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Complete Introduction to Microsoft Power BI

4.6 Filled star Filled star Filled star Filled star Half star
Based on 41,969 ratings
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Ian Littlejohn

According to Microsoft, Power BI is a collection of software services, apps, and connectors that work together to turn your unrelated sources of data into coherent, visually immersive, and interactive insights. Your data might be an Excel spreadsheet, or a collection of cloud-based and on-premises hybrid data warehouses. Power BI lets you easily connect to your data sources, visualize and discover what's important, and share that with anyone or everyone you want.  It is made up of three elements - a Windows desktop application called Power BI Desktop, an online software as a service (SaaS) service called the Power BI service and Power BI Mobile apps for Windows, iOS, and Android devices - all designed to let you create, share, and consume business insights in the way that serves you and your role most effectively.

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According to Microsoft, Power BI is a collection of software services, apps, and connectors that work together to turn your unrelated sources of data into coherent, visually immersive, and interactive insights. Your data might be an Excel spreadsheet, or a collection of cloud-based and on-premises hybrid data warehouses. Power BI lets you easily connect to your data sources, visualize and discover what's important, and share that with anyone or everyone you want.  It is made up of three elements - a Windows desktop application called Power BI Desktop, an online software as a service (SaaS) service called the Power BI service and Power BI Mobile apps for Windows, iOS, and Android devices - all designed to let you create, share, and consume business insights in the way that serves you and your role most effectively.

If you would like to become a Power BI master then this course will give you all the knowledge and skills you need.

  Note that Power BI does not currently run natively on a Mac.

  • Whilst this course is designed to cover Power BI from the ground up, some experience of working with data in Excel would be beneficial.

    • I specialise in training business users to learn powerful methods and techniques to transform data into useful information and intelligence as well as learning strong data analysis methodology using Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Power BI, Looker Studio (formerly Google Data Studio), Amazon QuickSight and ChatGPT.

    Highly recommended for people interesting to develop new skills and knowledge in data analytics tools.

  • The step-by-step process along with the comparison to Excel helped tremendously in the understanding of the course.

  • This was an excellent course to learn Power BI. I loved the hands-on experience that this training provided. This course went at the right pace and gave me a solid starting foundation to use Power BI.

    • With the right skills and a proactive approach, a data analyst can reach unprecedented heights. I currently offer the following 14 courses on Udemy covering a wide variety of tools and skills that will empower you to confidently explore the dynamic realm of data analysis, gain valuable skills in data interpretation and drive intelligent, data driven decisions.

    Microsoft Excel

    • Introduction to Analyzing Data with Excel Pivot Tables

    • Complete Introduction to Excel Power Pivot

    • Complete Introduction to Excel Power Query

    • Excel Interactive Dashboards and Data Analysis

    • Complete Introduction to Business Data Analysis

    • Tables and Formulas with Excel

    Microsoft Power BI

    • Complete Introduction to Microsoft Power BI

    • Complete Introduction to Power BI Query Editor

    • Power BI Master Class-Data Models and DAX Formulas

    • Power BI Master Class - Dashboards and Power BI Service

    Google

    • Complete Introduction to Google Sheets Pivot Tables

    • Complete Introduction to Looker Studio (formerly Google Data Studio)

    Amazon QuickSight

    • Complete Introduction to Amazon QuickSight

    ChatGPT

    • Introduction to Analyzing Data with ChatGPT

    Enroll now

    What's inside

    Learning objectives

    • Enjoy clear and concise step by step lessons from a best selling udemy instructor in full hd 1080 p video
    • Learn to create powerful reports and dashboards with microsoft power bi with a few clicks of the mouse
    • Gain valuable insight and intelligence from your business and marketing data in a fraction of the time of traditional spreadsheets
    • Publish reports and dashboards on the internet and view using laptops, tablets or smartphones in minutes
    • Learn to create data models and use the dax formula language to develop powerful calculations
    • Easily create a wide range of graphs and visualisations using drag and drop technologies
    • Use the power bi q & a feature to easily ask questions of your data and provide new insight

    Syllabus

    Introduction

    In this introduction we discuss the different topics and modules that we will be covering in the course. Different topics include Loading data, creating tables and reports, creating visualizations, developing dashboards and sharing data through the PowerBI cloud solution.

