This comprehensive course will explore the various methods, established best practices, and industry-proven approaches that are aligned with both business requirements and technical requirements for modeling, visualizing, and analyzing data using Microsoft Power BI. The course will provide detailed instruction on how to access and process data from a wide range of diverse data sources, including both relational databases and non-relational data structures. This course will also thoroughly explore how to implement robust security standards and data protection policies across the entire Power BI spectrum, encompassing datasets, workspace management, and user access controls. Additionally, the course will discuss best practices for managing and deploying reports and dashboards to ensure effective sharing and content distribution throughout your organization. Finally, this course will demonstrate how to build professional paginated reports within the Power BI service and successfully publish them to a workspace for seamless inclusion within your Power BI environment.
Intended Audience:
The primary audience for this comprehensive course includes data professionals and business intelligence specialists who want to learn how to accurately and effectively perform data analysis using the full capabilities of Power BI. This course is also specifically targeted toward those individuals who are responsible for developing professional reports that visualize data from the various data platform technologies that exist both in cloud environments and on-premises in corporate networks.
Professional Role:
- Data Analyst
Certification Preparation:
- PL-300 Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst Certification Exam
Skills You Will Gain:
- Ingest, clean, and transform raw data from various sources into usable information
- Design and implement data models optimized for performance and enterprise scalability
- Design and create professional reports for comprehensive data analysis and insights
- Apply and perform advanced analytics techniques to extract deeper insights from your data
- Manage and effectively share report assets with stakeholders and team members
- Create professional paginated reports within Power BI for formal documentation and distribution
Prerequisites and Preparation:
Successful Data Analysts typically begin this role with hands-on experience working with data in cloud environments. To succeed in this course, you should have:
- A solid understanding of core data concepts and terminology
- Working knowledge and experience with relational data structures in cloud environments
- Working knowledge and experience with non-relational data structures in cloud environments
- Foundational knowledge of data analysis methodologies and visualization concepts
If you would like to gain the prerequisites and develop a better foundational understanding of working with data in Azure, you are encouraged to complete Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals before taking this Power BI course.
Detailed Course Outline:
Module 1: Get Started with Microsoft Data Analytics
This foundational module explores the various roles and responsibilities within the data and analytics space. You will learn about the important roles and key responsibilities of a Data Analyst, and then explore the complete landscape and portfolio offerings within Microsoft's Power BI product suite. This module establishes the foundation for understanding where Power BI fits within the broader data analytics ecosystem.
- Data Analytics and Microsoft: Understanding the role of analytics in business
- Getting Started with Power BI: Overview of Power BI capabilities and components
- Lab: Getting Started in Power BI Desktop - Hands-on experience launching and exploring the application
- Getting Started: Navigation and basic interface orientation
Module 2: Prepare Data in Power BI
This module provides comprehensive instruction on identifying, locating, and retrieving data from various data sources available to your organization. You will learn the different options available for connectivity to data sources and understand the various approaches to data storage and accessibility. This module helps you understand the key differences and performance implications of connecting directly to data versus importing it into Power BI for processing.
- Get Data from Various Data Sources: Connecting to SQL Server, Excel, cloud services, and more
- Lab: Preparing Data in Power BI Desktop - Hands-on practice loading data from multiple sources
- Prepare Data: Data source configuration and initial data assessment
Module 3: Clean, Transform, and Load Data in Power BI
This essential module teaches you the fundamental process of profiling and thoroughly understanding the condition and quality of your data. You will learn how to identify data anomalies and inconsistencies, assess the size and structural composition of your dataset, and perform the proper data cleaning and transformation steps necessary to prepare your data for loading into the analytical model.
- Data Shaping: Restructuring data to the appropriate format for analysis
- Enhance the Data Structure: Improving data quality and organization
- Data Profiling: Analyzing data characteristics and identifying issues
- Lab: Transforming and Loading Data in Power BI Desktop - Hands-on practice with transformation tools
- Loading Data: Moving prepared data into your Power BI models
Module 4: Design a Data Model in Power BI
This critical module teaches the fundamental concepts of designing and developing a robust data model that ensures proper performance and scalability for enterprise use. This module will also help you understand and effectively tackle many of the common data modeling challenges and issues, including managing relationships, implementing security, and optimizing performance characteristics.
- Introduction to Data Modeling: Core principles and best practices
- Working with Tables: Table structure, relationships, and optimization
- Dimensions and Hierarchies: Creating meaningful data hierarchies for navigation
- Lab: Data Modeling in Power BI Desktop - Hands-on practice building data models
- Create Model Relationships: Establishing connections between tables
- Configure Tables: Setting up tables for optimal performance and usability
- Review the Model Interface: Understanding the model view and schema
- Create Quick Measures: Using built-in calculations for common analytical needs
- Lab: Advanced Data Modeling in Power BI Desktop - Advanced relationship and security topics
- Configure Many-to-Many Relationships: Managing complex relationship scenarios
- Enforce Row-Level Security: Implementing data access controls at the row level
Module 5: Create Model Calculations using DAX in Power BI
This powerful module introduces you to the world of Data Analysis Expressions (DAX) and its true power for dramatically enhancing your data model. You will learn about aggregations and explore the concepts of Measures, calculated columns, calculated tables, and advanced Time Intelligence functions that solve complex calculation problems and enable sophisticated data analysis.
