# Welcome to Astra

{% embed url="<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6Lg-cu0mYk>" %}

Astra is a Power BI visual built to transform your network data into interactive, insightful graphs.&#x20;

Astra enables you to:

* **Visualize Complex Networks:** Seamlessly render thousands of nodes and edges.
* **Interact in Real-Time:** Zoom, pan, and dive deep into your network to uncover hidden patterns.
* **Customize Your View:** Tailor visual properties and interactivity to suit your unique needs.
* **Integrate Effortlessly:** Embed directly within your Power BI reports for a unified analytical experience.

## Getting Started

Follow these simple steps to begin using Astra in your Power BI projects:

1. **Import into Power BI:**
   * Open Power BI Desktop or a report in the PowerBI Service
   * In the **Visualizations** pane, click the ellipsis (…) and select **Get more visuals**.
   * Download & load Astra to your PowerBI report
2. **Configure Your Data:**
   * Drag the Astra visual onto your report canvas.
   * Map your dataset fields to the corresponding properties in the visual’s settings panel.
3. **Customize Your Visualization:**
   * Use the customization options to adjust the appearance and interactivity of your network graph.
   * Explore advanced settings to fine-tune performance and visual details.
4. **Explore & Analyze:**
   * Interact with your network graph to uncover insights and patterns that drive data-driven decisions.

## Mapping Data

Data passed into Astra should be in a tabular edge list format:

| Data Field   | Description                   | Required | Data Type |
| ------------ | ----------------------------- | -------- | --------- |
| Source Node  | The starting node of the edge | Yes      | Text      |
| Target Node  | The ending node of the edge   | Yes      | Text      |
| Source Color | Category node property        | No       | Text      |
| Target Color | Category node property        | No       | Text      |
| Link Color   | Category edge property        | No       | Text      |
| Source X     | X coordinate for source node  | No       | Integer   |
| Source Y     | Y coordinate for source node  | No       | Integer   |
| Target X     | X coordinate for target node  | No       | Integer   |
| Target Y     | Y coordinate for target node  | No       | Integer   |
| Source Label | Label text for source node    | No       | Text      |
| Target Label | Label text for target node    | No       | Text      |

## Support Requests

Email support is available by reaching out to: **<astra@securemetrics.io>**


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