    Read more

    Download the data files that will be used during the course

    In this lesson we will show how you will sign up for the PowerBI service. This will create a user login and password for the PowerBI service.

    In this lesson we learn how to load data into the Power BI Service

    Practical activity to sign up and start using Power BI

    Introduction to the Power BI Desktop section

    In this lesson we will learn how to access and use the PowerBI interface. The PowerBI Interface consists of functions to upload or access data, create reports and create dashboards.

    In this lesson we learn how to create tables in Power BI

    In this lesson you will learn to format and style your table

    In this lesson we go through the answers to the practical

    In this lesson you will learn to change the method of aggregation from Sum to other options such as Average, Count, Max, Min and Distinct

    In this lesson we will go through the answers to the practical activity

    In this lesson we will review how to create cards and multi row cards in Power BI

    In this lesson you will learn how to create clustered column and bar graphs. Clustered Column and Bar graphs are ideal for displaying data when you want to know which is the largest item or which is the smallest item or how much bigger one item is then another.

    In this lesson we will review the stacked bar and column graph. The stacked column and bar graph places each series on top of each other and displays the aggregated total.

    In this lesson you will learn the different features that can activated with Power BI 

    In this lesson you will learn how to create line charts to display trends. Displaying and analyzing how data changes over time is a powerful method of analysis that provides input into forecasting.

    In this lesson you will learn how to use area graphs to chart and understand trends

    In this lesson we will learn how to different types of graphs in Power

    In this lesson you will learn to create calculated columns using DAX formulas.  DAX formulas are very similar to Excel 

    In this lesson you will learn how to create new time intelligence fields such as Year, Month and Week 

    In this lesson you will learn about the power of calculated measures to create powerful key metrics and key performance indicator calculations.

    In this lesson you will learn how to use the = calculate function to filter 

    In this lesson you will learn how to create relationships between  tables

    In this lesson you will learn the Edit Query interface and how to load data

    In this lesson you will learn how to transform data into aggregations using the Query 

    Conclusion for the course

    Traffic lights

    Read about what's good
    what should give you pause
    and possible dealbreakers
    Covers DAX formulas, which are essential for creating custom calculations and measures in Power BI, enabling advanced data analysis and reporting
    Teaches how to publish reports and dashboards to the Power BI Service, enabling users to share insights and collaborate effectively with colleagues and stakeholders
    Explores the Power BI Query Editor, which is used for data transformation and cleaning, a critical step in preparing data for analysis and visualization
    Requires some experience working with data in Excel, which may pose a barrier to entry for individuals with no prior experience in data analysis
    Focuses on creating interactive dashboards, which are essential for presenting data in a user-friendly and engaging manner, allowing users to explore data and gain insights
    Power BI Desktop does not currently run natively on a Mac, which may exclude a segment of potential learners who use macOS operating systems

    Save this course

    Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.
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    Reviews summary

    Solid introduction to microsoft power bi

    According to learners, this course offers a solid foundation in Microsoft Power BI, making it particularly great for beginners or those transitioning from Excel. Students praise the clear and concise explanations provided by the instructor and find the hands-on activities and practical examples extremely helpful for learning. The course covers core concepts like creating visualizations, reports, and basic use of the Query Editor and DAX formulas at a comfortable pace. While many find it a comprehensive introduction, some reviewers note that it remains at a basic level and doesn't delve deeply into advanced topics like complex DAX or data modeling, and point out that Power BI's frequent updates mean some interface elements or features shown may be slightly outdated.
    Provides a good overview of fundamental Power BI features.
    "Covered importing data, creating reports, and basic visualizations effectively."
    "Got a good overview of the Query Editor and how to do simple data transformations."
    "Learned how to use DAX for basic calculations and measures."
    "Explains reports, dashboards, and getting data into Power BI well."
    Practical exercises and demos are very helpful.
    "I loved the hands-on experience that this training provided."
    "The practical activities really helped solidify my understanding."
    "Learned useful techniques I could immediately apply to my data through the demos."
    "The exercises reinforced the concepts well."
    Instructor explains concepts clearly and is easy to follow.
    "The instructor is very clear and easy to follow."
    "His explanations are concise and directly to the point."
    "I appreciated the step-by-step approach the instructor took."
    "The lessons are easy to understand and well-structured."
    Excellent starting point for new Power BI users.
    "This was an excellent course to learn Power BI. It gave me a solid starting foundation to use Power BI."
    "Perfect for someone like me just starting out with Power BI."
    "I had no prior experience with Power BI, and this course made it easy to understand the basics."
    "It covers the basics effectively, perfect for getting started."
    Software updates mean some content is slightly outdated.
    "Some parts of the interface looked slightly different due to Power BI updates."
    "Wish there were updates addressing the newest features in Power BI, but the core is solid."
    "Power BI changes fast, so naturally some screenshots/steps might differ slightly now."
    Suitable for intro, but lacks advanced depth.
    "Good introduction, but doesn't go deep into advanced DAX or complex data modeling."
    "Felt a bit too basic once I got past the initial sections, was hoping for more depth."
    "If you already know the basics, this might move too slow in the beginning and not offer enough challenge."

