Intro to Power BI Reports and Dashboards Training Course

Module 1: Acquiring Data in Power BI

In this module, you will explore methods for retrieving data from a wide array of sources, including Microsoft Excel, relational databases, and NoSQL data stores. Additionally, you will learn strategies to enhance performance during the data retrieval process.

Learning Objectives

Upon completing this module, you will be able to:

• Identify and connect to data sources
• Retrieve data from relational databases, such as Microsoft SQL Server
• Extract data from files, like Microsoft Excel
• Obtain data from applications
• Access data from Azure Analysis Services
• Choose a storage mode
• Address performance issues
• Resolve data import errors

Lessons

• Introduction
• Getting data from files
• Getting data from relational sources
• Creating dynamic reports with parameters
• Retrieving data from a NoSQL database
• Fetching data from online services
• Selecting a storage mode
• Getting data from Azure Analysis Services
• Fixing performance issues
• Resolving data import errors
• Exercise - Preparing data in Power BI Desktop
• Knowledge Check
• Summary

Module 2: Cleaning, Transforming, and Loading Data in Power BI

This module covers techniques for simplifying complex models, altering data types, renaming objects, and pivoting data. You will also learn to profile columns to identify valuable data points for deeper analytical insights.

Learning Objectives

Upon completing this module, you will be able to:

• Address inconsistencies, unexpected or null values, and data quality concerns.
• Implement user-friendly value replacements.
• Profile data to gain deeper insights into specific columns before usage.
• Assess and transform column data types.
• Apply shape transformations to table structures.
• Combine queries.
• Apply user-friendly naming conventions to columns and queries.
• Edit M code using the Advanced Editor.

Lessons

• Introduction
• Shaping initial data
• Simplifying data structure
• Assessing and changing column data types
• Merging multiple tables into a single table
• Profiling data in Power BI
• Using the Advanced Editor to modify M code
• Exercise - Loading data in Power BI Desktop
• Knowledge Check
• Summary

Module 3: Designing a Data Model in Power BI

Creating complex data models in Power BI is a straightforward process. When data originates from multiple transactional systems, you may quickly end up managing dozens of tables. Effective data modeling involves simplifying this complexity. Star schemas are one method to streamline data models, and this module covers their terminology and implementation. You will also explore why selecting the correct data granularity is crucial for the performance and usability of your Power BI reports. Finally, you will learn techniques to improve performance with your Power BI data models.

Learning Objectives

In this module, you will:

• Create common date tables
• Configure many-to-many relationships
• Resolve circular relationships
• Design star schemas

Lessons

• Introduction
• Working with tables
• Creating a date table
• Working with dimensions
• Defining data granularity
• Managing relationships and cardinality
• Resolving modeling challenges
• Exercise - Modeling data in Power BI Desktop
• Knowledge Check
• Summary

Module 4: Designing Power BI Reports

With over 30 core visuals available in Power BI, selecting the appropriate one can be challenging for beginners. This module will guide you in choosing the most suitable visual types to meet your design and report layout needs.

Learning Objectives

In this module, you will:

• Understand the structure of a Power BI report.
• Learn about report objects.
• Select the appropriate visual types.

Lessons

• Introduction
• Designing the analytical report layout
• Creating visually appealing reports
• Report objects
• Selecting report visuals
• Choosing visuals that suit the report layout
• Formatting and configuring visualizations
• Working with key performance indicators
• Exercise - Designing a report in Power BI Desktop
• Knowledge Check
• Summary

Module 5: Configuring Power BI Report Filters

Report filtering is a nuanced topic, as numerous techniques exist for filtering Microsoft Power BI reports. However, this complexity offers greater control, enabling you to design reports that align with specific requirements and expectations. Some filtering techniques are applied during design, while others are relevant when consuming the report (in reading view). The key is ensuring your report design allows users to intuitively narrow down to the data points that matter most.

Learning Objectives

In this module, you will:

• Design reports with filtering in mind.
• Create reports using slicers.
• Design reports employing advanced filtering techniques.
• Apply consumption-time filtering.
• Choose appropriate report filtering techniques.

Lessons

• Introduction to designing reports for filtering
• Applying filters to the report structure
• Using slicers to apply filters
• Designing reports with advanced filtering techniques
• Consumption-time filtering
• Selecting report filter techniques
• Case Study - Configuring report filters based on feedback
• Knowledge Check
• Summary

Module 6: Creating Dashboards in Power BI

Microsoft Power BI dashboards differ from Power BI reports. Dashboards allow users to create a single, personalized artifact of directed data. They can consist of pinned visuals taken from various reports. While a Power BI report draws from a single dataset, a Power BI dashboard can aggregate visuals from multiple datasets.

Learning Objectives

In this module, you will:

• Set up a mobile view.
• Add themes to dashboard visuals.
• Configure data classification.
• Incorporate real-time dataset visuals into your dashboards.
• Pin live report pages to a dashboard.

Lessons

• Introduction to dashboards
• Configuring data alerts
• Exploring data by asking questions
• Reviewing Quick insights
• Adding a dashboard theme
• Pinning a live report page to a dashboard
• Configuring a real-time dashboard
• Configuring data classification
• Setting the mobile view
• Exercise - Creating a Power BI dashboard
• Knowledge Check
• Summary