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Apply data point limits and strategies by visual type

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When rendering a visual in Power BI, the visualization must be quick and accurate. That requires underlying algorithms configured for each visual type. Visuals in Power BI must be flexible enough to handle different sizes of datasets. Some datasets have only a handful of data points, while other datasets have petabytes of data points. This article explains the strategies used by Power BI to render visualizations.

Data reduction strategies

Every visual employs one or more data reduction strategies to handle the potentially large volumes of data being analyzed. Even a simple table employs a strategy to avoid loading the entire dataset to the client. The reduction strategy being used varies by visual type. Each visual selects from the supported data reduction strategies as part of generating the data request sent to the server.

Each visual controls the parameters on those strategies to influence the overall amount of data.

Strategies

For each strategy, there are defaults based on the shape and type of data being visualized. But the defaults can be overridden, in the Power BI Formatting pane, to provide the right user experience.

  • Data Windowing (Segmentation): Allow users to scroll through the data in a visual by progressively loading fragments of the overall dataset.
  • TopN: Show only the first N items.
  • Simple Sample: Show the first, last, and N evenly distributed items in between.
  • BottomN: Show only the last N items. Useful for monitoring frequently updated data.
  • High-density sampling: An improved sampling algorithm that better respects outliers and/or the shape of a curve.
    • Binned line sampling: Sample data points based on outliers in bins across an axis.
    • Overlapping points sampling: Sample data points based on overlapping values to preserve outliers.

Statistics

Certain models can provide statistics about the number of values for certain columns. When such information is present, we leverage that information to provide better balancing across multiple hierarchies if a visual doesn't explicitly override the count of values for a strategy.

For more information, see What's new in Analysis Services.

Dynamic limits

In addition to the strategies above, visuals with two hierarchies of grouping columns (axis and legend, or category and series) use one additional strategy called dynamic limits. Dynamic limits are designed to better balance data points.

Dynamic limits provide a better selection of points for sparse data than static limits. For example, a visual could be configured to select 100 categories and 10 series with a total of 1000 points. But the actual data has 50 categories and 20 series. At query runtime, dynamic limits select all 20 series to fill up the 1000 points requested.

Dynamic limits are automatically applied when the server is capable. See the following:

Strategies and data point limits by visual type

Area chart

For more information about area chart visuals, see How line sampling works.

Bar or column chart

  • In categorical mode:
    • Categories: Virtualization by using Window of 500 rows at a time.
    • Series: Top 60
  • In scalar mode (could use dynamic limits):
    • Max points: 10,000
    • Categories: Sample of 500 values
    • Series: Top 20 values

Card (multirow)

  • Values: Virtualization by using Window of 200 rows at a time.

Combo chart

A combo chart uses the same strategies as a column chart. Notice that the line in the combo chart doesn't use the high-density algorithm that the line chart uses.

Power BI visuals

Power BI visuals can get up to 30,000 data points, but it's up to the visual authors to indicate which strategies to use. The default limit is 1,000, but the visual creator can change that up to a maximum of 30,000.

Doughnut

  • Max points: 3,500
  • Group: Top 500
  • Details: Top 20

Filled map choropleth

The filled map can use statistics or dynamic limits. Power BI tries to use reduction in the following order: dynamic limits, statistics, and configuration.

  • Max points: 10000
  • Categories: Top 500
  • Series (when both X and Y are present): Top 20

Funnel

  • Max points: 3,500
  • Categories: Top 3,500

KPI

For the Trend axis, the following limits are used:

  • Bottom 3,500

Line chart

For more information about line chart visuals, see How line sampling works.

Line chart, high density

For more information, see High density line sampling.

Map

  • Max points: 3,500

Depending on the configuration, a map can have the following:

  • Location: Top 3,500
  • Location, Size: Top 3,500
  • Location, latitude, and longitude aggregates (+/-Size): Top 3,500
  • Latitude, longitude: For more information, see High density scatter charts.
  • Latitude, longitude, Size: Top 3,500
  • Legend, latitude, longitude: For more information, see High density scatter charts.
  • Legend, latitude, longitude, Size: Top 233 legends, Top 15 latitude, and longitude (could use statistics or dynamic limits)
  • Location, legend, latitude, and longitude as aggregates (+/-Size): Top 233 locations, Top 15 legends (could use statistics or dynamic limits)

Maps: Azure Maps

For more information, see High density line sampling.

Matrix

  • Rows: Virtualization by using Window of 500 rows at a time.
  • Columns: Top 100 grouping columns
  • Values: Multiple values don't count against the data reduction.

PowerApps visuals

PowerApps visuals can get up to 30,000 data points, but it's up to the visual authors to indicate which strategies to use. The default limit is 1,000, but the visual creator can change that up to a maximum of 30,000.

Radial gauge

No reduction strategy.

Slicer

  • Values: Virtualization by using Window of 200 rows at a time.

Scatter chart (high density)

For more information, see High density scatter charts.

Pie

  • Max points: 3,500
  • Group: Top 500
  • Details: Top 20

R & Python visuals

R & Python visuals are limited to 150,000 rows. If more than 150,000 rows are selected, only the top 150,000 rows are used.

Ribbon chart

  • In categorical mode:
    • Categories: Virtualization (data windowing) by using Window of 500 rows at a time.
    • Series: Top 60
  • In scalar mode (could use dynamic limits):
    • Max points: 10,000
    • Categories: Sample of 500 values
    • Series: Top 20 values

Shape map (Preview)

The shape map can use statistics or dynamic limits.

  • Max points: 1,500
  • Categories: Top 500

Table

  • Values: Virtualization (data windowing) by using Window of 500 rows at a time.

Tree map (could use statistics or dynamic limits)

  • Max points: 3,500
  • Group: Top 500
  • Details: Top 20

Waterfall chart

  • Category bucket (only):
    • Max points: 3,500
    • Category only - top 3,500
  • Both category and breakdown are present:
    • Category: Virtualization (data windowing) by using Window of 30 rows at a time.
    • Breakdown - Top 200 values

Next steps

Visualization types