    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 Complete Introduction to Microsoft Power BI with these activities:
    Review Excel Fundamentals
    Strengthen your Excel foundation to better understand Power BI's data manipulation and visualization capabilities, as prior Excel experience is beneficial for this course.
    Browse courses on Excel Formulas
    Show steps
    • Review basic Excel formulas and functions.
    • Practice creating charts and pivot tables.
    • Work through sample data analysis problems.
    Read 'Storytelling with Data'
    Improve your data visualization skills and learn how to tell compelling stories with your Power BI dashboards.
    View Storytelling with You: Plan, Create, and... on Amazon
    Show steps
    • Read the chapters on choosing effective visuals.
    • Practice applying the principles of visual design.
    • Analyze examples of good and bad data visualizations.
    Read 'The Definitive Guide to DAX'
    Deepen your understanding of DAX formulas, a crucial aspect of Power BI, by studying this comprehensive guide.
    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 DAX formulas in Power BI Desktop.
    Four other activities
    Expand to see all activities and additional details
    Show all seven activities
    DAX Formula Challenges
    Reinforce your DAX skills by completing practice exercises that test your ability to write and apply DAX formulas.
    Show steps
    • Find online resources with DAX formula challenges.
    • Attempt to solve each challenge independently.
    • Compare your solutions with the provided answers.
    • Analyze your mistakes and learn from them.
    Blog Post: Power BI Visualization Tips
    Solidify your understanding of Power BI visualizations by creating a blog post that shares tips and best practices.
    Show steps
    • Choose a specific aspect of Power BI visualizations.
    • Research best practices and tips related to that aspect.
    • Write a clear and concise blog post with examples.
    • Include screenshots of Power BI visualizations.
    • Publish your blog post online.
    Build a Personal Finance Dashboard
    Apply your Power BI skills to a real-world scenario by creating a dashboard to track and analyze your personal finances.
    Show steps
    • Gather your financial data from various sources.
    • Import the data into Power BI Desktop.
    • Create visualizations to track income, expenses, and net worth.
    • Design an interactive dashboard with filters and slicers.
    • Publish your dashboard to the Power BI service.
    Power BI Report for a Non-Profit
    Gain practical experience by creating a Power BI report for a real-world organization, such as a non-profit, to help them visualize and analyze their data.
    Show steps
    • Contact a local non-profit organization.
    • Understand their data needs and reporting requirements.
    • Design and build a Power BI report to meet their needs.
    • Present the report to the organization and gather feedback.
    • Refine the report based on the feedback received.

