2. What is Microsoft Power BI?
- A self service business intelligence platform - desktop and web-based applications for connecting, modeling and visualizing data.
- Link: powerbi.microsoft.com
- Brings your data to life with interactive reports and dashboards
- Excel and BI are built on the same analytics engines
- Power Query
- Data model
- DAX
Downloading BI Desktop
- download latest version from MS Store
Can also download from powerbi.microsoft.com
Adjusting Settings
- enable preview features
- Data load under current file needs
- update or delete relationships when refreshing data unchecked
- autodetect new relationships after data is loaded unchecked
- restart PBI Note: .pbix is the file type used by PBI
Backend and frontend
- backend is the Power Query and data models
- frontend is the dashboard
Steps
- Data loaded and transformed in the Power Query Editor
- Data models are configured in the Model view
- Table features and calculations are added in the Data View
- Visuals and reports are designed in the Report View
ETL in the Power Query Editor opens in a different window
Resources
- Help menu
- powerbi.microsoft.com/blog
- Youtube (Guy in a Cube)
- PBI User groups - pbiusergroup.com
Monthly releases for the individual platforms:
- BI Desktop
- BI Service
- Power Platform