Why Custom visuals from marketplace in Power BI? - Purpose & Use Cases

The Big Idea

Discover how a simple marketplace visual can transform your boring report into a powerful story!

The Scenario

Imagine you need to create a report with unique charts that your standard tools don't offer. You try to build them manually using basic visuals, but they don't look right or fail to show the story clearly.

The Problem

Manually creating complex visuals takes a lot of time and trial-and-error. You might end up with confusing charts that don't communicate well. It's easy to make mistakes and hard to update when data changes.

The Solution

Custom visuals from the marketplace let you pick ready-made, professional charts designed for specific needs. You just add them to your report and connect your data. This saves time and makes your reports clearer and more engaging.

Before vs After

✗ Before

Use bar chart and try to mimic a funnel by stacking bars manually

✓ After

Import Funnel chart from marketplace and drag your data fields in

What It Enables

It enables you to create eye-catching, meaningful reports that tell your data story better and faster.

Real Life Example

A sales manager uses a custom funnel visual from the marketplace to clearly show lead conversion rates, making it easy to spot where prospects drop off.

Key Takeaways

Manual visuals can be limiting and time-consuming.

Marketplace visuals offer ready-to-use, specialized charts.

They improve report clarity and save you effort.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of using custom visuals from the Power BI marketplace?

easy

A. To create data tables without any visuals

B. To replace all default visuals permanently

C. To export data to Excel automatically

D. To add new and unique ways to display data beyond default charts

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand default visuals in Power BI

   Power BI offers standard charts like bar, line, and pie charts by default.

2. Step 2: Role of custom visuals

   Custom visuals from the marketplace provide additional, unique ways to show data that default visuals don't offer.

3. Final Answer:

   To add new and unique ways to display data beyond default charts -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Custom visuals = new display options [OK]

Hint: Custom visuals extend default charts with new display types [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking custom visuals replace default visuals permanently
• Confusing custom visuals with data export features
• Assuming custom visuals create data tables only

2. Which of the following is the correct way to add a custom visual from the Power BI marketplace?

easy

A. Right-click on a chart and choose 'Convert to custom visual'

B. Download visuals from an external website and import manually without Power BI

C. Click on the 'Get more visuals' icon in the Visualizations pane and select a visual

D. Use the 'Export' option in the File menu

Solution

1. Step 1: Locate the Visualizations pane in Power BI

   The Visualizations pane has an icon to get more visuals from the marketplace.

2. Step 2: Use 'Get more visuals' to browse and add

   Clicking this icon opens the marketplace where you can select and add custom visuals directly.

3. Final Answer:

   Click on the 'Get more visuals' icon in the Visualizations pane and select a visual -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Marketplace visuals added via 'Get more visuals' [OK]

Hint: Use 'Get more visuals' icon inside Power BI to add custom visuals [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to convert default charts to custom visuals directly
• Downloading visuals outside Power BI without import
• Looking for export options to add visuals

3. You added a custom visual from the marketplace to your report. What will happen if you share this report with someone who does not have that custom visual installed?

medium

A. The visual will show as a blank or error icon

B. The visual will display correctly without any issue

C. The report will not open at all

D. The visual will convert automatically to a default chart

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand custom visual dependencies

   Custom visuals require the receiving user to have the visual installed or supported in their Power BI environment.

2. Step 2: Behavior when visual is missing

   If the visual is missing, Power BI cannot render it, so it shows a blank or error icon instead.

3. Final Answer:

   The visual will show as a blank or error icon -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Missing custom visual = blank/error icon [OK]

Hint: Missing custom visual shows blank or error icon [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming visuals convert automatically to default charts
• Thinking report won't open at all
• Believing visuals always display correctly without installation

4. You tried to add a custom visual from the marketplace but received an error saying the visual is not certified. What should you do to fix this?

medium

A. Delete all visuals and start a new report

B. Check if the visual is certified and consider using a certified alternative

C. Restart Power BI to clear the error

D. Ignore the error and continue using the visual anyway

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand certification in Power BI visuals

   Certified visuals have passed Microsoft checks for security and quality; uncertified ones may cause issues.

2. Step 2: Respond to certification error

   It's best to check certification status and choose a certified visual to avoid risks and errors.

3. Final Answer:

   Check if the visual is certified and consider using a certified alternative -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Certification error = use certified visual [OK]

Hint: Use certified visuals to avoid errors and security risks [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Ignoring certification warnings
• Restarting Power BI without fixing the issue
• Deleting visuals unnecessarily

5. You want to create a sales report that uses a custom visual to show product sales by region with interactive filters. Which steps should you follow to achieve this?

hard

A. Add the custom visual from the marketplace, connect it to sales and region data, then add slicers for filtering

B. Create a table visual, export data to Excel, and use Excel filters

C. Use only default visuals and avoid custom visuals for interactivity

D. Import data into PowerPoint and add charts manually

Solution

1. Step 1: Add custom visual from marketplace

   Use the 'Get more visuals' option to add the desired custom visual to your report.

2. Step 2: Connect visual to sales and region data

   Bind the custom visual fields to your sales and region columns to display relevant data.

3. Step 3: Add slicers for interactive filtering

   Add slicer visuals to let users filter the report by region or other criteria interactively.

4. Final Answer:

   Add the custom visual from the marketplace, connect it to sales and region data, then add slicers for filtering -> Option A

5. Quick Check:

   Custom visual + data + slicers = interactive report [OK]

Hint: Add visual, connect data fields, then add slicers for interactivity [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Exporting data instead of using visuals
• Avoiding custom visuals for interactivity
• Using unrelated tools like PowerPoint