    Career center

    Learners who complete Complete Introduction to Microsoft Power BI will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
    Business Intelligence Analyst
    A Business Intelligence Analyst transforms data into actionable insights, using tools like Microsoft Power BI, which this course covers thoroughly. This role involves connecting to various data sources, creating visualizations, and developing interactive dashboards to drive informed decision-making. This course enables a Business Intelligence Analyst to master the Power BI platform, from data loading to advanced DAX calculations, and to effectively communicate findings through reports and dashboards. The course's focus on transforming raw data into clear, understandable formats is particularly relevant.
    See salaries and explore the career path for Business Intelligence Analyst
    Data Analyst
    Data Analysts leverage software to interpret data and identify trends. This often involves using data visualization tools such as Microsoft Power BI. This course provides a thorough introduction to Power BI, from connecting to data sources to creating interactive reports and dashboards. The course covers crucial skills, such as data modeling, using DAX formulas for calculations, and utilizing filters and slicers to refine insights. A Data Analyst will find this course especially useful due to its hands on approach to learning Power BI.
    See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst
    Report Developer
    Report Developers design and build reports that summarize business information. This course equips future Report Developers with the skills to create compelling and insightful reports using Microsoft Power BI. It teaches how to connect to diverse data sources, create various visualizations and dashboards, and master the tool’s data modeling and DAX formula capabilities. The course's emphasis on publishing and sharing reports across different platforms is valuable for a Report Developer, as this is typically a large part of their role.
    See salaries and explore the career path for Report Developer
    Data Visualization Specialist
    Data Visualization Specialists focus on presenting data in a visually engaging and easily understandable manner. This course provides a strong foundation in Microsoft Power BI, a powerful tool for creating interactive visualizations, dashboards, and reports. The course covers topics such as creating different types of graphs, using slicers and filters, and publishing reports, all of which are essential for a Data Visualization Specialist. The hands on nature of this course makes it an excellent choice.
    See salaries and explore the career path for Data Visualization Specialist
    Analytics Consultant
    An Analytics Consultant works with clients to analyze their data and provide insights to improve business performance. This course's comprehensive training on Microsoft Power BI, a vital tool for data analysis and visualization, would greatly benefit future Analytics Consultants. The course covers data modeling, DAX formulas, and creating interactive dashboards, which are all crucial for extracting meaning from data. The ability to present data visually through reports makes this course an especially useful choice.
    See salaries and explore the career path for Analytics Consultant
    Marketing Analyst
    Marketing Analysts use data to measure campaign performance, understand customer behavior, and optimize marketing strategies. This course is valuable for learning Microsoft Power BI, a tool that facilitates the creation of interactive dashboards and reports. A Marketing Analyst may benefit from the course's coverage of data modeling, DAX formulas, and report publishing. This course may be useful in helping marketing professionals gain a deep understanding of marketing data.
    See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Analyst
    Financial Analyst
    A Financial Analyst interprets financial data to help organizations make better decisions. This course helps build the skills needed to use Microsoft Power BI, a tool that allows for the creation of interactive reports and dashboards. This course helps Financial Analysts learn how to transform raw financial data into informative visuals. The course's emphasis on data modeling and the usage of DAX formulas helps Financial Analysts perform complex calculations and provide insights.
    See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst
    Sales Analyst
    Sales Analysts examine sales data to identify trends and make recommendations to improve sales performance. This course is valuable because it provides a practical introduction to Microsoft Power BI, which is often used to build sales reports and dashboards. This course provides Sales Analysts with the knowledge to transform complex data into actionable insights. The course may be useful to learn key techniques to analyze sales data using Power BI.
    See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Analyst
    Operations Analyst
    Operations Analysts analyze operational data to improve efficiency and reduce costs. This course may be useful to gain proficiency in Microsoft Power BI, a tool used to visualize key performance indicators and operational metrics across an organization. An Operations Analyst will learn to build interactive dashboards to track performance and identify areas for improvement. This course may help future Operations Analysts learn to leverage data to drive operational improvements.
    See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Analyst
    Database Administrator
    While a Database Administrator primarily focuses on managing databases, this course may be helpful in understanding how tools like Microsoft Power BI connect to and use data. This allows for the development of better database structures that facilitate reporting and analysis. This course may provide a Database Administrator with useful insights into how data is ultimately used, and this can be valuable when making decisions about which data they must manage. The course's focus on data transformation through the Power BI query editor is especially relevant.
    See salaries and explore the career path for Database Administrator
    Project Manager
    Effective Project Managers use data to track progress and mitigate risks. This course may be useful to learn how to use Microsoft Power BI to create project dashboards that visualize progress, identify bottlenecks, and track resource utilization. The ability to create reports and dashboards in Power BI helps a Project Manager communicate progress to stakeholders effectively. The course may help project managers learn to leverage data to track project metrics and communicate effectively.
    See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager
    Management Consultant
    Management Consultants help organizations solve problems and improve performance. This course may be helpful to learn tools like Microsoft Power BI, which allows for the visualization of key metrics and the development of data-driven recommendations that can be used to support those recommendations. Though Management Consultants would use other tools, this course may be useful in understanding how data is used to drive decisions. The course may also provide a better understanding of how clients use data visualization tools.
    See salaries and explore the career path for Management Consultant
    Market Research Analyst
    Market Research Analysts collect and analyze data to understand consumer behavior and market trends. This course may be helpful to learn how to use Microsoft Power BI to visualize market data and create reports for stakeholders. While this role uses other tools, the course may allow professionals in this role to present market research findings in a more visually engaging way. The course's coverage on creating different types of charts and graphs is very relevant.
    See salaries and explore the career path for Market Research Analyst
    Business Analyst
    Business Analysts use data to identify opportunities for improvement and help organizations make better decisions. This course may be useful to learn how to use Microsoft Power BI to create dashboards and reports that help businesses understand their performance. Though Business Analysts may use many tools, gaining proficiency in Power BI may be useful for any Business Analyst who wishes to present data in a more comprehensive manner. This course may serve as a good introduction to data visualization and analysis for Business Analysts.
    See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst
    Statistician
    Statisticians analyze and interpret complex data to solve problems. Although Statisticians typically use specialized statistical software, this course may be useful to understand the capabilities of data visualization platforms like Microsoft Power BI. This course may give Statisticians an appreciation for how their analyses might be presented to a larger audience through interactive reports and dashboards. The course may provide Statisticians with an understanding of the practical side of data analysis.
    See salaries and explore the career path for Statistician

