OpenCourser brand icon
Sign in
We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.

Microsoft Power BI - The Practical Guide 2025

Manuel Lorenz, Academind by Maximilian Schwarzmüller, and Maximilian Schwarzmüller

This course turned more than 250.000 students into Power BI professionals and was specifically created for business users who need to learn fast, comprehensive and efficient to get the job done.

-

In the course you can take two paths:

- The Complete Path (full >15h course also teaching more advanced concepts & features)

- The Summary Path (2h crash course to master Power BI as quick as possible)

Both approaches will teach you Power BI in great detail and turn you into a Power BI professional. You decide what learning type you are - it’s your choice.

-

Read more

This course turned more than 250.000 students into Power BI professionals and was specifically created for business users who need to learn fast, comprehensive and efficient to get the job done.

-

In the course you can take two paths:

- The Complete Path (full >15h course also teaching more advanced concepts & features)

- The Summary Path (2h crash course to master Power BI as quick as possible)

Both approaches will teach you Power BI in great detail and turn you into a Power BI professional. You decide what learning type you are - it’s your choice.

-

You want to analyze data from single or multiple sources? You want to create your individual datasets based on these sources and transform your results into beautiful and easy-to-make visualizations? You also want to share your results with colleagues or collaborate on your projects? Finally, you want to be able to access your data from multiple devices?

Then the Power BI tools are the tools to choose for you.

In this course you will learn why Power BI offers you a comprehensive set of Business Intelligence tools for your data analysis goals and how to use these tools to fulfill all of the above tasks - and more. Imagine to quickly structure your data, to easily add calculations to it and to create and publish nice-looking charts in just a few minutes. 

This is what you will learn:

  • Get to know the different tools of the Power BI universe and learn how to use them

  • Understand Power BI Desktop and its components

  • Learn how to use the Query Editor to connect Power BI to various source types, how to work on the Data Model and understand the difference between those two steps

  • Learn how to filter and format data, how pivoting and unpivoting works

  • How to work in the different views of the Data Model

  • How to create calculated columns and measures

  • How to build relationships between different tables

  • How to create a report with different interactive visualization types

  • Learn how to use Power BI Pro to create dashboards and to share and publish your results

  • How to access your results from multiple devices using Power BI Mobile

  • And more.

Don't miss this opportunity to become a Power BI expert today. Enrol now, unlock your potential & transform your career today.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • At the end of this course students will be able to analyse data from different data sources and create their own datasets
  • Students will be able to comfortably work with the different tools of the power bi universe and know how the different tools work together
  • Students will have the required knowledge to dive deeper into power bi and find out more about its advanced features

