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Getting Started with DAX Formulas in Power BI, Power Pivot, and SSAS

Eugene Meidinger

DAX is a popular language for any sort of analytical reporting in the Microsoft BI stack. Whether you are using Power BI, Power Pivot, or SSAS, this course will teach you how to model your data with DAX.

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DAX is a popular language for any sort of analytical reporting in the Microsoft BI stack. Whether you are using Power BI, Power Pivot, or SSAS, this course will teach you how to model your data with DAX.

If you want to use Power BI, Power Pivot, or SSAS (tabular mode), you'll need to learn DAX. In this course, Getting Started with DAX Formulas in Power BI, Power Pivot, and SSAS, you'll learn the basics of the DAX language. First, you'll learn how DAX works and why it has such good performance. Next, you'll explore how to encapsulate business logic using calculated columns and measures. Finally, you'll discover a variety of ways to manipulate filters or analyze your data. When you're finished this course, you'll have the skills and knowledge of DAX to model and analyze your data with the DAX expression language.

This course is no longer available. Find something similar by browsing:
DAX Power BI Power Pivot SSAS Calculated Columns Calculated Measures Data Modeling

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview
Understanding What Makes DAX so Unique
Planning Your Data Governance: Power BI, Power Pivot, or SSAS Tabular?
Thinking in Columns, Not Rows
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Introduces DAX, which is standard in Microsoft's BI stack, notably for Power BI, Power Pivot, and SSAS
Taught by Eugene Meidinger, who is recognized for his work in DAX
Develops foundational skills in DAX, which is necessary for advanced data modeling and analysis in Microsoft's BI stack
Builds a strong foundation for beginners in DAX
Emphasizes practical skills, such as encapsulating business logic using calculated columns and measures, analyzing history with time intelligence, and loop over data with iterators
This course explicitly requires learners to come in with extensive background knowledge first

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Reviews summary

Essential dax fundamentals for bi professionals

According to learners, this course offers a highly positive introduction to DAX formulas for Power BI, Power Pivot, and SSAS. Students consistently praise the instructor's clear and understandable explanations, making complex DAX concepts accessible, especially for absolute beginners. The course is noted for its practical, hands-on examples and its effective structuring, which builds a solid foundational understanding. While it excels at getting learners started, some with prior data experience may find the pace too deliberate or the content too basic, as it focuses strictly on fundamentals rather than advanced patterns.
Primarily covers basic DAX, not advanced techniques.
"It certainly gets you started with DAX, but I felt it stayed quite superficial in some areas."
"If you are looking for advanced DAX patterns or complex performance tuning, this is not that course."
"A good starting point for DAX, but I would have liked a few more complex examples or challenges."
Pacing is ideal for beginners, but slow for experienced users.
"My only minor critique is that sometimes the pace felt a bit slow, but that's probably good for absolute beginners."
"I found this course a bit too basic for my needs... Not for intermediates."
"I already knew some SQL and found myself skipping large sections. It assumes almost no prior data literacy."
Offers hands-on examples for real-world application.
"The hands-on examples in Power BI were very helpful and reinforced the lessons."
"I appreciated the practical approach with real-world scenarios and use cases."
"The integration with Power Pivot was useful to see, providing immediate applicability."
Provides an excellent foundation for new DAX learners.
"Perfect for beginners! I had no prior DAX experience, and this course walked me through everything step-by-step."
"I've been struggling with DAX for a while, and this course finally made it click for me."
"It really sets you up for more advanced topics in Power BI and DAX."
Concepts are explained clearly, making DAX accessible.
"Absolutely fantastic! The instructor explained complex DAX concepts in an incredibly clear and understandable way."
"I found the explanations of context and filter manipulation excellent."
"The instructor's ability to simplify abstract DAX concepts is remarkable."

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 Getting Started with DAX Formulas in Power BI, Power Pivot, and SSAS with these activities:
Review Relational Databases
Review basic relational database concepts to ensure a solid foundation for learning DAX.
Browse courses on Relational Databases
Show steps
  • Read up on the basic concepts of relational databases, such as tables, columns, and relationships.
  • Review examples of relational database schemas.
Practice DAX Syntax
Reinforce your understanding of DAX syntax through repetitive exercises.
Browse courses on DAX Language
Show steps
  • Complete online DAX syntax quizzes.
  • Practice writing DAX expressions to solve simple data analysis problems.
Guided Tutorials on Power BI and DAX
Enhance your DAX skills by following structured tutorials.
Browse courses on Power BI
Show steps
  • Enroll in online tutorials that provide step-by-step guidance on using Power BI and DAX.
  • Complete the tutorials to gain hands-on experience in creating and manipulating data models.
One other activity
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all four activities
Practice Data Modeling with DAX
Apply your DAX knowledge to create and improve data models.
Browse courses on Data Modeling
Show steps
  • Design and build a data model using DAX in Power BI or Power Pivot.
  • Analyze the data model and identify opportunities for optimization.

