Is this what you're after? - https://docs.oracle.com/en/middleware/bi/data-visualization-desktop/bidvd/apply-map-backgrounds-and-map-layers-enhance-v…

The functionality in DVD and OBIEE DV is similar.

I'm not surprised. OAC & DV are normally ahead of OBIEE in terms of features I'm afraid. With Oracle Analytics Server (OBIEE's replacement), this will no longer be the case where OAC, DV & OAS will have the same features.

Joel implied it already, but there will be a major change to the product line and code base soon: https://www.oracle.com/solutions/business-analytics/analytics-server.html

As of this release the delta between on-premises and cloud should be reduced. Cloud will still have multiple releases per year whereas OAS will get one update per year where all the different changes of OAC are embedded.

That said - OAS isn't officially out yet, so you will need to wait a bit. Don't waste too much time on inventing strange things or workarounds on 12.2.1.4 and rather jump to OAS as soon as it's out.