Syllabus

Welcome to this course! Let's get started understand what Power BI is, install Power BI Desktop and create our first project already.
Welcome to This Course
Read more
What is Power BI?
Installing Power BI Desktop
Connecting Power BI Desktop to Source Files
Creating our First Visuals
Join our Online Learning Community
Comparing Excel & Power BI
Course Outline
The Two Ways (Paths) Of Taking This Course
How to Get the Most Out of This Course
Important: How to Access Course Resources, Project Files & Slides
In this module, students will dive deeper into a typical Power BI Desktop project workflow, explore Power BI's interface and understand the most important options and settings.
Module Introduction
Append Behind the Scenes
The Power BI Desktop Workflow
Interface Tour
Important! Creating the Project Template & Recommended Settings
Students will learn how to connect Power BI Desktop to difference source types, e.g. .csv and .xlsx files, understand basic row and column operations and important concepts like changing data types.
Understanding Data Preparation / Cleaning / Cleansing
How Power BI Queries Data
Understanding Basic Row Operations
Filtering Data
Analyzing Columns & Removing Blank Fields
Understanding & Using the Append Feature
Choosing & Removing Columns
Understanding the Transpose Feature
Replacing Values
Working with Dates - The Basics
Understanding Data Formats
Handling Data Format Errors
Understanding Pivoting & Unpivoting
Applying Pivoting & Unpivoting
Fixing a Sorting Problem
Extracting Data, Splitting Columns & Sorting Multiple Columns
Introducing the "Group By" Feature
Improving the Project Structure
Wrap Up
Students will learn how to transform data in Power BI Desktop and how to create own data models and schemas. The course project will be transformed to the star schema with concepts like join kinds.
Data Warehouse, Data Model & Data Schema
The Star Schema - Theory
Applying the Star Schema to our Project
Understanding References
Comparing References & Duplicates
Importing Country & Region Codes
Using "Enter Data" to Create a Table
Understanding the Merge Feature
How to Join Tables
Understanding Outer, Inner & Anti Joins
Join Kind in Practice
Handling Merge Errors
Understanding the DIM-age Table
Bringing Back the "age-group" Column
Getting the Maximum Values From Each Age Group
Creating Conditional Columns
Creating an Index Column
Creating a DIM-gender Table
Understanding the FACT Table
Finishing the FACT Table
Applying Basic Mathematical Operations
Using the Enable Load Feature
Time to Practice - Query Editor
Students will learn how to analyse data with DAX - Data Analysis Expressions - and how DAX differ from the M-Language. Relationship types, one to many, many to many and 1 to many will also be taught.
Query Editor vs Data Model
Understanding Relationships
Creating our First Relationship
Understanding Cardinality & Difference Relationship Types
One to Many & Many to One
One to One
Many to Many
Fixing the Column Order Bug
Understanding the Cross Filter Direction
Understanding Active Properties
Adding Relationships to the Project
M-Language vs DAX (Data Analysis Expressions)
Creating a Custom Column with the M-Language
Creating a Calculated Column with DAX
M vs DAX - What Should I Choose?
The DAX Basics
The Core DAX Syntax
DAX Data Types
DAX Operators
DAX Core Functions
Creating a Table with the CALENDAR Function
Extracting Data with the DOT Notation
Adding & Dividing Columns
Working with IF Functions
Understanding Relationship Functions
Calculated Column vs Measure
Understanding & Creating Measures
Working with FILTER & CALCULATE Functions - Theory
Combining CALCULATED & FILTER Functions
Adding the Filter Condition to CALCULATE
Using Measures in Measures
Changing the Measure's Home Table

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Offers two distinct learning paths, a comprehensive 15-hour option and a 2-hour crash course, catering to different learning preferences and time constraints
Focuses on practical application of Power BI for data analysis, visualization, and collaboration, which are essential skills for professionals in various industries
Covers data preparation, modeling, and analysis using both Power BI's Query Editor and DAX, providing a comprehensive understanding of the tool's capabilities
Teaches how to connect Power BI to various data sources, create data models, and build relationships between tables, which are fundamental skills for data analysis
Explores Power BI Pro for creating dashboards and sharing results, along with Power BI Mobile for accessing data on multiple devices, enhancing accessibility and collaboration
Course name includes "2025", which may indicate that the course content is forward-looking and up-to-date with the latest features and trends in Power BI

Save this course

Save Microsoft Power BI - The Practical Guide 2025 to your list so you can find it easily later:
Save