- Introduction to DAX: Language fundamentals and syntax
- DAX Context: Understanding row context and filter context
- Advanced DAX: Complex formulas and optimization techniques
- Lab: Advanced DAX in Power BI Desktop - Writing complex calculations
- Use the CALCULATE() Function to Manipulate Filter Context: Advanced filtering techniques
- Use Time Intelligence Functions: Working with dates and time-based analysis
- Lab: Introduction to DAX in Power BI Desktop - Fundamentals and basic calculations
- Create Calculated Tables: Building virtual tables with DAX
- Create Calculated Columns: Adding computed fields to your tables
- Create Measures: Building aggregations and key metrics
Module 6: Optimize Model Performance in Power BI
In this specialized module, you will be introduced to the essential steps, proven processes, important concepts, and data modeling best practices that are necessary to optimize a data model for enterprise-level performance. You will learn strategies for ensuring your models remain responsive even with large datasets and complex calculations.
- Optimize the Model for Performance: Query folding, compression, and efficiency techniques
- Optimize DirectQuery Models: Strategies for working with live data connections
- Create and Manage Aggregations: Using aggregation tables for faster query response
Module 7: Create Reports in Power BI
This module introduces you to the fundamental concepts and principles of designing and building professional reports that engage your audience. You will learn about selecting the correct visual types, designing an effective page layout, and applying basic but critical functionality that enhances usability. The important topic of designing reports for accessibility is also covered to ensure your reports can be used by all users.
- Design a Report: Layout principles and visual hierarchy
- Enhance the Report: Adding interactivity and polish to your reports
- Lab: Designing a Report in Power BI Desktop - Hands-on report creation practice
- Create a Live Connection in Power BI Desktop: Connecting directly to datasets
- Design a Report: Creating report pages and structure
- Configure Visual Fields and Format Properties: Customizing visual appearance and data display
- Lab: Enhancing Reports with Interaction and Formatting in Power BI Desktop - Advanced techniques
- Create and Configure Sync Slicers: Synchronizing filter controls across pages
- Create a Drill-Through Page: Building detailed navigation within reports
- Apply Conditional Formatting: Using color and formatting to highlight data insights
- Create and use Bookmarks: Building interactive navigation and storytelling elements
Module 8: Create Dashboards in Power BI
In this module, you will learn how to tell a compelling story through the powerful use of dashboards and explore the different navigation tools available to guide your audience through insights. You will be introduced to many features and functionality and learn how to enhance dashboards for improved usability and meaningful insights.
- Create a Dashboard: Building executive-level summary views
- Real-Time Dashboards: Working with streaming data and dynamic updates
- Enhance a Dashboard: Adding polish and interactivity to dashboard views
- Lab: Creating a Dashboard in Power BI Service - Hands-on practice in the cloud service
- Create a Dashboard: Dashboard creation and configuration
- Pin Visuals to a Dashboard: Moving report visuals to dashboards
- Configure a Dashboard Tile Alert: Setting up alerts on key metrics
- Use Q&A to Create a Dashboard Tile: Natural language queries for dashboard creation
Module 9: Enhance Reports for Usability and Storytelling in Power BI
This module will teach you about paginated reports, including what they are, how they differ from standard Power BI reports, and how they fit into the broader Power BI ecosystem. You will then learn the practical skills for building professional paginated reports and successfully publishing them within Power BI.
- Paginated Report Overview: Understanding use cases and capabilities of paginated reports
- Create Paginated Reports: Building formatted, structured reports for distribution
- Lab: Creating a Paginated Report in Power BI Desktop - Hands-on paginated report creation
- Use Power BI Report Builder: Working with the dedicated paginated report tool
- Design a Multi-Page Report Layout: Creating complex, structured report layouts
- Define a data source: Connecting paginated reports to data
- Define a Dataset: Creating query-based datasets for reports
- Create a Report Parameter: Adding user inputs to control report output
- Export a Report to PDF: Generating static PDF versions of your reports
Module 10: Perform Advanced Analytics in Power BI
This specialized module helps you apply additional advanced features and techniques to enhance your reports with deeper analytical insights from your data. You will gain the knowledge and practical skills to use your reports for actual business data analysis and decision-making. You will also learn to perform advanced analytics using artificial intelligence-powered visuals on your reports for even deeper and more meaningful insights from your data.
- Advanced Analytics: Statistical analysis and forecasting techniques
- Data Insights through AI Visuals: Leveraging artificial intelligence for deeper insights
- Lab: Data Analysis in Power BI Desktop - Hands-on practice with advanced analytics
- Create Animated Scatter Charts: Building dynamic visualizations for trend analysis
- Use the Visual to Forecast Values: Predicting future trends with statistical methods
- Work with the Decomposition Tree Visual: Breaking down metrics by multiple dimensions
- Work with the Key Influencers Visual: Identifying factors that drive key metrics
Module 11: Manage Datasets in Power BI
In this module, you will learn the important concepts and practices for managing Power BI assets, including datasets and workspaces. You will learn how to publish datasets to the Power BI service in the cloud, then effectively refresh and secure them to maintain data accuracy and protect sensitive information.
- Parameters: Setting up parameterized queries for flexible data connections
- Datasets: Managing dataset lifecycle and refresh schedules
- Security in Power BI: Implementing role-based access and data protection
Module 12: Create and Manage Workspaces in Power BI
This concluding module will introduce you to the concept of Workspaces and provide comprehensive instruction on how to create and manage them effectively. You will also learn how to share content efficiently, including reports and dashboards, and understand how to distribute an App to make your analytics available to a broad audience.
- Creating Workspaces: Setting up collaborative spaces for teams
- Sharing and Managing Assets: Distributing reports and controlling access
- Lab: Publishing and Sharing Power BI Content - Hands-on practice sharing in the cloud service
- Map Security Principals to Dataset Roles: Assigning users and groups to security roles
- Share a Dashboard: Distributing dashboard access to stakeholders
- Publish an App: Creating packaged Power BI applications for end users
