Microsoft Power BI For Dummies

Length: 416 pages
Edition: 1
Language: English
Publisher: For Dummies
Publication Date: 2022-02-08
ISBN-10: 1119824877
ISBN-13: 9781119824879
Sales Rank: #151613 (See Top 100 Books)

Reveal the insights behind your company’s data with Microsoft Power BI

Microsoft Power BI allows intuitive access to data that can power intelligent business decisions and insightful strategies. The question is, do you have the Power BI skills to make your organization’s numbers spill their secrets?

In Microsoft Power BI For Dummies, expert lecturer, consultant, and author Jack Hyman delivers a start-to-finish guide to applying the Power BI platform to your own firm’s data. You’ll discover how to start exploring your data sources, build data models, visualize your results, and create compelling reports that motivate decisive action.

Tackle the basics of Microsoft Power BI and, when you’re done with that, move on to advanced functions like accessing data with DAX and app integrations
Guide your organization’s direction and decisions with rock-solid conclusions based on real-world data
Impress your bosses and confidently lead your direct reports with exciting insights drawn from Power BI’s useful visualization tools

It’s one thing for your company to have data at its disposal. It’s another thing entirely to know what to do with it. Microsoft Power BI For Dummies is the straightforward blueprint you need to apply one of the most powerful business intelligence tools on the market to your firm’s existing data.

Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
Introduction
	About This Book
	Foolish Assumptions
	Icons Used in This Book
	Beyond the Book
Part 1 Put Your BI Thinking Caps On
	Chapter 1 A Crash Course in Data Analytics Terms: Power BI Style
		What Is Data, Really?
			Working with structured data
			Looking at unstructured data
			Adding semistructured data to the mix
		Looking Under the Power BI Hood
			Posing questions with Power Query
			Modeling with Power Pivot
			Visualizing with Power View
			Mapping data with Power Map
			Interpreting data with Power Q&A
			Power BI Desktop
			Power BI Services
		Knowing Your Power BI Terminology
			Capacities
			Workspaces
			Reports
			Dashboards
			Navigation pane
		Business Intelligence (BI): The Definition
	Chapter 2 The Who, How, and What of Power BI
		Highlighting the Who of Power BI
			Business analyst
			Data analyst
			Data engineer
			Data scientist
			Database administrator
		Understanding How Data Comes to Life
			Prepare
			Model
			Visualize
			Analyze
			Manage
		Examining the Various Types of Data Analytics
		Taking a Look at the Big Picture
	Chapter 3 Oh, the Choices: Power BI Versions
		Why Power BI versus Excel?
		Power BI Products in a Nutshell
			Introducing the Power BI license options
			Looking at Desktop versus Services options
			Stacking Power BI Desktop against Power BI Free
		Examining the Details of the Licensing Options
			Seeing how content and collaboration drive licensing
			Starting with Power BI Desktop
			Adding a Power BI Free license
			Upgrading to a Power BI Pro license
			Going all in with a Power BI Premium license
		On the Road with Power BI Mobile
		Working with Power BI Report Server
		Linking Power BI and Azure
	Chapter 4 Power BI: The Highlights
		Power BI Desktop: A Top-Down View
			Ingesting Data
			Files or databases?
			Building data models
			Analyzing data
			Creating and publishing items
		Services: Far and Wide
			Viewing and editing reports
			Working with dashboards
			Collaborating inside Power BI Services
			Refreshing data
Part 2 It’s Time to Have a Data Party
	Chapter 5 Preparing Data Sources
		Getting Data from the Source
		Managing Data Source Settings
		Working with Shared versus Local Datasets
		Storage Modes
			Dual mode
		Considering the Query
			Addressing and correcting performance
			Diagnosing queries
		Exporting Power BI Desktop Files and Leveraging XMLA
	Chapter 6 Getting Data from Dynamic Sources
		Getting Data from Microsoft-Based File Systems
		Working with Relational Data Sources
			Importing data from a relational data source
			The good ol’ SQL query
		Importing Data from a Nonrelational Data Source
		Importing JSON File Data into Power BI
		Importing Data from Online Sources
		Creating Data Source Combos
			Connecting and importing data from Azure Analysis Services
			Accessing data with Connect Live
		Dealing with Modes for Dynamic Data
		Fixing Data Import Errors
			“Time-out expired”
			“The data format is not valid”
			“Uh-oh — missing data files”
			“Transformation isn’t always perfect”
	Chapter 7 Cleansing, Transforming, and Loading Your Data
		Engaging Your Detective Skills to Hunt Down Anomalies and Inconsistencies
			Checking those data structures and column properties
			Finding a little help from data statistics
		Stepping through the Data Lifecycle
			Resolving inconsistencies
		Evaluating and Transforming Column Data Types
			Finding and creating appropriate keys for joins
			Shaping your column data to meet Power Query requirements
			Combining queries
				Appending queries
				Merging queries
		Tweaking Power Query’s M Code
		Configuring Queries for Data Loading
		Resolving Errors During Data Import
Part 3 The Art and Science of Power BI
	Chapter 8 Crafting the Data Model
		An Introduction to Data Models
			Working with data schemas
			Storing values with measures
			Working with dimensions and fact tables (yet again)
			Flattening hierarchies
		Dealing with Table and Column Properties
		Managing Cardinality and Direction
			Cardinality
			Cross-filter direction
		Data Granularity
	Chapter 9 Designing and Deploying Data Models
		Creating a Data Model Masterpiece
			Working with Data view and Modeling view
			Importing queries
			Defining data types
			Handling formatting and data type properties
			Managing tables
			Adding and modifying data to imported, DirectQuery, and composite models
		Managing Relationships
			Creating automatic relationships
			Creating manual relationships
			Deleting relationships
			Classifying and codifying data in tables
		Arranging Data
			Sorting by and grouping by
			Hiding data
		Working with Extended Data Models
			Knowing the calculation types
			Working with column contents and joins
		Publishing Data Models
	Chapter 10 Perfecting the Data Model
		Matching Queries with Capacity
			Deleting unnecessary columns and rows
			Swapping numeric columns with measures and variables
			Reducing cardinality
			Reducing queries
			Converting to a composite model
			Creating and managing aggregations
	Chapter 11 Visualizing Data
		Looking at Report Fundamentals and Visualizations
			Creating visualizations
			Choosing a visualization
