attempted geo-coding is being executed at the gateway because it is a Live connection instead of in the Service and it actually is a firewall issue...

Hmmm...

[tommy_g]

This is my first foray into Direct Query, except for the edX course for Power BI which I completed a few months back. (excellent, strongly recommended) There were no geo exercises.

Having worked with Azure for years, I'm aware of database firewall issues. My database and web apps are all hosted in "East US", so there is no issue connecting them. Ditto for my workstations, all are specifically enabled for my local IP address.

My Power BI Pro account is hosted in "East US 2", and that was a potential issue. However, I opened my firewall to the max (0-255) and see no change. Returning the firewall back to normal settings, I see that Azure center-to-center works just fine, as one would expect, since all resources are "within" the Azure service.

However, maybe that's not the case with the code which places the bubbles on the maps. Given my firewall tests, then the remaining suspect issue would be what? Azure "East US" DB is inaccessible to service ??? strictly for bubble mapping, because the Power BI account is located on "East US 2"?? 

Maybe it's just a Bad Day for Bubbles, they're all frozen <g>

I'll try back tomorrow, then file a ticket if nothing changes.