Career center

Learners who complete Getting Started with DAX Formulas in Power BI, Power Pivot, and SSAS will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Data Analyst
Data Analysts use data to solve business problems. They collect, clean, and analyze data, and then use that data to make recommendations for how to improve business processes. DAX is a powerful language that can be used to manipulate and analyze data, which is essential for Data Analysts. This course will teach you the basics of DAX, so you can use it to gain insights from data and make better business decisions.
See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst
Operations Research Analyst
Operations Research Analysts use data to solve problems in business and industry. They use a variety of techniques, including mathematical modeling and simulation, to develop solutions that can improve efficiency and productivity. DAX is a powerful language that can be used to analyze and model data, which is essential for Operations Research Analysts. This course will teach you the basics of DAX, so you can use it to gain insights from data and make better business decisions.
See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Research Analyst
Statistician
Statisticians collect, analyze, and interpret data. They use this data to make predictions and draw conclusions. DAX is a powerful language that can be used to analyze and model data, which is essential for Statisticians. This course will teach you the basics of DAX, so you can use it to gain insights from data and make better decisions.
See salaries and explore the career path for Statistician
Financial Analyst
Financial Analysts use data to make recommendations for investment decisions. They analyze financial data, such as stock prices and earnings reports, to make predictions about future financial performance. DAX is a powerful language that can be used to analyze and model financial data, which is essential for Financial Analysts. This course will teach you the basics of DAX, so you can use it to gain insights from financial data and make better investment decisions.
See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst
Management Consultant
Management Consultants help businesses improve their performance. They work with businesses to identify problems and develop solutions. DAX is a powerful language that can be used to analyze and model data, which is essential for Management Consultants. This course will teach you the basics of DAX, so you can use it to gain insights from data and make better business decisions.
See salaries and explore the career path for Management Consultant
Systems Analyst
Systems Analysts design and implement computer systems. They work with businesses to identify their needs and develop systems that meet those needs. DAX is a powerful language that can be used to analyze and model data, which is essential for Systems Analysts. This course will teach you the basics of DAX, so you can use it to design and implement better systems.
See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Analyst
Product Manager
Product Managers are responsible for the development and launch of new products. They work with engineers, designers, and marketers to bring new products to market. DAX is a powerful language that can be used to analyze and model data, which is essential for Product Managers. This course will teach you the basics of DAX, so you can use it to gain insights from data and make better product decisions.
See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager
Market Researcher
Market Researchers collect and analyze data about consumers and markets. They use this data to help businesses understand their customers and make better marketing decisions. DAX is a powerful language that can be used to analyze and model data, which is essential for Market Researchers. This course will teach you the basics of DAX, so you can use it to gain insights from data and make better marketing decisions.
See salaries and explore the career path for Market Researcher
Web Analyst
Web Analysts analyze data to improve the performance of websites. They track website traffic and user behavior to identify areas for improvement. DAX is a powerful language that can be used to analyze and model data, which is essential for Web Analysts. This course will teach you the basics of DAX, so you can use it to gain insights from data and make better website decisions.
See salaries and explore the career path for Web Analyst
Business Analyst
A Business Analyst works in a problem-solving role that bridges the gap between business and IT. They discover business needs and translate these into technical requirements for IT to build. Business Analysts need to understand both the business and IT worlds, so they can communicate effectively with both sides. DAX is a powerful language that can be used to analyze and model data, which is essential for Business Analysts. This course will teach you the basics of DAX, so you can use it to gain insights from data and make better business decisions.
See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst
Risk Analyst
Risk Analysts identify and assess risks to businesses. They develop and implement strategies to mitigate risks. DAX is a powerful language that can be used to analyze and model data, which is essential for Risk Analysts. This course will teach you the basics of DAX, so you can use it to gain insights from data and make better risk decisions.
See salaries and explore the career path for Risk Analyst
Sales Analyst
Sales Analysts analyze sales data to identify trends and opportunities. They use this data to make recommendations for how to improve sales performance. DAX is a powerful language that can be used to analyze and model sales data, which is essential for Sales Analysts. This course will teach you the basics of DAX, so you can use it to gain insights from data and make better sales decisions.
See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Analyst
Data Scientist
Data Scientists use data to build models that can predict future outcomes. They use a variety of techniques, including machine learning and statistics, to build models that can be used to make better business decisions. DAX is a powerful language that can be used to manipulate and analyze data, which is essential for Data Scientists. This course will teach you the basics of DAX, so you can use it to build models that can predict future outcomes.
See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist
Quantitative Analyst
Quantitative Analysts use data to make investment decisions. They build models to predict future financial performance. DAX is a powerful language that can be used to manipulate and analyze data, which is essential for Quantitative Analysts. This course will teach you the basics of DAX, so you can use it to build models that can predict future financial performance.
See salaries and explore the career path for Quantitative Analyst
Software Engineer
Software Engineers design, develop, and maintain software applications. DAX is a powerful language that can be used to analyze and model data, which is essential for Software Engineers. This course will teach you the basics of DAX, so you can use it to build better software applications.
See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Reading list

