How to Include images in reports from folder or url or binary data in Power BI Desktop

[qquestel]

In the Financial Analysis Sample there is the ability to filter District Monthly Sales based on Selecting the photo of the District Manager.

I am trying to do the same, However i cannot add photos to the report in Power BI Desktop. I "Got Data" from a folder containing 10 photos. Set the binary field as "binary" but that column dissapears and is not available to the report.

What is the easiest way to use photos from a folder or as binary data in excel or sql to include in reports to enable me to use it as was done in the Financial Analysis Sample?

[gusly]

Could you please provide a link to the sample mentioned?

I've also been looking into how to include images, but without success. I saw your last post though, but I'm still interested in the sample mentioned.

[Seth_C_Bauer]

@gusly This functionality is now included in the desktop. 1) make sure you download the latest version. 2) adding an image can be done from the toolbar in the PBI Desktop

[gusly]

Thanks, but that's only for static images, right? I'm looking for data-bound images.

I think the same goes for the creator of this topic, but again I haven't seen the sample he/she is referencing so I'm not sure.

[gusly]

Just to add a reply to my own question - I managed to get the result that I wanted with the Chiclet Slicer (using urls to images), which can be found in the public visuals gallery:
https://app.powerbi.com/visuals

There's a video on the Microsoft Power BI Youtube channel showing how to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYOkJ1APueY

[Anonymous]

How did you manage to convert the binary fields into a URL?

Thanks,

[Anonymous]

The video doesn't detail how the images are stored or what the data type is, so i it doesn't help.

[henrywinata]

yes, I am still have trouble with that, the video is not detail.

I can do it in power view but not in power bi.  

[Seth_C_Bauer]

yes - static

[Greg_Deckler]

I'm seeing the same thing in Desktop. The minute you flag the field as Binary in the query, it disappears from the import and isn't available in the model or the report. Weird. If you do not specifically flag it as Binary in the query, then it appears in the data model but is the big long hex string.

You may have better luck in Excel:

http://community.powerbi.com/t5/Service/How-to-Include-images-in-reports-from-folder-or-url-or-binar...

Although a previous topic I was on we were getting little grey picture icons instead of the actual images.

[qquestel]

I have it in excel as a url "http://bidemo.digitalsvr.com/colfireimages/10001.jpg" however it just appears as text http://bidemo.digitalsvr.com/colfireimages/10001.jpg in the Power BI Report and not as an image. Is there anyway to include it as an image?

[Greg_Deckler]

In your Power Query in Excel, flag it as Binary while editing the query, BEFORE it gets into the data model. Then it should show up as "Binary Data" in the data model. Once that happens, you can set the Data Category to "Image". Let me know if you get the grey photo icons...

[qquestel]

Sorry I dont understand... The data is not stored as binary in excel... It is just text in a column which is a url to the photo on an external website. If i flag a binary i get an error.

Is there anyway to use an image from a website with a url pointing to the image?

[Greg_Deckler]

Oh yeah, that is way easier:

http://tavislovell.com/how-do-i-add-pictures-to-a-power-view-report-using-power-pivot-as-a-data-sour...

When you said you were getting them from a folder, I assumed you had them locally or something and were bringing them in as binary.

[qquestel]

I was able to get this far by having the image show via a URL in Excel "Power View" The data is in the powerview data model but when i import the data into Power BI Desktop i dont see the data model from Power View to select, Does Power BI Desktop support getting data from a Power View Data Model?

[qquestel · Accepted solution]

Ok I solved it... I think. At this time i believe that there is a limitation with both Power BI Desktop and the Online Version in working with both Binary Images and Images from URLs.

However if i design it in Excel 2013 using the Power View module and have the Images display in a Power View Report then I can Get Data using the Power BI Online version and the photos and data will show online in the "Classic Report Canvas". It does not work in the "New Power BI Report Canvas"

It also at this time does not work in Power BI Desktop.

Someone can correct me if I am wrong.

[andre]

you are correct on both counts, currently there is no support for images in table/matrix or carousel control in the new canvas layout in the service or the Desktop/