Companies increasingly expect their reports to:
- accurately reflect business logic and specific data relationships
- present information in a clearly defined, customized layout
- maintain visual consistency regardless of the report author
- provide greater control over formatting, scales, and user interactions
In such situations, analytics teams often encounter the limitations of standard Power BI visuals. The issue is not the lack of data, but the lack of flexibility in presenting it effectively. This is where Deneb Power BI comes in—a tool that extends the standard visualization capabilities and enables the design of charts based on declarative specifications.
Deneb does not replace Power BI’s built-in visuals. Instead, it complements them, allowing organizations to create reports tailored precisely to their needs—without building custom visuals from scratch or relying on external tools.
What is Deneb in Power BI
Deneb is a custom visual for Power BI that enables the creation of advanced data visualizations based on declarative specifications. Instead of configuring a chart solely through the available formatting options, users define how the data should be presented using the Vega or Vega-Lite languages.
A key feature of Deneb Power BI is full control over the visualization structure. This includes not only the chart’s appearance but also the way data is mapped, how interactions are handled, and the logic for presenting values. As a result, Deneb allows organizations to go beyond the limitations of standard visuals while remaining fully integrated within the Power BI environment.
Deneb as a Specification-Based Visual Layer
In practice, Deneb operates as a visual layer where:
- data comes directly from the Power BI model
- the presentation of the data is defined using a JSON specification
- the visual logic is separated from data modeling
This approach facilitates the creation of consistent visualizations and their reuse across different reports. It is particularly valuable in organizations where reports are developed by multiple users or teams.
Deneb vs. Standard Power BI Visuals
Unlike Power BI’s built-in visuals, Deneb does not impose predefined layouts or limited configuration options. It allows users to design charts exactly as required, both in terms of aesthetics and data presentation logic.
At the same time, Deneb does not replace standard visuals. It typically serves as a complement, used in situations where built-in visuals are insufficient.
Reporting Challenges Solved by Deneb Power BI
In many organizations, the challenge is not data availability but how the data is presented. Standard Power BI visuals perform well in typical scenarios, but their limitations quickly appear in more complex cases. Deneb Power BI addresses these types of reporting challenges.
One of the most common issues is the inability to accurately reflect business requirements in ready-made visuals. This can relate to chart layout, aggregation methods, or data formatting. Deneb allows visualizations to be designed according to specific business logic, rather than forcing logic to fit the tool.
Limitations of Standard Visuals
Typical problems Deneb solves include:
- lack of control over axes, scales, and data ordering
- limited options for formatting labels and values
- difficulties creating hybrid or custom charts
- inconsistent visual presentation across different reports
Attempts to work around these limitations often result in complex solutions or compromises that reduce report readability.
Deneb Power BI and Vega / Vega-Lite
Deneb Power BI is built on proven data visualization standards like Vega and Vega-Lite. Understanding these standards allows organizations to leverage Deneb effectively and design visualizations tailored to reporting needs.
What are Vega and Vega-Lite in Data Visualization
Vega and Vega-Lite are declarative languages for describing data visualizations. Rather than programming a chart step by step, users define the visualization structure, data mappings, and presentation rules.
In practice, Vega and Vega-Lite:
- specify which data is displayed and how
- define axes, scales, colors, and labels
- enable interactive features without imperative coding
This approach makes visualizations more readable, repeatable, and easier to maintain, which is crucial for Power BI reporting.
How Deneb Leverages These Standards
Deneb Power BI acts as an intermediary layer between the Power BI data model and the Vega or Vega-Lite rendering engine. Data flows directly from the model to the visual, while the presentation is defined through a specification.
This enables organizations to:
- create advanced visuals without leaving Power BI
- fully utilize Vega and Vega-Lite capabilities in reports
- maintain consistency between the data and its presentation
Deneb also allows for easy modification of visualizations as requirements evolve, without rebuilding entire reports.
Differences Between Vega and Vega-Lite and When to Choose Each
While both standards describe visualizations, they differ in level of detail and capabilities:
Vega-Lite is suitable when:
- a fast and readable visualization is needed
- the chart has a simple structure
- ease of maintaining the specification is important
Vega is preferable when:
- full control over every element of the visualization is required
- custom interactions are necessary
- the chart structure goes beyond standard templates
Deneb Power BI allows users to choose the appropriate variant based on the complexity of the report.
Key Capabilities of Deneb in Power BI Reporting
Deneb significantly extends reporting capabilities in Power BI, enabling the creation of visualizations that are not available in the standard set of charts. This gives organizations greater flexibility in presenting data and allows reports to be better aligned with real analytical needs.
Creating Fully Custom Data Visualizations
One of Deneb Power BI’s biggest advantages is the ability to design visualizations from scratch, without the limitations of predefined templates. Analysts can control not only the chart type but also its structure, layout, and behavior.
This makes it possible to:
- create charts tailored to specific data
- combine different types of visuals in a single view
- precisely meet reporting requirements
Precise Control Over Visualization Elements
Deneb provides full control over key chart elements, helping organizations avoid compromises often encountered with standard Power BI visuals.
Axes, scales, and labels
Users can precisely define:
- axis ranges and scaling methods
- numeric and text label formats
- data ordering and layout
Colors and formatting
Deneb allows:
- use of a consistent color palette
- conditional formatting of chart elements
- precise styling aligned with organizational standards
User interactions
Visuals created in Deneb can respond to user actions such as:
- hover effects
- clicks and selections
- dynamic data view changes
Visual Consistency Across the Organization
By using visual specifications, Deneb Power BI supports a consistent visual language in reports. Once created, visualizations can be easily reused and adapted, simplifying report development and improving readability.
Examples of Deneb Applications in Business Reports
Deneb Power BI is particularly useful when standard visuals cannot fully address reporting needs. Custom visualizations allow organizations to present data more effectively, facilitate analysis, and support business decisions.
Financial Visualizations Requiring Custom Logic
Financial reports often require non-standard data presentation, for example:
- layered revenue and cost breakdowns
- visualization of financial results considering specific rounding rules
- dynamic KPIs aligned with corporate strategy
Deneb enables these complex rules to be implemented in Power BI reports, ensuring accuracy and consistency.
Sales Reports with Custom Data Layouts
Sales reports often need flexible data layouts that standard visuals cannot accommodate. Examples include:
- hybrid charts combining quantity and value data
- results presented by custom segments or regions
- trend visualizations for quick managerial interpretation
This approach facilitates monitoring sales performance and allows rapid response to data changes.
Management Dashboards Tailored to Roles
Deneb Power BI allows the creation of role-specific dashboards:
- department managers see KPIs relevant to their area
- executives receive consolidated information with interactive capabilities
- analysts have access to detailed data in clear visualizations
This ensures that each user receives reports tailored to their needs, enhancing analytical efficiency and supporting business decisions.
Summary
Implementing Deneb in an organization delivers multiple benefits:
- ability to create fully custom data visualizations
- precise control over axes, scales, labels, colors, and interactions
- visual consistency across the organization
- better alignment of reports with decision-makers’ and analysts’ needs
Do you want to fully leverage the potential of data in your organization?
Invest in Deneb Power BI and create reports and dashboards tailored to real business needs.