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Microsoft Power BI - The Practical Guide 2025 with these activities:
Review Excel Fundamentals
Reviewing Excel fundamentals will help you better understand Power BI's advantages and how it builds upon existing spreadsheet knowledge.
Browse courses on Excel
Show steps
  • Review basic Excel functions like SUM, AVERAGE, and COUNT.
  • Practice creating pivot tables and charts in Excel.
  • Familiarize yourself with Excel's data filtering and sorting features.
Read 'M is for Data Monkey'
Reading this book will help you master the M language, which is essential for data transformation in Power BI.
View M Is for (Data) Monkey: A Guide to the M... on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the chapters on data cleaning and transformation.
  • Practice writing M code to solve data manipulation problems.
  • Experiment with different M functions and operators.
Read 'The Definitive Guide to DAX'
Reading this book will provide a deeper understanding of DAX, which is crucial for advanced data analysis in Power BI.
View The Definitive Guide to DAX: Business... on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the chapters on calculated columns and measures.
  • Work through the examples provided in the book.
  • Experiment with different DAX functions and expressions.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
DAX Function Exercises
Practicing DAX functions through targeted exercises will solidify your understanding and improve your ability to write complex calculations.
Show steps
  • Find online resources with DAX practice problems.
  • Focus on practicing functions like CALCULATE, FILTER, and RELATED.
  • Create your own datasets to test your DAX skills.
Build a Personal Finance Dashboard
Building a personal finance dashboard will allow you to apply your Power BI skills to a real-world scenario and gain practical experience.
Show steps
  • Gather your financial data from bank statements and credit card statements.
  • Import the data into Power BI and clean it using the Query Editor.
  • Create visualizations to track your income, expenses, and savings.
  • Design an interactive dashboard to monitor your financial health.
Follow Advanced Power BI Tutorials
Following advanced tutorials will expose you to more complex Power BI techniques and help you expand your skillset.
Show steps
  • Search for tutorials on topics like advanced DAX, custom visuals, and Power BI service administration.
  • Follow the tutorials step-by-step and try to understand the underlying concepts.
  • Adapt the techniques learned in the tutorials to your own projects.
Create a Power BI Tutorial
Creating a tutorial will reinforce your understanding of Power BI concepts and help you communicate your knowledge to others.
Show steps
  • Choose a specific Power BI topic to focus on.
  • Create a step-by-step guide with clear instructions and screenshots.
  • Share your tutorial on a blog, forum, or social media platform.

