Creating a point map

Follow the steps below to create a point map:

Adding points on a map using UPRNs or Postcodes

If your data has a list of postcodes or UPRNs (unique property reference numbers), then you’re able to plot these on a map by simply dragging and dropping the relevant column in your data into the Points: Postcodes or UPRNs field of the visual.

A screenshot of the 'Points: Postcodes or UPRNs' data field in Power BI, allowing users to plot Postcodes or UPRNs on their map.
The 'Points: Postcodes or UPRNs' data field in Power BI.

Displaying point data on a map

  • Postcodes are plotted according to their corresponding centroid.

  • The visual can display up to 30 000 individual points on the map.

  • Please note, if points appear on the same location, Points: pop-ups will have to be populated with a data attribute that splits out the points (see 'Adding clickable point pop-ups' on the Creating a point map using categorical data page).

Missing UPRN or postcode points

If you have incorrect or out-of-date postcodes and UPRNs in your data, they won’t geocode as points on the map. Clicking on the notification panel (the bell icon in the bottom left of the Power BI UI) will let you know which UPRNs or postcodes failed to geocode and are incorrect.

A screenshot of the notification panel in Power BI showing a series of incorrect postcodes that failed to geocode
A screenshot of the notification panel in Power BI showing incorrect postcodes that failed to geocode.

More detailed information, such as how many postcodes / UPRNs the visual attempted to geocode and how many succeeded, can be found by clicking on the notification panel after turning on the 'Show more detailed messaging' toggle found under Format visual > Map Settings in the Visualizations pane.

Map Settings menu in the Visualizations pane showing the 'Show more detailed messaging' toggle turned on.
Map Settings menu in the Visualizations pane in Power BI showing the 'Show more detailed messaging' toggle turned on.

Adding points on a map using Longitude / Latitude or Eastings / Northings

If your data has a list of Longitude / Latitude or Eastings / Northings, then you’re able to plot these on a map by simply dragging and dropping the relevant columns in your data into the Points: X and Points: Y fields of the visual.

A screenshot of X and Y point data fields in Power BI.
X and Y point data fields in Power BI.

Displaying longitude / latitude data on a map

  • The visual can display up to 30 000 individual points on the map.

  • To see any errors, turn on the 'Show more detailed messaging' toggle under Format visual > Map Settings in the Visualizations pane.

  • If the fields won’t populate with your data, make sure that on Table View the data type for your longitude / latitude data is set to Decimal number and NOT Text.

A screenshot of the Longitude type field set to Decimal number in Power BI.
A screenshot of the Longitude type field set to Decimal number in Power BI.

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