Analyzing Data with PowerBI

The course will likely be attended by SQL Server report creators who are interested in alternative methods of presenting data.

Before attending this course, students must have:

• Some basic knowledge of data warehouse schema topology (including star and snowflake schemas) 
• Some exposure to basic programming constructs (such as looping and branching) 
• An awareness of key business priorities such as revenue, profitability, and financial accounting is desirable. 
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office applications – particularly Excel

Module 1: Introduction

This module explores the landscape of the Power BI portfolio and describes several use cases for Power BI. The course then identifies and describes the role and responsibilities of a Data Analyst.

The Power BI Portfolio
Identifying Tasks of the Data Analyst
Lab : Getting Started

Module 2: Getting and Profiling Data

This module explores identifying and connecting to different data sources. The student will also learn the basics on how to identify and optimize query performance issues. They will also learn how to perform proper data profiling in preparation for the subsequent step of cleaning and shaping the data prior to loading the data.

Data Sources
Storage Modes
Query Performance
Data Profiling
Lab : Preparing Data in Power BI Desktop

Module 3: Cleaning and Transforming Data

This module teaches the fundamental concepts of designing a data model for proper performance and scalability. It instills in the student a list of items to think about prior to building the model.

User-Friendliness
Combining Queries
Data cleaning and transformation
Advanced capabilities
Configuring data loading and resolving errors
Lab : Loading Data in Power BI Desktop

Module 4: Designing a Data Model

This module teaches the fundamental concepts of designing a data model for proper performance and scalability. It instills in the student a list of items to think about prior to building the model.

Data modelling basics
Measures and Dimensions
Model Performance
Lab : Data Modelling in Power BI Desktop

Module 5: Developing a Data Model

In this module the student will apply the steps learned in the previous module and build a data model while learning and implementing additional items to create the foundation of the model. The student will be introduced to initial security concepts and the Q&A feature in this module.

Common data modeling techniques
Adding columns to support the data model
Row-level security
Q&A considerations
Lab : Advanced Data Modeling

Module 6: Creating Model Calculations with DAX

This module first introduces the student to DAX and some of the critical functions and operators necessary to enhance a data model, including the concepts of Measures, and calculated columns and tables, and Time Intelligence.

Introduction to DAX
Creating tables and columns
Measures
The CALCULATE expression
Time-Intelligence functions
Lab : Using DAX in Power BI - Part 1, Lab : Using DAX in Power BI - Part 2

Module 7: Optimizing Model Performance

In this module the student is introduced to steps, processes, and concepts necessary to optimize a data model for enterprise-level performance.

Fine-tune the data model
Cardinality
Identifying performance issues
Module 8: Creating Reports

This module introduces the student to the fundamental concepts and principles of building a report, including selecting the correct visuals, designing a page layout, and applying basic but critical functionality including slicing and filtering. This important topic of designing for accessibility is also covered.

Selecting a visualization
Configuring visualizations
Formatting pages
Enhancing the report
Lab : Designing a report in Power BI Desktop - Part 1

Module 9: Enhancing Reports for Usability and Performance

This module helps the student think beyond the basics of report building and discusses topics for enhancing the report for usability and performance. The student will leave this module with knowing that a report is not something to just look at, but is a living canvas that tells a story, and should be designed as such.

Bookmarks and navigation
Designing cohesive pages and interactions
Improving reports
Lab : Designing a report in Power BI Desktop - Part 2

Module 10: Creating Dashboards

In this module the student learns about dashboards and the many features and functionality they contain. The student learns how to take the report they built in the previous module and pin it to a dashboard, then enhance to dashboard for additional usability and insights.

Dashboard design
Real-time dashboards
Dashboard enhancements
Lab : Creating a Power BI Dashboard

Module 11: Enhancing Reports and Applying Advanced Analytics

This module helps the student apply additional features to enhance the report for analytical insights in the data, equipping the student with the steps to use the report for actual data analysis. This module will also arm the student with additional steps and concepts to apply and perform advanced analytics on the report for even deeper and meaningful data insights.

Navigation
Basic analysis
Grouping, binning, and clustering
Analysis over time
Advanced analysis
Lab : Data Analysis in Power BI Desktop

Module 12: Managing and Sharing Power BI Assets

In this module the student will learn the concepts of managing Power BI assets, including datasets and workspaces, as well as how to apply role-level security to a dataset. This module teaches the student how to create and manage workspaces, as well as how to share content, including reports and dashboard, and how to distribute an App.

Dataset management
Enhancing datasets
Configure row-level security
Create and Manage workspaces
Enhancing datasets and reports in the workspace
Sharing and distributing content
Lab : Publishing and Sharing Power BI Content

Module 13: Working with Paginated Reports in Power BI

This module will teach the student about paginated reports. The student will learn what they are how they fit into the Power BI spectrum, and then look at how to build and publish a report.

Introduction to Paginated Reports
Data sources and datasets
Adding visual elements
Enhancing and publishing reports
Lab : Creating a Paginated report