			Filtering data
			Working with Bar charts and Column charts
			Using basic Line charts and Area charts
			Combining Line charts and Bar charts
			Working with Ribbon charts
			Going with the flow with Waterfall charts
			Funneling with Funnel charts
			Scattering with Scatter charts
			Salivating with Pie charts and Donut charts
			Branching out with treemaps
			Mapping with maps
			Indicating with indicators
		Dealing with Table-Based and Complex Visualizations
			Slicing with slicers
			Tabling with table visualizations
			Combing through data with matrices
			Decomposing with decomposition trees
			Zooming in on key influencers
		Dabbling in Data Science
		Questions and Answers
	Chapter 12 Pumping Out Reports
		Formatting and Configuring Report Visualizations
			Working with basic visualization configurations
			Applying conditional formatting
		Filtering and Sorting
		Configuring the Report Page
		Refreshing Data
			Working with reports
			Finding migrated data
			Exporting reports
			Perfecting reports for distribution
	Chapter 13 Diving into Dashboarding
		Configuring Dashboards
		Creating a New Dashboard
		Enriching Your Dashboard with Content
		Pinning Reports
		Customizing with Themes
		Working with Dashboard Layouts
		Integrating Q&A
		Setting Alerts
Part 4 Oh, No! There’s a Power BI Programming Language!
	Chapter 14 Digging Into DAX
		Discovering DAX
			Peeking under the DAX hood
			Working with calculations
		Dealing with Data Types
		Operating with Operators
			Ordering operators
			Parentheses and order
		Making a Statement
		Ensuring Compatibility
	Chapter 15 Fun with DAX Functions
		Working with DAX Parameters and Naming Conventions
			Prefixing parameter names
			Playing with parameters
		Using Formulas and Functions
			Aggregate functions
			Date-and-time functions
			Filter functions
			Financial functions
			Information functions
			Logical functions
			Mathematical and trigonometric functions
			Other functions
			Parent-child functions
			Relationship functions
			Statistical functions
			Table manipulation functions
			Text functions
			Time intelligence functions
	Chapter 16 Digging Deeper into DAX
		Working with Variables
		Writing DAX Formulas
			Understanding DAX formulas in depth
			Extending formulas with measures
			Comparing measures and columns
			Syntax and context
			The syntax of an expression
		Best Practices for DAX Coding and Debugging in Power BI
			Using error functions properly
			Avoiding converting blanks to values
			Knowing the difference between operators and functions
			Getting specific
			Knowing what to COUNT
			Relationships matter
			Keeping up with the context
			Preferring measures over columns
			Seeing that structure matters
	Chapter 17 Sharing and the Power BI Workspace
		Working Together in a Workspace
			Defining the types of workspaces
			Figuring out the nuts and bolts of workspaces
		Creating and Configuring Apps
		Slicing and Dicing Data
			Analyzing in Excel
			Benefiting from Quick Insights
			Using Usage Metric reports
			Working with paginated reports
		Troubleshooting the Use of Data Lineage
		Datasets, Dataflows, and Lineage
		Defending Your Data Turf
Part 5 Enhancing Your Power BI Experience
	Chapter 18 Making Your Data Shine
		Establishing a Schedule
			Rolling out the scheduled refresh
			Refreshing on-premises data
		Protecting the Data Fortress
			Configuring for group membership
			Making role assignments in Power BI Services
		Sharing the Data Love
		Refreshing Data in Baby Steps
			Creating RangeStart and RangeEnd parameters
			Filtering by RangeStart and RangeEnd
			Establishing the Incremental Refresh policy
		Treating Data Like Gold
		Configuring for Big Data
	Chapter 19 Extending the Power BI Experience
		Linking Power Platform and Power BI
		Powering Up with Power Apps
			Creating Power App visuals with Power BI
			Acknowledging the limitations of Power Apps/Power BI integration
			Introducing the Power BI Mobile app
		Integrating OneDrive and Power BI
		Collaboration, SharePoint, and Power BI
			Differentiating between the classic and modern SharePoint experience
			Integrating Power BI into SharePoint
			Viewing Power BI reports in SharePoint
		Automating Workflows with Power BI
			Configuring prebuilt workflows for Power BI
			Using the Power Automate Visual with Power BI
		Unleashing Dynamics 365 for Data Analytics
Part 6 The Part of Tens
	Chapter 20 Ten Ways to Optimize DAX Using Power BI
		Focusing on Logic
		Formatting Your Code
		Keeping the Structure Simple (KISS)
		Staying Clear of Certain Functions
		Making Your Measures Meaningful
		Filtering with a Purpose
		Transforming Data Purposefully
		Playing Hide-and-Seek with Your Columns
		Using All Those Fabulous Functions
		Rinse, Repeat, Recycle
	Chapter 21 Ten Ways to Make Compelling Reports Accessible and User-Friendly
		Navigating the Keyboard
		Having a Screen Reader As Your Companion
		Standing Out with Contrast
		Recognizing Size Matters (with Focus Mode)
		Switching between Data Tables and Visualizations
		A Little Extra Text Goes a Long Way
		Setting Rank and Tab Order
		It’s All About Titles and Labels
		Leaving Your Markers
		Keeping with a Theme
Index
EULA