Career center

Learners who complete Microsoft Power BI - The Practical Guide 2025 will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Data Analyst
A Data Analyst interprets data to identify trends and patterns, and this course provides valuable skills for such analysis. This role involves cleaning, transforming, and analyzing data, and Power BI is a critical tool for data visualization and reporting. The course trains you on how to format and transform data, as well as creating data models in Power BI. Data Analysts frequently use measures and calculated columns, all of which are taught in the course. The skills developed in this course are core to the data analysis process used by Data Analysts. One who plans to work as a Data Analyst will find it valuable to learn how to connect to data, build models, and make visuals within the Power BI environment.
See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst
Reporting Analyst
A Reporting Analyst focuses on creating and distributing reports based on analysis of data. This course will be particularly helpful to a Reporting Analyst because it provides hands-on training with a critical reporting tool, Power BI. In this role, a professional builds reports, dashboards, and visualizations. This course teaches you how to connect to various data sources, create data models, and design interactive visualizations. The course covers fundamental concepts like filtering, formatting, and calculating measures. The ability to share and publish results via Power BI Pro, which is a topic in the course, is also critical to this position. Moreover, the ability to work with multiple data sources, taught in this course, will serve a Reporting Analyst well.
See salaries and explore the career path for Reporting Analyst
Data Visualization Specialist
A Data Visualization Specialist focuses on presenting data in an easily understandable and visually appealing format. This is a central task of this course's subject, Power BI. In this role, one needs to create reports, dashboards, and visualizations. The course will help those becoming Data Visualization Specialists learn how to create interactive visualizations, connect to different kinds of data sources, and build data models using Power BI. The course also covers ways to format, filter, and transform data, as well as create calculated columns and measures, all of which are essential skills for this position. This course equips one to turn data into insights through effective visualization practices.
See salaries and explore the career path for Data Visualization Specialist
Business Intelligence Analyst
A Business Intelligence Analyst uses data to help organizations make better decisions, and this course is directly relevant to that role. The work involves gathering data, creating visualizations, and presenting findings. This course teaches you how to use Power BI to connect to various data sources, create data models, and build interactive dashboards. The course specifically covers how to filter, format, and transform data, which are essential steps in data analysis. Additionally, learning to create calculated columns and measures using DAX will help a Business Intelligence Analyst extract meaningful insights from data. The practical skills learned will directly translate to performing the analysis work of a Business Intelligence Analyst.
See salaries and explore the career path for Business Intelligence Analyst
Marketing Analyst
A Marketing Analyst examines marketing data to assess the effectiveness of marketing campaigns and to identify trends and insights. This course is valuable for those looking to become Marketing Analysts. In this role, a professional needs to clean, transform, and analyze data from different sources, and then create reports and visualize the data. This course teaches you how to connect to various data sources, transform and model data, and develop visualizations in the Power BI platform. The course covers the creation of measures, calculated columns, and relationships between tables, which are all key skills for a successful Marketing Analyst. Therefore, this course could be an important asset to a Marketing Analyst.
See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Analyst
Sales Analyst
A Sales Analyst analyzes sales data to track performance and identify sales trends and opportunities. This course may be helpful to someone seeking a career as a Sales Analyst. In this role, an individual needs to collect, analyze, and visualize sales data using business intelligence tools. This Power BI course teaches the user how to connect to multiple data sources, create data models, and design reports and dashboards. The skills in data formatting, transformation, and calculation covered in the course will be useful for a Sales Analyst. Moreover, the ability to share results via Power BI Pro, as taught in this course, is valuable for communication within a sales team.
See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Analyst
Financial Analyst
Financial Analysts use data to perform financial modeling and forecasting. This course may be helpful to those who wish to work as a Financial Analyst. The course specifically covers how to effectively work with data in Power BI, which is beneficial for financial analysis tasks. This role requires the creation of visualizations and dashboards, based on financial data, to get insights. This course equips you with the skills to perform data transformations, create data models, and construct interactive visualizations using Power BI. The skills taught on creating reports and dashboards, and on connecting to multiple data sources, will be valuable for reporting and analysis in this financial role.
See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst
Operations Analyst
Operations Analysts use data to optimize business processes and improve efficiency. A course on Power BI may be helpful for an Operations Analyst, as it provides skills for data analysis and visualization. In this role, one needs to collect, transform, and analyze data related to business operations. This course teaches how to connect to multiple data sources, build data models, and use Power BI to create interactive dashboards. The skills on filtering, formatting, and calculating measures taught in the course are useful for an Operations Analyst. Further, the course covers working with multiple tables and creating relationships, which is helpful in many business analysis contexts.
See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Analyst
Supply Chain Analyst
Supply Chain Analysts use data to manage and optimize supply chain processes, requiring strong data analysis and visualization skills. A course on Power BI may be useful for an aspiring Supply Chain Analyst. This role involves analyzing data, creating reports, and making dashboards. The course covers the use of Power BI to connect to data, transform it, and create visualizations. The course's focus on creating data models, calculated columns, and measures will assist in preparing reports and dashboards relevant to supply chain management. The ability to connect to multiple data sources, as taught in this course, is also of value.
