How to adjust canvas size for Power BI dashboards in PLAYipp

This article explains how to optimize your Power BI dashboard for display in PLAYipp when using the screenshot functionality.

Understanding dashboards vs. reports

In Power BI, each dashboard has an underlying report behind it. When you pin a report to a dashboard, it becomes a single-page view—essentially, the dashboard inherits its canvas size from the report.

Why canvas size matters

If your canvas size doesn't match your PLAYipp display area, your dashboard may appear:

• Cropped or cut off

• With empty space around the edges

• Stretched or distorted

For best results, the canvas size should match the resolution of the area you want to publish to in PLAYipp.

Step-by-step: Create a dashboard with custom canvas size

Step 1: Find your PLAYipp area resolution

Before configuring Power BI, check the resolution of the area you want to publish to in PLAYipp. You can find this by navigating to your screen area in PLAYipp.

Here is a guide explaining how to find area resolution: 

• What is the resolution of the area I am publishing to?

Step 2: Configure canvas size in Power BI

1. Open your report in Power BI

2. Click Edit to enter editing mode

3. In the Visualizations pane, click Format page (the paint roller icon)

4. Expand Canvas settings

5. Change Type to Custom

6. Enter your Height and Width in pixels to match your PLAYipp area resolution
   
   In this example, we set the canvas to 1209x680 pixels to match the PLAYipp display area.

7. Click Save to save your changes

Step 3: Pin the report as a dashboard

1. Click Pin to a dashboard in the top menu

2. Select New dashboard to create a fresh dashboard with your custom size
   
   Tip: Creating a new dashboard ensures you don't affect existing dashboards that may be designed for other purposes (such as viewing on laptops).

3. Enter a descriptive Dashboard name that includes the resolution (e.g., “Regional sales 1209x680”)

4. Click Pin live

Step 4: Add the dashboard to PLAYipp

Once saved, your new dashboard will appear as an available source in PLAYipp:

1. Go to Integrations → Your integrations → Power BI Cloud

2. Under Available sources, search for your dashboard

3. Click Add source

Step 5: Publish to your screen

1. Navigate to Signage → Publish

2. Select the location and screen area you want to publish to

3. Click Add new → Automated content → Add business intelligence

4. Select Power BI Cloud and choose your dashboard

5. Click Add to playlist

6. Give your content a name and select a save location

7. Click Save

Step 6: Wait for the screenshot service

After publishing, the screenshot service will begin generating images of your dashboard. This typically takes 5-10 minutes to start.

Note: If you see white blocks in the preview, this usually means the data needs to be refreshed and a new screenshot needs to be taken. The screenshot updates every 5 minutes.

Best practices

• Always create a new dashboard for PLAYipp displays rather than modifying existing dashboards used by colleagues

• Name dashboards with their resolution (e.g., “Sales Dashboard 1920x1080”) for easy identification

• Match canvas size exactly to your PLAYipp area resolution for optimal display

• Use the screenshot functionality for maximum compatibility across all screen types

Related articles

• Everything you need to know about the Power BI integration

• What is the resolution of the area I am publishing to?