Create a timeline view using the Stacked Bar Chart Visualiztion

[mjmowle]

Hopefully there's a Datanaut out there that can help.  I can, and have, for years been able to create time line views in Excel Charts using a Bar chart like so:

Excel Bar Chart

In Power BI, I have an ask to create a view just like this.  Our organzational security FORBIDS the use of 3rd party custom visuals so that is not a solution.

This is the closest I have been able to come:

Power BI Bar Chart

I am so close I can taste it, but cannot figure a way to first, make the axis values convert from the numeric format into date format, and then second, set it so these are monthly values, not every 50 days.

Anyone that wants a big Kudos from me that has a solution to this one, let me know!

Warmest Thanks in advance

[ivostammis]

Have you tried:

make the axis values convert from the numeric format into date format:

On the right you have the list with data fields, select the field which contains your date (now showing as a number). Then click on the ribbon on modeling tab, and for Data type select Date/time: 

set it so these are monthly values, not every 50 days

Have you tried adding a slicer? It is unfortunate that you are not allowed to use a custom visual, as the Timeline slicer in the marketplace is really what you'd need here. However the built in Slicer can at least help you. You could eventually try to add a new column which calculates the month, and then apply the slicer on that column.

Hope this helps!

[mjmowle]

Thank you for your outreach on this matter.  I attempted your solution on the Modelling tab, but unless I am missing some other step, that just blows up the visual and I get the "Something is wrong with one or more of the fields" message.

I will see what I might be able to do with a slicer or displaying some sort of rolling series of months.

[ivostammis]

I guess the bar chart doesn't work with dates on the value axis, tried this myself and couldn't get it to work either. 

Just thinking out of the box: what you're building looks a lot like a project / activity chart, which normally could be displayed with a gantt chart. You mention that 3rd party visuals are forbidden, however Microsoft offers a custom visual in the marketplace (https://appsource.microsoft.com/en-us/product/power-bi-visuals/WA104380765?tab=Overview). Strictly speaking this isn't 3rd party, as it is from Microsoft as well 🙂 . 

[mjmowle]

I appreciate that there is a section of "Microsoft Endorsed" items in the marketplace much like way back in the day MS placed their Powerpoint "Clip Art" out on their website that may be its purpose.  As you may have ben able to tell from my email address, I work in a bank's IT Security dept and the Risk Adverse orientation is as high as you can imagine for good reason.  It took approvals just to get access to this site.  The position would be if Microsoft is certain there is no risk of malware or backdoors with the visual, then include it in the standard package of visualizations we get when we download.  Other visualization types have been added over time so we know this could be done.  Perhaps that could be added to the no doubt lengthy suggestionb list for this product?

Note that in the meantime, my Senior Leadership understands and accepts the current situation so its not like I'm under pressure to quickly find a resolution to this.

I continue to thank all of you for your suggestions and feedback!

[ivostammis]

The marketplace consists of visuals made by several 3rd parties as well as made by Microsoft themselves. Why these latter ones are not part of the default section I don't know, perhaps not to overwhelm the user with too many visuals.

The Gantt chart I mentioned is developed by Microsoft themselves, not by a 3rd party (as are some of the other gantt visuals).

I do understand that often the technical aspectof creating a solution is the 'easiest' part of the challenge 🙂

[v-evelk]

Hello,

Almost all of our visuals have public repositories.

It means that you can fork a repo, analyze the source code to be sure that it is secure, and build your own visual with custom GUID (otherwise visual will be loaded form CDN). Such approach will help you to cover both, security concerns and availability of rich functionality.

Kind Regards,

Evgenii Elkin,
Software Engineer
Microsoft Power BI Custom Visuals
pbicvsupport@microsoft.com

[v-evelk]

Hello,

Is it your own implementation of the visual? Do I correctly understand?

Kind Regards,

Evgenii Elkin,
Software Engineer
Microsoft Power BI Custom Visuals
pbicvsupport@microsoft.com

[mjmowle]

Yes,

The Power BI visual I have created is the Stacked Bar Chart visualization from the standard set that comes with BI Desktop

Did this answer your question?  Is my question posed in the wrong forum?

[v-evelk]

Yep, the thread is correct.

Is it possible to look through your source code and a data set to better understand your issue?

You could send them to pbicvsupport@microsoft.com

Kind Regards,

Evgenii Elkin,
Software Engineer
Microsoft Power BI Custom Visuals
pbicvsupport@microsoft.com

[mjmowle]

Done.  An email was sent with two attachments - one is the Excel Table and Chart, the other is a PowerBI visualizationof the same information

[v-evelk]

Thank you for the sent details.

I tried to solve the issue but, unfortunately, without success.

However, I requested information from visual developers so, as soon as they answer, I will provide it here.

Kind Regads,

Evgenii Elkin,
Software Engineer
Microsoft Power BI Custom Visuals
pbicvsupport@microsoft.com