Images from URLs are not shown when exporting to PDF in Power BI Service

[Anonymous]

I have several images in my dashboard that are taken from their URL (image by URL). The URLs are Google Drive, and are accessible to anyone (anyone with the links can view them).

The images are nicely shown inside the Power BI desktop as well as Power BI service when published.

When I export to PDF from desktop, everything is fine. However, the issue is that when I export to PDF in serive, the images are shown like this.

The links are accessible to anyone. Why export to PDF is not working correctly in service?!

Looking forward to a solution.

[v-kkf-msft]

Hi @Anonymous ，

Does your problem have been solved? 

Are you printing the dashboard? According to my test, if a live page is pined, the images will be blank when you print it.

It is recommended that you export the report instead of dashboard as a PDF file. It should be noted that the certified Power BI visuals are supported in PDF, but R, Python and ESRI visuals are not included.

If the problem is still not resolved, please provide detailed error information or the expected result you expect. Let me know immediately, looking forward to your reply.

Best Regards,
Winniz

If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

[Anonymous]

Hi,

As I said, I face the problem when I Export to PDF.

I am using visual "Image by CloudScope". I'm not sure if it is certified. That may be the reason. The pro version is certified, but it is not working with external links. So, I'm not using the Pro version.

The issue is not yet resolved, and the image I attached shows the problem. There is no further error message.

[v-kkf-msft]

Hi @Anonymous ,

"Image by CloudScope" is the uncertified version. PDF exporting is only available with certified visuals. 

if you need PDF and PowerPoint export features, or perhaps you use certified visuals, you can convert your images to base64 versions. Some useful blogs post by Chris Webb and SQLJason can get you started in the right direction.

Best Regards,
Winniz

If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Hi @v-kkf-msft 

Thanks for your great advice.

I followed the approach you suggested. But still having issues when exporting from app online.

Here is the process:

I have a small logo image, such as this (21.9 KB):

Then I converted the image to base64 in this website:

https://base64.guru/converter/encode/image

So, it gives me the code for base64 which is 29,995 characters.

data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAlgAAAJYCAYAAAC+ ..................

I used the code as a measure in Power BI to show it in CloudScope Pro.

The image is shown correctly in desktop and online. It is also exported correctly to pdf in desktop.

However, when I export to pdf in Power BI service (online), the image is cut on its right and its bottom, regardless of the size of the image (=regardless of the number of characters in base64).

This is what I get when export to PDF online:

What is the problem with it? Any help? 

If this is a bug in their visual, that may need to be considered by Microsoft team (since it is certified visual)

[v-kkf-msft]

Hi @Anonymous ,

Please modify the view in the desktop, and then republish the report and export, see if it works.

Best Regards,
Winniz

[Anonymous]

Hi @v-kkf-msft 

I tried all the three "page view" types and none of them solved the issue.

It cuts the right and bottom of the photo as I showed before when exporting to PDF (in service).

[Anonymous]

I mark this thread as solved, since I no more notice the issue with image being cut.

Thanks.

[collinq]

Hi @Anonymous ,

This article has a long list of potential "limitations" on the export of a report to PDF, do any of these apply?

Export reports to PDF - Power BI | Microsoft Docs

The documentation is that an image has to "publicly accessible" to be visible and I am wondering if the link that is in the report is going to the PDF?  You might try a test with placing an image in a public location - not just a share link but a URL location where anybody could see it and then see if that image goes to the PDF.