We've selected eight 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 Getting Started with DAX Formulas in Power BI, Power Pivot, and SSAS.
Cover image
The Definitive Guide to DAX
Save
Is an essential resource for anyone who wants to use DAX. It covers a wide range of topics, from the basics of DAX to advanced techniques for solving complex business problems.
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
$$
Cover image
Optimizing DAX
Save
Applies mathematical concepts and techniques to real-world business analytics problems using DAX. It teaches patterns to empower you to write flexible, robust, and reusable DAX code.
Optimizing DAX: Improving DAX performance in...
Paperback
$$$
Optimizing DAX: Improving DAX performance in...
Kindle Edition
$$$
Cover image
DAX Patterns: Second Edition
Save
A collection of recipes that demonstrate how to use DAX to solve common business problems.
DAX Patterns: Second Edition
Paperback
$$
DAX Patterns: Second Edition
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
Master Your Data with Power Query in Excel and...
Save
This cookbook collection of recipes that can be used to solve common business problems using DAX. It is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to learn how to use DAX in a practical setting.
Master Your Data with Power Query in Excel and...
Paperback
$$
Master Your Data with Power Query in Excel and...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
DAX Patterns
Save
A collection of recipes that demonstrate how to apply DAX patterns to solve real-world business problems.
DAX Patterns: Second Edition
Paperback
$$
DAX Patterns 2015
Paperback
$$
DAX Patterns: Second Edition
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
Master Your Data with Excel and Power BI
Save
A comprehensive guide to using DAX with Power BI.
Master Your Data with Power Query in Excel and...
Paperback
$$
Master Your Data with Power Query in Excel and...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
Learn Power BI
Save
Provides a solid foundation for learning Power BI. It's especially helpful if you want to set up your system to best integrate with DAX later on.
Learn Power BI
Paperback
Check
Learn Power BI
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
Learn to Write DAX
Save
A gentle introduction to DAX. It covers basic DAX syntax and functions but does not venture too deeply into more complex DAX topics.
Supercharge Power BI: Power BI is Better When You...
Paperback
$$
Supercharge Excel: When you learn to Write DAX for...
Paperback
$$
Learn to Write DAX: A practical guide to learning...
Paperback
$$$
Supercharge Power BI: Power BI is Better When You...
Kindle Edition
$$
Supercharge Excel: When you learn to Write DAX for...
Kindle Edition
$$

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Course image
Time
178 hours
Level
Introductory
Via
Pluralsight
Instructor
Eugene Meidinger
Language
English
This course belongs to a collection called Microsoft Power BI for Analysts. It's comprised of 13 courses:
  1. Building Your First Power BI Report
  2. Power BI Data Import Playbook
  3. Power BI Data Preparation Playbook
  4. Modeling Data in Power BI
  5. Getting Started with DAX Formulas in Power BI, Power Pivot, and SSAS (viewing)
  6. Effective Reporting with Power BI
  7. Creating Dashboards with Power BI
  8. Deploying and Publishing Power BI Reports
  9. Effective Quick Insights and Q&A in Power BI
  10. Querying and Shaping Data in Power BI Using M
  11. Leveraging Timely On-premises Data with Power BI
  12. Power BI Playbook: Securing Shared Data with Power BI
  13. Common DAX Expressions and Scenarios Power BI Playbook
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Introduces DAX, which is standard in Microsoft's BI stack, notably for Power BI, Power Pivot, and SSAS
Taught by Eugene Meidinger, who is recognized for his work in DAX
Develops foundational skills in DAX, which is necessary for advanced data modeling and analysis in Microsoft's BI stack
Builds a strong foundation for beginners in DAX
Emphasizes practical skills, such as encapsulating business logic using calculated columns and measures, analyzing history with time intelligence, and loop over data with iterators
This course explicitly requires learners to come in with extensive background knowledge first
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