    Featured in The Course Notes

    This course is mentioned in our blog, The Course Notes. Read one article that features Complete Introduction to Microsoft Power BI:
    Learn Project Management Tools: From Collaboration to Analytics
    20 minute read

    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 Complete Introduction to Microsoft Power BI.
    Cover image
    The Definitive Guide to DAX
    Save
    Comprehensive guide to DAX, the formula language used in Power BI. It provides in-depth explanations of DAX concepts and functions, along with practical examples. It is highly recommended for students who want to master DAX and build advanced Power BI solutions. This book adds significant depth to the DAX formulas covered in the course.
    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
    $$
    Cover image
    Storytelling with You
    Save
    Focuses on the art of data visualization and how to effectively communicate insights through data. It teaches you how to choose the right visuals, eliminate clutter, and focus attention on key messages. This book is valuable for improving the clarity and impact of your Power BI reports and dashboards. It provides a broader context for the graphs and visualizations covered in the course.
    Storytelling with You: Plan, Create, and Deliver a...
    Paperback
    $$
    Storytelling with You: Plan, Create, and Deliver a...
    Kindle Edition
    $$

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    Course image
    Rating
    4.6 Filled star Filled star Filled star Filled star Half star
    Effort
    5.5 total hours
    Via
    Udemy
    Instructor
    Ian Littlejohn
    Language
    English
    Traffic lights
    Read about what's good
    what should give you pause
    and possible dealbreakers
    Covers DAX formulas, which are essential for creating custom calculations and measures in Power BI, enabling advanced data analysis and reporting
    Teaches how to publish reports and dashboards to the Power BI Service, enabling users to share insights and collaborate effectively with colleagues and stakeholders
    Explores the Power BI Query Editor, which is used for data transformation and cleaning, a critical step in preparing data for analysis and visualization
    Requires some experience working with data in Excel, which may pose a barrier to entry for individuals with no prior experience in data analysis
    Focuses on creating interactive dashboards, which are essential for presenting data in a user-friendly and engaging manner, allowing users to explore data and gain insights
    Power BI Desktop does not currently run natively on a Mac, which may exclude a segment of potential learners who use macOS operating systems
    Featured in The Course Notes
    Read one article that features this course, Complete Introduction to Microsoft Power BI from our blog, The Course Notes:
    Learn Project Management Tools: From Collaboration to Analytics
    20 minute read
    Share this
    Share to help others discover this course.
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