See salaries and explore the career path for Supply Chain Analyst
Market Research Analyst
A Market Research Analyst studies market conditions to recommend business strategy and initiatives. A course on Power BI may be useful to a Market Research Analyst. Gathering data and creating visualizations are useful skills for this role. The course teaches how to connect to different data sources, create data models, and build interactive dashboards, all of which are valuable in market research. A Market Research Analyst might use this knowledge to discover trends and insights. The skills developed relating to formatting, transforming, and calculating data can assist with analyzing market data.
See salaries and explore the career path for Market Research Analyst
Data Engineer
A Data Engineer develops and manages the infrastructure for data storage and retrieval. This role often involves data transformations, and a course on Power BI may be helpful for one interested in becoming a Data Engineer . This course provides valuable skills in connecting to data sources, creating data models, and transforming data using Power BI's query editor. The course teaches how to filter, pivot, and unpivot data, as well as handle different data types. The practical skills in data preparation and modeling from this course could complement the work of a Data Engineer.
See salaries and explore the career path for Data Engineer
Database Administrator
A Database Administrator manages and organizes databases, ensuring data integrity and accessibility. This course may be useful for someone looking toward the role of Database Administrator. This course covers how to connect Power BI to various data sources and transform the data, which can be useful in database management. The course may help you understand how data is structured and used in a business intelligence environment. The skills developed relating to data models and schemas could help, as well. While not a core skill of the role, the skills developed in this course could complement the foundational work of a Database Administrator.
See salaries and explore the career path for Database Administrator
Statistician
A Statistician collects and analyzes numerical data to solve problems and draw conclusions. While this course is not specifically tailored to advanced statistical analysis, it may be helpful to a statistician. Learning the Power BI tool may assist in presenting work to non-technical audiences. This course trains on how to create visualizations, connect to various data sources, and transform data. The course covers essential data transformation techniques, creating calculated columns, and measures using DAX. While advanced statistical methods are not covered, the skills developed in this course will be useful for a Statistician's workflow.
See salaries and explore the career path for Statistician
Management Consultant
Management Consultants provide expert advice to organizations, often involving data analysis and presentation. While this course is not a core component of a consulting career, it may be useful. In this role, data analysis and presentation are common and this course would help build those skills. The course teaches how to connect to various data sources, transform data, and build reports and dashboards in Power BI, which may be useful for consultants. The skills in creating interactive visualizations and sharing results via Power BI Pro can improve consultant reporting. The skills developed in this course can supplement a consultant's toolkit.
See salaries and explore the career path for Management Consultant
Project Manager
A Project Manager is responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects, often requiring data-driven decision making. This course may be useful for those who want to become a Project Manager. The course teaches how to use Power BI to connect to data sources, create visualizations, and build interactive dashboards. A Project Manager may find these skills useful for tracking project progress, monitoring key metrics, and communicating project status to stakeholders. While this course does not directly address project management, the ability to perform data analysis and create clear visualizations may be valuable for a Project Manager.
See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Microsoft Power BI - The Practical Guide 2025.
Cover image
The Definitive Guide to DAX
Save
Is considered the bible for DAX. It provides a comprehensive understanding of DAX concepts, syntax, and best practices. It valuable resource for anyone looking to master DAX for Power BI data analysis. This book goes into much greater depth than the course and is commonly used by professionals.
The Definitive Guide to DAX: Business Intelligence...
Paperback
$$$
The Definitive Guide to Dax (Business Skills)
Paperback
$$$
Definitive Guide to DAX, The: Business intelligence...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
M Is for (Data) Monkey
Save
Focuses on the M language used in Power Query. It provides a practical guide to data transformation and cleaning within Power BI. It is especially helpful for understanding the Query Editor and its capabilities. This book provides a strong foundation for data preparation.
M Is for (Data) Monkey: A Guide to the M Language...
Kindle Edition
$$

Share

Help others find this course page by sharing it with your friends and followers:
Facebook
LinkedIn
Reddit
X
Link
Email

Similar courses

Similar courses are unavailable at this time. Please try again later.
Effort
17.5 total hours
Via
Udemy
Instructors
Manuel Lorenz
Academind by Maximilian Schwarzmüller
Maximilian Schwarzmüller
Language
English
Good to know
Offers two distinct learning paths, a comprehensive 15-hour option and a 2-hour crash course, catering to different learning preferences and time constraints
Focuses on practical application of Power BI for data analysis, visualization, and collaboration, which are essential skills for professionals in various industries
Covers data preparation, modeling, and analysis using both Power BI's Query Editor and DAX, providing a comprehensive understanding of the tool's capabilities
Teaches how to connect Power BI to various data sources, create data models, and build relationships between tables, which are fundamental skills for data analysis
Explores Power BI Pro for creating dashboards and sharing results, along with Power BI Mobile for accessing data on multiple devices, enhancing accessibility and collaboration
Course name includes "2025", which may indicate that the course content is forward-looking and up-to-date with the latest features and trends in Power BI
Share and help others discover this course.
Facebook LinkedIn X Reddit Link Email
Don't miss out
Enroll today to gain access to this course
Enroll in this course
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser