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Power BI Map Charts

?️ Power BI Map Charts

⚡ Quick Overview

Map Charts allow you to visualize data geographically. Instead of reading a table, you can see spatial patterns—such as where your customers are clustered or which regions have low sales coverage. Power BI uses Bing Maps to geocode your text data into real locations.

Important: Maps require an internet connection and the "Map and Filled Map" visuals enabled in your Power BI Tenant settings.

? Key Concepts

  • Geocoding: Converting names like "Mumbai" into Latitude and Longitude.
  • Data Category: Setting a column as "City," "Postal Code," or "Country" is mandatory for accuracy.
  • Location Bucket: The primary field used to pinpoint the area on the map.
  • Bubble Size: The quantitative value (e.g., Sales) that controls how large a dot appears.

? What are Map Charts?

Map charts translate tabular rows into geographic coordinates. They are perfect for analyzing:

  • Sales Performance: Identifying regions meeting targets.
  • Logistics: Visualizing shipping routes or warehouse coverage.
  • Marketing: Spotting untapped geographic markets.

? Sample Data for Map Charts

? Location-Based Sales Data 
// Use this sample data to build your first map
Country,State,City,Sales
India,Maharashtra,Pune,3000
India,Maharashtra,Mumbai,4500
India,Karnataka,Bengaluru,4000
India,Delhi,New Delhi,3500
India,Tamil Nadu,Chennai,3200

?️ 1. Map (Bubble Map)

Displays data as bubbles. Great for showing exact city locations where size matters.

? 2. Filled Map

Colors in the entire geographic area (States/Countries). Best for regional intensity analysis.

? 3. Shape Map

Uses custom TopoJSON files. Ideal for specific boundaries like sales territories or floor plans.

? 4. Azure Maps

High-performance map visual with 3D layers, real-time traffic, and advanced heat map capabilities.

? Map Chart Formatting & Settings

1️⃣ Data Colors & Bubbles

Found in Format Pane > Bubbles. You can change colors and adjust the bubble size scale to prevent overlapping.

2️⃣ Map Styles

Found in Format Pane > Map settings. Switch between Road, Aerial, Dark, or Light themes.

3️⃣ Tooltips & Labels

Enable Category Labels to see city names directly on the map without hovering.

? Use Cases

  • Retail: Comparing store performance across different cities.
  • Finance: Visualizing tax contribution by state.
  • Supply Chain: Identifying clusters of delayed shipments.
  • Public Health: Mapping disease outbreaks or resource distribution.

? Map Formatting Lab (Interactive)

Experiment with common Format Pane settings below to see how they change the visual logic.

? Best Practices

  • Categorize Columns: Always set Data Category to "City" or "State" in the Column Tools.
  • Avoid "Too Much": Don't plot 10,000 points; use a Top N filter to keep the map readable.
  • Use Tooltips: Add extra details like "Store Manager" or "Profit %" to the Tooltip bucket.
  • Hierarchy: Add Country > State > City to the Location bucket to enable Drill Down.

? Practice Tasks

  1. Create a Bubble Map and drag 'City' into Location.
  2. Apply Conditional Formatting so bubbles turn Green if Sales > 4000.
  3. Change the Map Style to "Dark" and enable Zoom buttons in Map Controls.