In the article: Consuming Microsoft Planner Data in Power BI Using Dataverse, we explored how to connect Microsoft Planner to Power BI using Dataverse. This integration made it possible to go beyond the default task views and generate powerful dashboards with custom KPIs, time-based metrics, and status tracking. 

In this article, we’re taking that one step further by introducing the Softcial custom Power BI visual: Kanban Tasks Viewer that brings a familiar, intuitive view to your task data, a Kanban-style chart, tailored for reporting scenarios and team overviews. 

To better illustrate how this integration works in practice, the following screenshot presents an example Power BI report built with our custom Kanban visual. It uses example data from a construction project scenario to demonstrate how tasks can be organized by status and visually tracked throughout their lifecycle. This example serves as a reference for creating your own Planner-based dashboards using the visual. 

This article will walk you through how to: 

• Import the custom Kanban visual into Power BI 

• Connect it to your Microsoft Planner data (via Dataverse) 

• Bind and configure the necessary fields 

• Customize appearance for your needs 

 Why a Custom Kanban Visual? 

Microsoft Planner uses a Kanban board interface by default, it’s familiar, visual, and effective for tracking progress. But once your task data is in Power BI, this view is lost. Our custom Kanban chart bridges that gap by letting you: 

• Replicate the Planner board layout inside Power BI 

• View tasks by status or phase 

• Analyze workload by user 

• Highlight overdue or stuck tasks at a glance 

Pre-requisites 

Before we start, ensure you have: 

• Access to Planner data via Dataverse (e.g., via Project for the Web or Planner Premium) 

• Power BI Desktop installed 

• The custom Kanban visual developed by Softcial Visuals: 

• Kanban Tasks Viewer – PRO Version: Full access with no limits on the number of buckets or tasks. Ideal for production reports and complex project tracking. 

• Kanban Tasks Viewer – Free Version: A fully functional version with usage limits: up to 3 buckets and 10 tasks per bucket.  

Step 1: Import the Custom Visual 

1. Open Power BI Desktop 

2. Go to the Visualizations pane. 

3. Click on the ellipsis (…) → Import a visual from a file.  

4. Select your .pbiviz file  

5. The Kanban visual will now appear in your visuals list. 

Step 2: Connect to Planner Data via Dataverse 

If you haven’t done this part yet, refer to the article: Consuming Microsoft Planner Data in Power BI Using Dataverse, but in short: 

1. Load the msdyn_projecttask Table from Dataverse: 

1. Open Power BI Desktop 

2. Go to Home > Get Data > Dataverse 

3. Sign in to your Microsoft 365 environment 

4. Select the msdyn_projecttask table 

Step 3: Prepare the Tasks Table in Power Query 

1. Click Transform Data to open Power Query, then click Choose Columns.  

In the window, check only the following columns: 

• msdyn_projecttaskid 

• createdon 

• msdyn_subject 

• msdyn_projectbucketname 

• msdyn_progress 

2. Rename Columns for Simplicity 

Rename the columns as follows: 

• msdyn_projecttaskid → Id 

• msdyn_subject → Description 

• msdyn_projectbucketname → Responsible 

• msdyn_progress → leave as is (used for status) 

• createdon → leave as is 

3. Create a Conditional Column for Buckets 

We’ll use msdyn_progress to categorize task status 

1. Go to the Add Column tab. 

2. Click Conditional Column. 

3. Name the new column: BucketId. 

4. Configure the logic as follows:  

This allows us to later group tasks into: 

• 1 = Not Started 

• 2 = In Progress 

• 3 = Completed 

4. Create the Buckets Table 

We now need a table that maps BucketId values to readable names and colors. You can do this by referencing the Tasks table. 

1. In the Queries pane, right-click the Tasks table. 

2. Select Reference. 

3. Rename the new query to Buckets. 

4. Select only the BucketId column: 

Go to Home > Remove Columns > Remove Other Columns. 

5. Remove Duplicates 

With BucketId selected, go to Remove Rows > Remove Duplicates. 

6. Add a Description Column 

Go to Add Column > Conditional Column. 

7. Add a Color Column 

Again, go to Add Column > Conditional Column. 

8. Rename BucketId Column 

Rename BucketId to OrderId (used for sorting in visuals). 

Step 4: Create the Relationship 

1. Go to Model View in Power BI. 

2. Drag from Tasks[BucketId] → Buckets[OrderId]. 

This relationship allows you to: 

• Display readable status names in the Kanban visual 

• Sort statuses using OrderId 

• Apply consistent colors by status 

Step 5: Add the Kanban Visual to the Report 

1. Drag the custom Kanban visual to your report canvas. 

2. In the Fields pane, bind the following fields: 

Step 6: Customize Appearance and Behavior 

The custom visual supports: 

• Color coding for each status 

• Sorting by due date or priority 

• Filtering by user, project, or time period 

Tip: Use slicers alongside the visual to narrow down by project, team member, or timeline. 

Step 7: Publish and Share 

Once your report is ready: 

1. Save your report and publish it to the Power BI Service. 

2. Share it with stakeholders or embed it in Microsoft Teams. 

3. Update your visual as needed for design or logic improvements. 

Final Thoughts 

This custom Kanban chart brings new life to Microsoft Planner data in Power BI. Beyond the KPIs, calculations, and interactive visuals that Power BI offers, this custom visual adds something unique: a Kanban-style view embedded directly into your report. It allows teams to not only analyze performance through metrics but also see and interact with their tasks in a familiar and intuitive layout, similar to how they work in Planner or other task boards. Whether you’re tracking phases of a project or coordinating multiple teams, this visual bridges the gap between analysis and execution, all within Power BI.